Halloween Tales is a collection of 5 Grade Initial - 1 / Elementary pieces all with a halloween theme.
 
 
Haunted House by Catherine Wilson is spooky, eerie, with an ominous feel.  
 
The riff-like left hand supports repetitive motifs in the right hand that are replicated over three octaves to help create a sense of space and movement.
 
Instrument: Piano Solo
 
Approximate difficulty level: Grade 0 - 1 / Beginner
 
Key: Tonal centre of D minor but with tritones using G#
 
Time signature: 4/4
 
Features: semitone / half-step motifs, recognising intervals of 4ths, 5ths and 6ths, ‘copying and pasting’ motifs an octave higher
 
Focus: To explore the dissonance created by the use of semitones / half-steps and tritones
 
 
Caught in the Web by Catherine Wilson is mysterious, creepy and has a slightly hypnotic feel.
 
The use of scale-like quaver / eighth note passages in the left hand help convey the movement of the spider making its web, while the right hand motifs suggest the prey attempting to free itself!
 
Instrument: Piano Solo
 
Approximate difficulty level: Grade Initial - 1 / Elementary
 
Key: E natural minor
 
Time signature: 3/4
 
Features: Scale-like passages in left hand, right hand motifs using intervals from 2nds to 5ths, short phrases
 
Focus: Finger dexterity, interval recognition, phrasing
 
 
Pumpkin Parade by Catherine Wilson is playful, celebratory and has a whimsical feel.
 
The contrasting articulation helps create a sense of fun while the left hand crotchets / quarter notes mimic walking along.
 
Instrument: Piano Solo
 
Approximate difficulty level: Grade Initial - 1 / Elementary
 
Key: C major
 
Time signature: 4/4
 
Features: Contrasting articulation - staccato and legato, syncopation, octave jumps in right hand
 
Focus: Independence between hands, rhythm, changing hand position in right hand

 
Where’s the Ghost? By Catherine Wilson is mysterious, ominous and has an eerie feel.
 
The ostinato style left hand provides a steady quaver / eighth note pulse while the right hand jumps around covering a range of 5 octaves (but using  just 4 different notes) as it searches for the ghost (and the notes)!  
 
Instrument: Piano Solo
 
Approximate difficulty level: Grade Initial - 1 / Elementary
 
Key: 4 notes used: C, Db, F, Gb
 
Time signature: 4/4
 
Features: Ostinato style left hand, hand crossing in right hand, octave and 2 octaves higher and lower than written
 
Focus: Maintaining steady rhythm, spatial awareness, using pedal to create atmosphere
 
 
Zombie Attack! By Catherine Wilson is menacing, confusing and has an ominous feel!
 
The use of cluster chords, accents and dissonance helps create an eerie feel that continues to  build an uneasiness as the story builds to a fortissimo finish!
 
Instrument: Piano Solo
 
Approximate difficulty level: Grade Initial - 1 / Elementary
 
Key: 5-note hand position - right hand uses B - F with some D#s, left hand uses E - B with some A#s
 
Time signature: 4/4
 
Features: Cluster chords, dissonance, riff-like left hand
 
Focus: Finger strength, hearing clashes, rhythm