Last Updated on May 31, 2022 by Rebecca
This post is Part 1 in a 3-part series of video tutorials teaching how to create your own spooky Halloween piano music.
Part 1
For the absolute beginner who wants to create spooky Halloween piano music today!
Part 2 (This post!)
For the slightly more advanced piano player who feels comfortable working hands together.
Part 3
For pianists of all levels who want to take their spooky Halloween piano music to the next level after watching Part 1 and/or Part 2 of the series.
So you love to play piano, but the idea of improvising your own music has you freezing up like wet laundry on an Arctic clothes line in January?
This is a really common feeling among pianists! My students are always scared the first time I ask them to improvise!
And has nothing to do with skill or ability!
All my students improvise in their very first lesson with me. And while the absolute beginners are always a bit nervous about it, the students who are most afraid of improvising are actually my transfer students… the ones who can already play beautifully after several years of lessons with other teachers… So trust me, you are in good company!
But you know what else all my students have in common?
They're all amazed by how easy, fun, and relaxing it is to improvise incredibly beautiful piano music once you learn a few tricks!
Watch my spooky Halloween piano improvisation video tutorial below, and you'll soon be feeling the same way!
And did I mention how impressive the music will sound? How gratifying it will be to hear the oohs and aahs from your friends and family? How great it will feel to walk by a street piano and actually be able to play something on it? (Cheers to banishing that “I don't remember how to play anything right now” feeling once and for all!)
It's time for you to proudly embrace your identity as a creator of music!
No time to watch the video right this second? Pin this post so you can come back for it later!
Required Knowledge
This video tutorial is intended experienced pianists who are eager, but more than a little nervous, to create their own piano music.
I'm assuming you can confidently play with both hands simultaneously, and you're already familiar with the keyboard and how to play musically.
That being said, I've also included a lot of practice tips for beginner pianists who want to use this improvisation to build their skills. So while this video tutorial is intended for a more experienced pianist, it's still accessible for beginners who are ready for a challenge.
Terms and Techniques You'll Learn/Use/Develop in this Video Tutorial
Terms:
- Alberti Bass
- Melodic Intervals
- Harmonic Intervals
- C harmonic minor scale
- Cm triad
- Bm triad
- Chromatic Scale
Techniques:
- playing an Alberti Bass in the left hand
- playing a chromatic scale in the right hand
- using the C harmonic minor scale to build a melody
- developing comfort with greater freedom in your melody! 😉
And now, it's time to dive in!
The Video Tutorial: How to Create Spooky Halloween Piano Music [PART 2]
BONUS TRIVIA: The Deal with the Devil
In keeping with the Halloween season, this video by Polyphonic discusses the many instances through history when talented musicians have been linked to stories of deals with the devil.
Sounds like crazy rumours and PR stunts if you ask me, but they've become popular legends that people love to retell!
The story of Robert Johnson even inspired an episode of the hit TV series Supernatural!
Ready to Start Making Music?
Are you feeling excited to start making some spooky Halloween piano music after watching the video tutorial? Grab your copy of the free cheat sheet I promised in the video.
Then head over to your piano and make some spooky Halloween music!
What's Next?
Remember, this video is Part 2 in a series of 3 spooky Halloween piano music video tutorials.
If you had fun with this spooky improvisation tutorial, you'll also enjoy Part 1, the easier version. It's intended for the absolute beginner, but it's a lot of fun for the more experienced pianist as well.
You'll also want to check out Part 3 of the series. It's all about using the spooky music you learned in Part 1 and/or Part 2, and taking it to the next level by experimenting with pitch, dynamics, and the different voices available on digital pianos and electric keyboards.
Share Your Thoughts!
What did you think of the video? Did you follow the steps and create your own spooky Halloween piano music? If you did, tell us about how it went in the comments! I'd love to hear your feedback about what worked and what didn't work for you. And if you have any requests for future tutorial topics!