It's a treat to pull the seasonal games and music and rediscover a few I've forgotten. I organized this list of free Halloween-themed music and activities posted by creative bloggers that I've enjoyed using in my studio for the past several years and added a few of my own as well.
My new tradition is to invite my students to do the "Don't Scare Me, Surprise Me! Challenge" every October for our monthly piano challenge. I introduce some of the activity options below at group lessons and then let them choose their favorites to complete from the challenge page.
HPN Trick or Treat Composing Activity
Free printable song for beginners using the C pentascale and candy bar rhythm patterns of the student's choice.
TPT Mummy Dance Composing Activity
Layton Music Trick or Treat Rhythm Pumpkin Patterns
My daughter begs to play this rhythm activity all year long even though it is simply rhythm clapping practice paired with some treats. One year I posted a pumpkin rhythm card to the front door that students had to knock before entering for their lesson. I've also used this as a fun introduction to composition and improvisation.
Susan Paradis Bats & Cats Rhythm Game, Halloween Note Game
I love the Bats and Cats rhythm game that is easily adapted for beginner to intermediate levels while the Note Game reinforces note names on the staff for beginners.
Pianimation Halloween Activities
Jen Fink's fun group games, composition starters and quick games cover a variety of topics including rhythm, intervals, improvisation, major/minor and steps/skips. (site discontinued)
Don't Eat the Poison Pumpkin Staff Notes
You can't go wrong with "Don't Eat Pete." Kids love it at classroom Halloween parties, so I came up with this variation for piano lessons.
Teach Piano Today Trick or Treat Note Values
This primer level game is just one of many Wunderkeys holiday games for young beginners.
Witch's Brew Sing a New Song
I love the more challenging rhythm patterns in this game for students who need more of a challenge.
Colourful Keys Pumpkin Patch Match
This group bingo-style game helps students review note names on the staff.
Fun Piano Studio Games and Worksheets
Kristin Yost has a collection of games for both individual and group settings to review note stem placement, note names, rhythm and worksheets for theory concepts. I save ink and paper by slipping them in sheet protectors so multiple students can do them with dry erase markers during lab time.
Halloween Listening Lab
I posted this a few years ago for my students to learn a little about musical form and the organ as they watch a YouTube video with Bach's Toccata and Fugue.
Classics for Kids - Halloween podcast
The classics for kids short podcasts are a great way to expose students to a variety of music as they learn about various composers.
Check out this Halloween Group Lesson post for more fun Halloween teaching fun!
FREE HALLOWEEN PIANO MUSIC
Susan Paradis Pre-Reading Pieces & Primer Staff Songs
Formerly Free (some now for purchase) printable songs have a small range of notes perfect for beginners or for sight reading practice.
Formerly Free (some now for purchase) printable songs have a small range of notes perfect for beginners or for sight reading practice.
The 3 Halloween pieces in this pack are great for beginners who are just starting to read on the staff. The intervals are limited to steps and repeats with note range on the a minor pentascale near middle C and includes teacher duets.
FPS (Jennifer Foxx) Primer Halloween Pieces
These simple early elementary pieces in a minor are great for reviewing note reading on the staff near Middle C.
Making Music Fun Toccata Theme
My students love this simplified version of this familiar Bach piece that is often associated with Halloween even though more difficult rhythms require some rote teaching for some.
Julie Lind Halloween Piano Song Download
Some easy original pieces composed by Julie (Mummy Escape, Creepy Footsteps, etc.) and simplified versions of traditional spooky favorites (Toccata and Fugue, Snake Dance, Funeral March, etc.).
FPS (Jennifer Foxx) Primer Halloween Pieces
These simple early elementary pieces in a minor are great for reviewing note reading on the staff near Middle C.
Making Music Fun Toccata Theme
My students love this simplified version of this familiar Bach piece that is often associated with Halloween even though more difficult rhythms require some rote teaching for some.
Julie Lind Halloween Piano Song Download
Some easy original pieces composed by Julie (Mummy Escape, Creepy Footsteps, etc.) and simplified versions of traditional spooky favorites (Toccata and Fugue, Snake Dance, Funeral March, etc.).
