Composing Science: Writing Music for Educational Videos
This week’s challenge: create a soundtrack for a combustion demo
When you think about science experiments, you probably imagine fizzing, popping, and the occasional controlled bang. But behind the scenes of our YouTube and TikTok science videos, there’s another layer of creativity at work: the soundtrack.
This week’s challenge? Composing music for a combustion demonstration.
🔥 Setting the Scene
The demo involves flames, rapid reactions, and a satisfying whoosh. The soundtrack needs to build tension, highlight the scientific drama, and then land with a punch when the reaction bursts into life. Think of it as scoring a miniature action film – but with bunsen burners and test tubes.
🎹 The Tools of the Trade
At Philip M Russell Ltd we have a church organ, a Wersi digital organ, and a full rack of digital synthesisers provided by VCV. That means we can mix traditional sounds with modern electronic textures to capture the right mood.
For this combustion piece, we sketched out a 4-bar loop to build suspense:
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Low synth rumble → representing stored chemical potential energy.
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Organ chords → slow and tense, adding atmosphere.
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Percussive elements → mimicking the precision and timing of lab equipment.
💥 The Explosion Moment
When the flame whooshes through the tube, the soundtrack does the same:
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A sudden crash cymbal and synth sweep.
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A burst of distorted electronic bass for the “explosive” effect.
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Then a quick silence – because sometimes, the lack of sound says more than noise.
🎧 Why It Matters for Learning
Music in educational videos isn’t just decoration. It:
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Grabs attention – students lean in when the music cues excitement.
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Aids memory – linking sound with visuals makes the science more memorable.
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Sets pacing – helping learners know when to focus, when to expect action, and when to reflect.
🛠️ Behind the Scenes at Hemel Private Tuition
This is part of how we make GCSE and A-Level science videos engaging for our students. Whether it’s composing music, filming with multiple cameras, or experimenting with PASCO sensors, the aim is always the same: to make science come alive.
Next up? Maybe a symphony for electrolysis or a fugue for freefall. Who said science and art can’t mix?
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