The Best Spooky Halloween Songs for Beginner Piano Students
This section may feature affiliate links, meaning I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase through these links. Read more about my policy.
Halloween is an excellent opportunity to get some popular piano songs added to your repertoire/setlist.
It’s also another opportunity to perform because there are always some classic fan-favorite songs and party playlists requested around this time of year.
Here’s a list of some of my most popular student requests for Halloween songs during my 16 years of teaching.
To get you started, I divided them up by category for quick reference.
Over my years of teaching my piano students, other song arrangements were either too short, too hard, or just lacking that special something to keep it pleasing to the listener.
So I created most of these beginner piano song arrangements for them.
But I have also included a few extras from others that I use for my students each year.
If You’re Looking to Stay in the Classical Music Genre, Try These Halloween Arrangements:
Bach’s famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor:
This arrangement of Toccata and Fugue in D minor actually includes a little bit of the Fugue part! Most simpler versions of this song leave this out, making it feel too short and not quite performance worthy. This version not only lengthens the song, but it gives students a chance to understand where the “and” in the title comes in. It’s a great way to introduce the history of classical music genres and music forms, and what that means for the style of the song.
look inside
|
Toccata and Fugue Easy Beginner Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). Arranged by Laura Reynolds. Baroque Period, Movies, Classroom, General Instructional, Halloween. Individual Part, Sheet Music Single, Solo Part. 2 pages. Published by Laura Reynolds (S0.888385). |
Mussorgsky’s famous Night on Bald Mountain:
This arrangement of Night on Bald Mountain alternates between two different right-hand positions on the piano keys, while the left hand stays and plays mostly simple 5ths to fill in the harmony and keep it sounding interesting. Click the link below to hear a sample audio clip.
look inside
|
Night on Bald Mountain Easy Beginner Composed by Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky (1839-1881). Arranged by Laura Reynolds. Romantic Period, Movies, General Instructional, Halloween, Children's Music. Individual Part, Piano Reduction, Sheet Music Single, Solo Part. 2 pages. Published by Laura Reynolds (S0.788739). |
Mussorgsky’s famous Night on Bald Mountain - for the Elementary Beginner:
For an even simpler arrangement of this song for beginner students just starting out in level 1 books, try this one. It’s the perfect spooky Halloween selection for classical lovers! Whether you’re looking for a fun song to learn for the holiday, or any time of year, this will be a great piece to add to your repertoire.
look inside
|
Night on Bald Mountain Elementary Composed by Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky (1839-1881). Arranged by Laura Reynolds. Romantic Period, Movies, General Instructional, Halloween, Children's Music. Individual Part, Piano Reduction, Sheet Music Single, Solo Part. 2 pages. Published by Laura Reynolds (S0.680129). |
Famous Movie Halloween Themes:
Danny Elfman’s Nightmare Before Christmas “This is Halloween”:
Do you play this for Halloween? Or for Christmas? The answer is “Yes.”
Quarter notes and half notes keep the pulse of the song in the left hand. This makes the piece sound more interesting to listen to and harder than it really is to learn. The song is slightly abridged, but is still long enough to perform and feel like a full song. Click the link below to hear an audio clip sample.
Then come back and check for the rest of the album to learn during Christmas.
look inside
|
This Is Halloween Easy Beginner By Kayzo Feat. Lookas. Danny Elfman. Arranged by Arranged by Laura Reynolds. Individual Part, Piano Reduction, Sheet Music Single, Solo Part. 2 pages. Published by Laura Reynolds (H0.870281-SC003697290). |
Harry Potter “Hedwig’s Theme”:
This is a great introduction to dotted quarter notes if students are about to cover these. It’s staff music is also written simply enough to play the rhythm by ear if they haven’t covered these yet.
look inside
|
Harry Potter · Hedwig's Theme By John Williams. Arranged by Andrea P. Alcántara. Individual Part, Solo Part. 2 pages. Published by Andrea P. (H0.895331-SC000949844). |
Vic Mizzy’s “The Addams Family Theme”:
They rhythm is broken down enough for beginner piano students in Level 1 books. Students will need to get used to switching between right and left hands for the melody.
