Last Updated on September 12, 2021 by Rebecca
This post is Part 3 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
For the slightly more advanced piano player who feels comfortable working hands together.
Part 3 (This post!)
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 Halloween so much you want to make your piano improvisations sound extra spooky?
You've come to the right place!
The tips and techniques you'll learn in this video will have your listeners shaking in their boots!
Think about the bits of scary music that we all know and love… the 2 low pitched notes from Jaws that warn the shark is coming; the high pitched screeches from the Psycho shower scene; the theme music from the Halloween movies.
None of these famous bits of music are terribly complex. In fact, all 3 of them are downright simple in terms of notes and rhythms. A 2-year-old could literally play the Jaws bit without much difficulty!
What makes these little music motifs so scary are the musical elements the composers used to take them to the next level.
Watch my spooky Halloween piano improvisation video tutorial below, and learn how you can use some of the very same musical elements in your piano improvisations!
And remember, these are techniques anyone can use, from the absolute beginner to the advanced piano improviser!
No time to watch the video right this second? Pin this post so you can come back for it later!
Required Knowledge
This video is intended for pianists of all skill levels. Whether you're an absolute beginner, or an advanced pianist, these are timeless techniques you can use to make your music sound extra spooky.
This video only includes tips and tricks about how to play your music in a way that magnifies its spookiness. It does not discuss how to create any harmony or melody for your spooky music. For that, you'll have to go back to video 1 (for beginners) or video 2 (if you have a bit more piano experience).
Terms and Techniques You'll Learn/Use/Develop in this Video Tutorial
Terms:
- Dynamics
- Tempo
- Pitch
- Voices
- Articulation
- staccato
Techniques:
- playing dynamically
- manipulating tempo
- hand-overs
- staccato
- playing a chromatic scale in the right hand
- developing comfort with greater freedom and exploration in while improvising! 😉
And now, it's time to dive in!
The Video Tutorial: How to Create Spooky Halloween Piano Music [PART 3]
BONUS TRIVIA: Music in Horror Movies
In this video by Sound Field, LA Buckner and Nahre Sol do a deep dive into the history of how horror movie composers have used music to terrify viewers.
Some of the techniques I've taught in my 3-part video series also appear in this video. (Clearly I'm not the only one who uses these techniques to make spooky music!) How many can you spot?
Right around the middle of the video, Nahre explains 2 techniques I haven't touched on at all: tone clusters and sound masses. Keep your eyes (and ears!) ready for those, because they are fantastic tricks to add to your spooky music toolkit!
Ready to Start Making Music?
Are you feeling excited to start making some spooky Halloween piano music after watching the video tutorial? Get 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?
This is the final video in my Halloween series on how to create your own spooky piano music. The only next step left is for you to go spend some time having fun with your favourite piano!
Need some extra inspiration? Check out these classical music pieces that will have you sleeping with the lights on for a week! Pay attention to what these composers did with dynamics, tempo, pitch, voices (different instruments), and articulation. Let their music inspire you and give you ideas for your own music creation!
Now go make some scary music! Either for yourself, or for your friends and loved ones. We can all use some extra spookiness this time of year!
Related Scary Music Posts
- Spooky piano improvisation tutorial for absolute beginners.
- Terrifying tutorial for experienced pianists who are new to improvisation.
- Epic classical music that has been terrifying listeners for centuries!
Share Your Thoughts!
Of all the tips and techniques demonstrated in this video, which one is your favourite, and why? Share your answer in the comments!
PS — These share buttons are here for a reason! So use 'em! 😉