[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/112930119″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
October is the month we search for new Halloween Music to learn on our instruments. As both a private piano instructor, and a beginning cello student, I am familiar with how seasonal tunes can motivate instrumentalists to practice. If you haven’t checked out the holiday selections in SmartMusic, follow these steps to search for them:
Computer instructions:
- Log into your account and click on “Find Music” on the left side of the screen.
- From the Quick Search area on the right, click “Advanced Search Options” (more options will appear)
- From the Genre pull-down menu, select “Holiday and Patriotic”
- Fill in any other areas of this search menu you’d like (perhaps instrument and skill level), and click search.
iPad instructions:
- Log into your account and click the “All Generes” button at the top of the page.
- Select Holiday and Patriotic from the menu.
Your search results will present tons of great seasonal music available with your subscription. You’re probably getting excited about the possibilities for the next 4th of July or Christmas concert. I’d like to draw your attention to the Spooky Solos collection. iPad users can go straight to this collection by typing “spooky” in the search bar if the solos don’t appear on the first page of search results. The Spooky Solos book is an entire collection of Halloween music with piano accompaniment.
But wait, there’s more!
There is another area of SmartMusic that contains fantastic Halloween music. Did you know about all of the Harry Potter music that comes with your subscription? The collection is titled Harry Potter Instrumental Solos. These solos are among my favorite in SmartMusic in part because of their rich orchestral accompaniments arranged by John Williams.
If you’re new to SmartMusic, SmartMusic contains onscreen sheet music for all major instruments learned in band, orchestra classes, as well as accompaniments for vocalists. Subscribing to SmartMusic with a student subscription allows you access to literally thousands of music titles. Whether you’re music teacher, student, or just play your instrument as a hobby, I hope you’ll have fun with the Spooky Solos and Harry Potter collections in SmartMusic this October.
All the best,
-Baseball Beth
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Are you working on Halloween music with SmartMusic? Export a recording of your best take, and post the sound cloud link in the comments section below. We’d love to hear you play!