look inside
|
The Addams Family Theme (Easy Piano) By Vic Mizzy. Arranged by Amanda L. Dills. Solo Part. 1 pages. Published by Ellamina Music (H0.422913-4800). |
John Carpenter’s “Halloween Main Title Theme”:
This one’s always played at theme parks and haunted houses. A real spooky treat and a crowd pleaser with the parents (wink, wink). Simple 5ths and chromatic steps are all you need to learn this piece.
look inside
|
Halloween Main Title Theme Easy Beginner By John Carpenter. Arranged by Laura Reynolds. Individual Part. 2 pages. Published by Laura Reynolds (H0.788967-SC003854386). |
John Carpenter’s “Halloween Main Title Theme” - for the Elementary Beginner:
For an even simpler version for students in primer level books, have them play this with the optional piano duet.
look inside
|
Halloween Main Title Theme Elementary With Optional Duet By John Carpenter. Arranged by Laura Reynolds. Individual Part, Piano Reduction, Set of Parts, Sheet Music Single. 2 pages. Published by Laura Reynolds (H0.788975-SC003854386). |
Ghostbusters - for the Elementary Beginner:
This is a great in-between arrangement for piano students in Level 1 and accellerated books. It contains simple enough notation, covering all the things they are learning in this stage, but doesn’t sound like a bare bones melody.
look inside
|
Ghostbusters (Beginner Edition) By Ray Parker. Arranged by Joe Cox. Sheet Music Single. 3 pages. Published by Joe Cox (H0.308103-271620). |
Popular Halloween themes:
The popular YouTube song “Spooky Scary Skeletons”:
This is a fast piece, but the left hand is easy enough that it will be quick to learn. The right-hand melody uses eighth notes, quarter notes, and 6th intervals and is best suited for students in level 2 and 3 books, although accelerated level 1 students could also learn it.
look inside
|
Spooky Scary Skeletons Easy Beginner By Andrew Gold. Arranged by Laura Reynolds. Individual Part, Piano Reduction, Sheet Music Single, Solo Part. 4 pages. Published by Laura Reynolds (H0.874129-SC000010253). |
The popular YouTube song “Spooky Scary Skeletons” - for the Elementary Beginner:
For students just barely starting out, they can still learn the popular YouTube song with this arrangement.
look inside
|
Spooky Scary Skeletons Elementary Level By Andrew Gold. Arranged by Laura Reynolds. Individual Part, Piano Reduction, Sheet Music Single, Solo Part. 2 pages. Published by Laura Reynolds (H0.877963-SC000010253). |
The popular rock and film song “Don’t Fear the Reaper”:
This piano arrangement keeps the fun guitar line and vocals in a piano solo that is best for students in Level 2 and 3 books. You will see bass and treble clef switches in the right hand, eighth note and quarter note ties, and left hand arpeggios.
look inside
|
Don't Fear The Reaper Easy Beginner By Blue Oyster Cult. Arranged by Laura Reynolds. Individual Part, Piano Reduction, Sheet Music Single, Solo Part. 5 pages. Published by Laura Reynolds (H0.888379-SC000006163). |
Can’t Decide? Popular Halloween Books for a Variety of Songs:
Halloween Favorites:
This book has a great selection of everyone’s favorite Halloween songs, including songs like “Thriller.” It’s best for piano students level 3 and higher.
look inside
|
Halloween Favorites Composed by Various. Big Note Songbook. Halloween, Movies, TV. Softcover. 64 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.312305). |
The Halloween Songbook:
I use this book for my piano students in level 2 and 3 music books. There’s quite a variety of popular, film, and classical Halloween song selections in here.
look inside
|
The Halloween Songbook Composed by Various. Hal Leonard Easy Piano Mixed Folio (Easy arrangements for piano and voice),. Children's. Songbook (softcover). With vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and introductory text. 48 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.310162). |
5 Finger Halloween Fun - for the Elementary Beginner:
This book has some great piano song selections for students in primer and level 1 book curricula. They’re mostly popular, movie film song selections with a couple classical options sprinkled in.
look inside
|
5 Finger Halloween Fun 13 Haunting Hits Arranged for Piano with Optional Duet Accompaniments. Composed by Tom Gerou. This edition: Five Finger Piano. Piano Collection; Piano Supplemental. 5 Finger. Children; Fall; Halloween. Book. 40 pages. Alfred Music #00-36283. Published by Alfred Music (AP.36283). |
