Halloween Piano Tunes

3 reviews for Halloween Piano Tunes

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   G.B. – September 4, 2021

   Wow! These tunes are so emotive/expressive of their mystical titles. The titles + tunes reminded me of PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION by Mussorgsky. If I had had tunes like these to play as a piano beginner sixty years ago I might well have stuck it out beyond Grade 3! These are brilliant Donald!

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   JB (verified owner) – February 16, 2022

   Huge congratulations to Donald Thomson and EVC Music Publications on the launch of Halloween Piano Tunes. I really enjoy the description on the back page, which for me perfectly encapsulates what piano teaching should be about, and hints at the personality of the composer and his approach to inspiring young pianists: ‘These cheeky wee tunes will provide endless fun for pianists at the beginning of their musical journey’.

   And what a musical journey they can look forward to! I totally agree with what Donald said at the launch about the importance of a good melody, and I hope he wouldn’t mind me ‘reading in’ a bit too far to suggest that some of the folky thumbprints in his music are a great part of its appeal – the dotted rhythms shaping the melodies, the open fifths, and sense of harmony.

   These spooky portraits are sure to delight young musicians – from their evocative titles and your illustrations, to the intriguing musical effects (that diminished fifth in ‘Midnight Feast’, or the note spacing and atmosphere conjured in ‘Creaky Door’ which I know would have appealed to my sense of musical exploration as a young learner).

   I like the variety of musical concepts introduced too, from the clicking of fingers and cluster chord, to transferring the melody to the left hand, and playing up the octave to explore the sonorities of the higher notes. Not as some technical exercise, but as part of the musical adventure.

   Please do pass on my congratulations to Donald. And congratulations to you on bringing it all to fruition. It’s a wonderfully written collection that I know will be greatly enjoyed by today’s young pianists.

3. Rated 5 out of 5

   Fiona Durdy (verified owner) – October 11, 2023

   Absolutely fantastic collection of pieces. My 6 yr old daughter is so inspired by the spooky vibe, she is playing along to the soundtracks and does not even realise that she is learning new techniques and developing her playing, as she is having such fun. Beautifully written pieces that even the earliest players can access. I can see this being a favourite of hers for many years . Every piano teacher needs this book in their library xx