Search safe, copyright free music sites to choose and download background tracks for your animation, learning about mood, tempo, and proper attribution with adult help.



Step-by-step guide to find copyright-free music for an animation soundtrack
Step 1
Write down the mood you want for your animation (for example happy spooky calm or exciting).
Step 2
Write down the tempo you want (slow medium or fast).
Step 3
Write the exact length of your animation in minutes and seconds.
Step 4
Decide whether you want instrumental music or songs with vocals.
Step 5
Ask an adult to open a copyright-free music site such as YouTube Audio Library Free Music Archive Incompetech Bensound Pixabay Music or ccMixter.
Step 6
Use the site’s search box or filters to type your mood tempo and desired length and then run the search.
Step 7
Listen to several short previews and pick three tracks you like the most.
Step 8
For each chosen track check the license text to see if it is public domain Creative Commons or royalty-free and whether attribution is required and write this information in your notebook.
Step 9
Ask an adult to download each track you picked.
Step 10
Ask the adult to save each downloaded track into a new folder for your animation project.
Step 11
Play each track while watching a short clip of your animation and choose the track that fits mood timing and pacing best.
Step 12
Write the chosen track’s title artist website and license information into your animation credits using the notes from your notebook.
Step 13
Share your finished animation with its soundtrack on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!


Help!?
What can we use if we can't access the suggested copyright-free sites or an adult to download tracks?
If you can't reach the listed sites or an adult to download, ask the adult to use another reputable copyright-free library (for example FreePD or Jamendo) and follow the instruction 'Ask an adult to download each track you picked' and 'save each downloaded track into a new folder for your animation project'.
What should we do if the site's filters don't return tracks with the exact mood, tempo, or length we wrote down?
If the search filters don't find an exact match, pick a close track from the previews, then with an adult use a simple audio editor to trim, loop, or adjust the track so it matches your animation's exact length and pacing before you 'Play each track while watching a short clip of your animation'.
How can this activity be changed for different age groups?
For younger children simplify choices to mood and length and have an adult open one listed site and download two tracks, while older kids should perform the full steps including checking license text, writing license info in their notebook, and editing tracks to fit timing as described in the instructions.
How can we extend or personalize the soundtrack beyond choosing a single track?
You can enhance the soundtrack by mixing two tracks or adding recorded vocals and sound effects in an audio editor (with an adult), then note each source's title, artist, website and license in your animation credits as required before sharing on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to find copyright-free music for an animation soundtrack
Facts about copyright and royalty-free music for kids
⏱️ Tempo is measured in beats per minute (BPM): higher BPM feels energetic, lower BPM feels calm or dramatic.
🆓 'Royalty-free' can mean free to download or a one-time purchase, but it still comes with rules you must follow.
🎧 Creative Commons lets musicians share music under different rules — CC0 means no strings attached, CC BY means you must give credit.
📝 If a track requires attribution, include a simple credit line (song title — artist — license) in your animation credits or description.
📚 Popular safe sources for free or freely licensed tracks include YouTube Audio Library, Free Music Archive, and Incompetech.


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