A printed book version is available for purchase here.
Late elementary level student composition in c minor
A late elementary Halloween Parody
A lively jazzy early intermediate piece with changing articulations and dynamics. Includes an optional teacher duet
Early intermediate student composition in D Major with dotted rhythms
Exciting intermediate-level piece with changing articulations and moods.
Pianote Intermediate The Theme from Halloween Tutorial and Printable
FREE HALLOWEEN PIANO COMPOSING/IMPROV ACTIVITIES
Free printable song for beginners using the C pentascale and candy bar rhythm patterns of the student's choice.
TPT Mummy Dance Composing Activity
Free printable song template for beginners to choose repeating "mummy dance" motif melody.
Scroll down to Composition Worksheets on Chrissy Ricker's Free Stuff Page to access the free printables, My Halloween Song, Witches Brew or The Pumpkin Waltz
Teach Piano Today Halloween Improv
This simple teacher/student duet improv using notes from the c minor pentascale helps students reviews rhythm while expanding improvisation skills.
This simple teacher/student duet improv using notes from the c minor pentascale helps students reviews rhythm while expanding improvisation skills.
Beginning song lyrics with images to help spark inspiration for students Halloween compositions.
How To Create Spooky Halloween Piano Music Video Tutorial Part 1 (Rebeccaspianokeys)
Elementary tutorial about how to use spooky intervals (minor, tritone) to create spooky music.
How to Create Spooky Halloween Piano Music Video Tutorial Part 2 (Rebeccaspianokeys)
Intermediate/Advanced Tutorial for Hands Together Spooky Improv
HALLOWEEN PIANO LESSON GAMES
In this listening game students hear excerpts of familiar pieces that have been changed from major to minor and compete to see who can name the most familiar "songs in disguise."
Layton Music Trick or Treat Rhythm Pumpkin Patterns
My daughter begs to play this rhythm activity all year long even though it is simply rhythm clapping practice paired with some treats. One year I posted a pumpkin rhythm card to the front door that students had to knock before entering for their lesson. I've also used this as a fun introduction to composition and improvisation.
Susan Paradis Bats & Cats Rhythm Game, Halloween Note Game
I love the Bats and Cats rhythm game that is easily adapted for beginner to intermediate levels while the Note Game reinforces note names on the staff for beginners.
Pianimation Halloween Activities
Jen Fink's fun group games, composition starters and quick games cover a variety of topics including rhythm, intervals, improvisation, major/minor and steps/skips. (site discontinued)
Don't Eat the Poison Pumpkin Staff Notes
You can't go wrong with "Don't Eat Pete." Kids love it at classroom Halloween parties, so I came up with this variation for piano lessons.
Teach Piano Today Trick or Treat Note Values
This primer level game is just one of many Wunderkeys holiday games for young beginners.
Witch's Brew Sing a New Song
I love the more challenging rhythm patterns in this game for students who need more of a challenge.
Colourful Keys Pumpkin Patch Match
This group bingo-style game helps students review note names on the staff.
Fun Piano Studio Games and Worksheets
Kristin Yost has a collection of games for both individual and group settings to review note stem placement, note names, rhythm and worksheets for theory concepts. I save ink and paper by slipping them in sheet protectors so multiple students can do them with dry erase markers during lab time.
FREE HALLOWEEN PIANO ONLINE ACTIVITIES
Amy Chaplin at Piano Pantry compiled this intriguing list of YouTube videos with Classic Halloween music including a glass harp toccata and fugue, Jarrod Raddnich Harry Potter and an animated Danse Macabre that are sure to pique student's interest.
I posted this a few years ago for my students to learn a little about musical form and the organ as they watch a YouTube video with Bach's Toccata and Fugue.
Classics for Kids - Halloween podcast
The classics for kids short podcasts are a great way to expose students to a variety of music as they learn about various composers.
Check out this Halloween Group Lesson post for more fun Halloween teaching fun!
This seems like a cute way to get your kid to focus and learn their piano lessons easier. Every kid loves Halloween, so I think that this could be such a great teaching tool for any kid. I know that when I had to learn something with repetitive strategies, games always made it more fun.
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Nice post thank you Kevin
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