http://susanparadis.com/catalog.php?type=M...btype2=Seasonal

Many thanks to whoever it was some months ago who posted the link to Susan Paradis' site. I bookmarked it and used a few worksheets but suddenly remembered last week that I'd seen some beginner Halloween music there.

Great !

There's 3 pieces that are perfect for those who began piano in September, with versions available both on and off stave, nice effective pieces, great print quality, right size (and with cute pumpkin/black cat illustrations).

There's also a couple of (very) slightly more difficult ones and a couple of halloween worksheets.

It's easy to find Christmas music at all levels but Halloween is becoming more and more of a big deal and there's very little music available - these are proving really popular add-on stuff with my beginners (and good prepare-at-home-yourself pieces for others).

Thanks again to whoever it was.

Not me, I don't think, although I use her stuff quite a lot - loads of really good free downloadable materials. My thanks too to the original person who flagged this!

Hello Dolce
That was me.
You are welcome.

Those resources look pretty good at first glance - thanks! But don't get me started on Hallowe'en - I hate it! My poor little man (2 1/2) is even scared by the big pictures of pumpkins in our local supermarket - and we've got another 2 weeks to go He's clinging to me and hiding his face and a simple shopping trip for just a pint of milk (oh, OK litre of milk!) is turning into a bit of an issue.......
Some idiot had also left a horrible mask out before our playgroup started and again he was clinging to me with his face buried in my neck for ages and wouldn't even get down to play on his favourite fire engine.......

I hate the whole thing - always have done, but even more now - especially the stupid trick or treating that goes on.....

CD - I agree. I remember one dreadful night when the children were small and I had them in the bath, my OH had come home sick and gone to bed: neither of us could get to the door - and the mob just kept ringing and ringing and ringing... I could cite many more examples, but don't want to turn the thread into a list of bad experiences. Sympathise to you and CD junior.

Apologies to the OP - but I dislike the whole thing too and I regret that it is becoming such a big deal.

We routinely hide with all our lights switched off, or go out on Halloween! We were egged for turning people away the first year we lived in this house, and I have no wish to repeat the experience.


The racing car note naming pages have gone down well with some small boys!

Same here I'm afraid. Again, apologies to the OP who was raising an innocent question about music, but as a teacher I really don't feel comfortable about promoting hallowe'en at all.

I've just had a look at these - not just the Hallowe'en ones, there are loads of others too. They look fantastic. I shall definitely be printing some of these out for my pupils. Thanks to the person who posted the link.

Thanks, always useful to find new online resources for piano music.


There is another brilliant web site with lots of easy pieces, particularly suitable for complete beginners. I quite often use these in the first few lessons:

http://www.gmajormusictheory.org/Freebies/freebies.html

I didn't realise trick or treating had become such a nuisance in England.

I lived in New York for 5 years where halloween was a huge deal but trick or treating was highly organised by the parents. In France, it's all quite low key and sweet.

That said, I quite like halloween as a seasonal event - no obvious religious problems (yes, there's the Christian/pagan debate but no jewish/christian/muslim etc. element) and I like a bit of silly scariness (true, not for 2 year olds).

I wouldn't not do a little bit of halloween music though because of annoying trick or treaters. Frankly, all the Christmas phoo-pha from October onwards drives me nuts and I have an irrational hatred of Walt Disney but maybe I'm just joining the grumpy old women club a tad early.

It's also a nuisance in the Western Isles, and (like others) I really hate it. But having said that, it can only be to our advantage to give our pupils music that they enjoy, because at least it improves the likelihood of practice at home.

Genius thanks to both of you for these links, I love stuff like this!

I feel rather ashamed that I grumped about Hallowe'en earlier without actually looking at the site. It does look great and there are lots of non-H pieces there. Sorry I wasn't a bit more appreciative D@P.

Sorry if I sent the thread in the wrong direction - I really meant it when I said thanks for the link - it looks a very good resource site (if only my blinking printer would work!) - there are some excellent ideas on there. I'm just feeling a bit raw about the whole Hallowe'en thing as I just feel so helpless to be able to help junior in any way apart from lots of cuddles - I feel so upset and angry because he's so scared, so I'm sorry if I kind of stomped a bit in my first reply (it's true though - I do hate Hallowe'en as it's come so far from the original festival it was meant to be - the eve before All Saints' Day........

I too love this site but one of my pupils is a Jehovah's Witness so Halloween music is out...... as is Christmas music...... as anything to do with birthdays. It has made me realise how much seasonal music there is out there !

Elizabeth

I have the problem of words - but differently because English is not the mother toungue of most of my pupils. I often change the words and that might be an answer here. If you don't like the specifically Halloween lyrics but want to use the pieces you could simply invent your own words.

I think this site is terrific.

I have 2 pupils who are from Jehovah's Witness families, so like you I have to be careful not to give them any Christmas music. Both mums told me right from the beginning, and so avoided any problems. But I do give them a birthday card every year, as I do with all of my pupils. Tricky situation.

This site looks fab! Thanks

I have actually come to like the Schuam books for this girl as there is relatively little "seasonal" music in them.

Many books have one or two carols in them, or pictures /songs of wizards or witches or birthday songs. Mind you, we are on the red book and Crunchy Flakes (I think it is called) is to the tune of jingle bells so we skimmed quickly over that one!

I did once photocopy a page of Pauline Hall 10 finger book, tippexed out the spooky title, words and pictures and then recopied it and she played it without question. Afterwards I did feel kind of deceitful - plus there are much easier and quicker ways of teaching E flat - ie use another tune !!!

Elizabeth