This post may contain affiliate links. As a Sheet Music Plus and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means I make a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if you purchase something from an affiliate link.
Halloween is a fun time to add something spooky, mysterious, or dramatic to a student’s piano repertoire. Intermediate students have even more options available to them, from playful Halloween pieces to music with a darker, more sophisticated sound.
I like to introduce Halloween music before October when possible, especially for intermediate students who may need several weeks to learn and polish a piece. Below are some of my favorite intermediate Halloween piano pieces, organized from late elementary through intermediate levels.
These selections can work for students of many ages, including older children, teenagers, and adults who enjoy seasonal music.
Before Choosing Halloween Music
Before assigning Halloween music, I like to make sure the student and family are comfortable with the theme. Some students love mysterious sounds, witches, ghosts, and spooky pieces, while others may not celebrate Halloween or simply don’t enjoy scary themes.
Knowing your student makes it easier to choose seasonal music they’ll actually be excited to play. For students who would rather skip Halloween themes, try choosing a dramatic or mysterious piece instead, or browse my Autumn Piano Music for Beginners for non-spooky fall repertoire.
Late Elementary
Vandall – Witches’ Waltz
Witches’ Waltz is a late-elementary piece in 3/4 meter with a lilting waltz feel. The left hand features dotted half notes while the right hand plays quarter notes on beats two and three, and sudden dynamic changes help create the piece’s dramatic Halloween character.
Rollin – Witches’ Brew
Witches’ Brew is another fun late-elementary choice for Halloween. The left hand plays a melody in D minor while the right hand plays chords. Witches’ Brew is also included in Rollin’s Favorite Solos, Book 1, making that collection worth considering if you enjoy Catherine Rollin’s music and would rather have several pieces available for students.
Early Intermediate
Brechmacher – Dancing Goblins
Dancing Goblins is a playful early-intermediate Halloween solo that gives students something seasonal without being overly scary. The piece is in A minor and 4/4 meter with a quick, quirky character. Fast slurred scale passages in the right hand are paired with a constantly changing left-hand accompaniment, giving students a fun challenge as they coordinate the two contrasting parts.
Sifford – The Creeps
The Creeps is one of my favorites! This is a fun early-intermediate choice for students who really want their Halloween piece to sound creepy.
Halloween at Its Best, Book 2
Halloween at Its Best, Book 2 includes nine Halloween-themed pieces by a variety of educational piano composers, including Melody Bober, Timothy Brown, Kevin Costley, and Kevin Olson. Four of the pieces include lyrics, while the others feature spooky themes such as witches, black cats, and haunted houses. Popular titles in the collection include Scary Larry, Pumpkin Dance, and Halloween Witch.
Glover – Spooky Games
Spooky Games can be found in David Carr Glover’s Favorite Solos, Book 2. Because this piece is part of a larger solo collection, students can continue using the book after Halloween rather than purchasing a book solely for seasonal music.
Halloween Favorites, Book 4
This collection offers Halloween repertoire for students who have progressed beyond the early levels. Having a graded Halloween collection like this can be especially helpful when you’re looking for seasonal music that still provides an appropriate challenge. Students work with syncopated rhythms and triplets, longer eighth-note passages, triads and inversions, and greater independence between the hands.
Olson – Haunted Hollow
Haunted Hollow is an eerie waltz with a mysterious sound that works well for Halloween. The left hand alternates between two minor chords in each section, while the right-hand melody includes frequent shifts in hand position. The repeating patterns also make the piece fairly approachable to memorize.
Intermediate
Halloween at Its Best, Book 3
Halloween at Its Best, Book 3 continues the Halloween at Its Best series for students who are ready for more challenging repertoire. It’s a useful collection to have available if you regularly have intermediate students who enjoy playing Halloween music.
Bober – Midnight Escapade
Midnight Escapade is a fast, dramatic intermediate solo in D minor that works especially well for older students who want seasonal repertoire that doesn’t feel too young. The piece opens with the melody in the left hand while the right hand plays rapid sixteenth notes, before the melody moves to the right hand. With its toccata-like writing, fast passages, and big sound, this is a showy piece for students who enjoy a virtuosic challenge.
Bober – Night Shadows
Night Shadows is included in Grand Solos for Piano, Book 5. This is another nice option when you’re looking for music with a darker or mysterious sound rather than an explicitly Halloween-themed title. Because it’s part of the Grand Solos for Piano series, the book can also be used for repertoire throughout the year.
Linn – Tales of Mystery
Tales of Mystery is a collection of six intermediate piano solos by Jennifer Linn, each featuring a different mysterious or imaginative character. The pieces are written to fit comfortably in the hands while giving students opportunities to work on dynamics, pedaling, phrasing, and musical expression. It’s a nice choice for students who enjoy dramatic, atmospheric music without specifically wanting a traditional Halloween theme.
More Halloween Piano Music & Activities
If you teach younger or less advanced students, check out my Halloween Piano Music for Beginners for pieces ranging from pre-reading through elementary levels.
For students who prefer fall music without spooky themes, you’ll also find seasonal repertoire in Autumn Piano Music for Beginners.
You can bring Halloween into lessons away from the piano, too. My Candy Jar Game is a free download and makes an easy seasonal inventive program for your studio. Students of all ages enjoy it!
More Piano Repertoire Ideas
If you’re looking for more supplementary music throughout the year, you may also enjoy these repertoire lists:
- Piano Music for Teens – Showstopper pieces with patterns
- Fiery Piano Music – Music for students who love to play fast!
- Best Piano Books for Beginners – Pieces to supplement a method book very early
- Intermediate Piano Pieces for Small Hands
Ready to Put It All Together?
Most of my blog posts explore one teaching topic at a time. If you’re looking for a complete first-year teaching roadmap, my course, Beyond the Lesson Book, shows how these concepts fit together across an entire year of beginner piano lessons.
🎹 Explore Beyond the Lesson Book
Lauren teaches piano to students of all ages. She enjoys creating resources for her students and teachers. She is the author of Ready for Theory®. For personalized help, check out the consultations page for teachers.
