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Musicnotes
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The cobwebs are all up, the jack-lanterns are lit and the spooky snacks are all set out for your guests… but still, the atmosphere for your Halloween party isn’t quite right. Yes, you’re missing the mood music – and, of course, there’s no better music than live music. The problem is, with the guests on their way, you don’t have time to figure out what to play …
While Musicnotes has a great selection of Halloween Sheet Music for all instruments, in a social setting your best instrument will be the piano – so we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite spooky piano solos, perfect for your Halloween party.
Classic Scary Themes
While not quite at the level of Christmas, the Halloween holiday does have its share of classic themes that have become associated with the season. If you’re looking for something to play that sets a frightening mood, but is also recognizable by your guests, try a few of these:
- The Great Pumpkin Waltz: From the animated classic, ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,’ this jazzy halloween classic written by Vince Guaraldi is a staple of any social Halloween gathering.
- Tubular Bells: For decades, The Exorcist has terrified moviegoers – meaning just about anyone who’s ever wanted to be in for a scare has heard this theme – and likely associates it with pure terror and dread.
- ‘Halloween’ (Main Theme): John Carpenter’s main theme from the movie that started the “slasher film” genre. Simple to play, yet still scary as heck.
- Funeral March of a Marionette: For those who remember it, this piece by Guonod may be best remembered as the theme from ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’ – but even if you never saw the show, you likely know the theme. A little bouncy, but still creepy in a “there’s a clown hiding in your closet” kind of way.
- Toccata and Fugue in D Minor: The quintessential classical theme for Halloween, this piece by Bach is only advised for those who are up for a serious challenge. But if you can play it, it’s the perfect showcase piece for any Halloween.
Fun Halloween Pieces
If you’d prefer to keep your Halloween party a little more light-hearted, or if it’s a party where you expect more children than adults, you may want to sway your selections toward the fun side of Halloween with these fun Halloween piano solos:
- This Is Halloween: From Disney’s Halloween family favorite, ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ – instantly recognizable by people of all ages (and you might get a few people singing along as well).
- The Addams Family Theme: Your guests will snap along to this classic, which has graced television, movies and even Broadway!
- Monster Mash: Costumed or not, guests are guaranteed to get up and dance when you start playing this Halloween bash classic.
- Witch Doctor: Looking for a fun intermediate-level piece? The Witch Doctor has the cure for your creepy sheet music needs.
- Purple People Eater: A #1 hit in 1958, the Purple People Eater is the perfect uptempo addition to any fun or frightful festivities.
- The Simpsons Halloween Special Theme: The Simpsons unique take on their own theme, reimagined for their Halloween specials.
- Ghost Story: This spooky original by composer Kim Williams is just simply a fun little piece to play – plus it’s easily accessible for pianists of all ages!
- The Teddy Bears’ Picnic (Halloween Version): Musicnotes’s own “spookified” arrangement of this children’s classic takes the theme you know so well, and gives it a unique Halloween twist.
Spooky Thematic Mood Music
If you’re looking to simply set a spooky mood, we have several selections that can work well for the occasion. While they may not be instantly recognizable, these are perfect for setting the stage for your Halloween fun and frights.
- Invaders of the Night: A jaunty little piece, easy enough for beginners but still complex enough to have some fun. A great selection for a more “fun” type of Halloween party.
- Will O’ The Wisp: A bit more classical and airy in its theme, still with mysterious undertones – perfect for a more airy, yet nefarious, feel to your party.
- Danse Macabre: A classical favorite for Halloween composed by Camille Saint-Saëns, requiring a bit more skill to perform, yet still not too difficult for most pianists. An absolute must-have for any gothic-themed party.
- The Fog: This often-overlooked theme from John Carpenter’s (of ‘Halloween’ fame) 1979 movie of the same name may not be instantly recognizable, but its ominous tone is perfectly suited to just about anyone looking to set a scary mood (without being too obvious and cliche).
- In the House – In a Heartbeat: Another ominous sounding soundtrack piece, this time from the Danny Boyle’s zombie classic ’28 Days Later’ is also often-overlooked, but remains one of our favorite for setting the mood on a dark and stormy night.
- Helen’s Theme: This main theme from the movie ‘The Candyman’ is beautiful, yet still somehow frightening. But what else would you expect from a horror movie theme composed by Philip Glass?
Of course there are many, many more great themes for Halloween piano sheet music – but we hope our guide of some of our favorites helps you out. Is there any particular piece you love to play each Halloween? If so, tell us in the comments – we’d love to hear what music you use to set a spooky mood.
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Photo via creative commons: https://flic.kr/p/my4iKg
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