Scary Music
De Boself
Scary music that's also classical piano music is a great idea! Your students, like mine, will find this free printable piano music for Halloween lots of fun.
This music was kindly shared with me by piano teacher and composer/arranger Tabitha Slemmer of the Netherlands. Here is what she says about it:
"This is a scary little piece. The original title was Neckender Kobold, or The Merry/Happy Kobold, by Theodor Oesten (19th century).
"I have doubled the note values, quarters instead of 8ths, otherwise it is unchanged. It has the flavour of Schuberts Erlkonig, and it can be played really exciting if it can be mastered at speed with all the dynamics."
Download scary music De Boself, free classical sheet music
So Tabitha made it easier to read - a good idea for students whose playing ability is beyond their rhythm-reading ability (most piano students).
There is lots of tension in this scary music! That allows your student to play with drama. Though the music sounds difficult, it is much easier to play than your student might think.
Make sure they are acquainted with chord inversions for the left hand as shown in the cadence progressions of these free "Key of --" sheets, and then they will find the Em chords changing to the Am and suspended Em chords easy and fun.
Actually, I doubt this music was written for Halloween, but just about the antics of or mischief a kind of elf-like being, a sprite. From Wikipedia:
"The kobold (occasionally cobold) is a sprite stemming from Germanic mythology and surviving into modern times in German folklore. Although usually invisible, a kobold can materialise in the form of an animal, fire, a human being, and a candle. The most common depictions of kobolds show them as humanlike figures the size of small children. Kobolds who live in human homes wear the clothing of peasants; those who live in mines are hunched and ugly; and kobolds who live on ships smoke pipes and wear sailor clothing."
Thank you, Tabitha, for this easy-to-read version of The Merry Kobold!
Comments
Do you have a funny story about this music, or does it remind you of something you'd like to share with other readers? Do you have a question? We'd love to hear it!
Michelle:
Thank you Dana. We are using these songs for our piano recital!!!! They are darling!
Joy: I bought your Halloween Songs, wrote teacher accompaniment for some, and performed with 17 of my students in costume at an assisted living facility. It was a "win-win" situation. The kids and residents loved it and the parents were very pleased with the service aspect of their children's performance as well. Thank you for sharing these lovely pieces that introduce the minor key in a very simple and interesting way to early elementary students.
Matt:
THIS SITE IS AMAZING!!... Thank you so much for your hard work getting these on the web, you have made many children very happy!!
Kim in Washington:
My son is hooked...I've been introducing piano to my son on and off for a year or so, but he's not had much interest. Then I gave him "Monsters Everywhere". He loved playing it with the organ sound on our piano. He memorized it that week and I'm printing off the other Halloween songs to keep him going. I love the detailed instructions on teaching since he is my first student! Thanks so much.
Dana:
That is so neat that your son has experienced the magic and mystery of music through this little song. That is so exciting to me. Thanks for writing, Kim!
Cailan:
There is an incredible amount of people online who just want to be heard, but very few who have given what you have so clearly. Regarding instruction for those of us who can't afford lessons, your site has been a real gift to stumble across. I'm looking forward to now removing a few bad habits. My humblest thanks from Australia.
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