Thoughts on Hanon as background music
What makes a good background track for a promotional video? It needs to be unobtrusive, have low dynamic range, and provide continuity for the voiceover content. Of course, the creator also needs to have clear title or permission for the piece.
Using public or open-source music is an option, one which most creators use by default. That’s assuming they don’t just rip off copyrighted music, either through ignorance or carelessness. The latter course is fraught, and has led to expensive lawsuits. The former involves research and sometimes extensive correspondence.
There is another way. Record something that you wrote, or is clearly in the public domain. Most people who have taken piano lessons have been subjected to the work of Charles-Louis Hanon (1820-1900). Even under the ridiculous extended copyright restrictions extant in the EU, USA and Canada, using the work of a composer dead 122 years is safe.
Hanon #31 is unique in the first 2 books, in that it is not simply progressive finger exercises an octave apart. Some people might not even recognize it as a finger exercise! With a fade-down after the first few measures, it makes an ideal background track. Then the fun starts: waiting for anyone to recognize what you did in your video!