Haunted House Horror! Creative Study for Multi Level Piano Ensemble
Haunted House Horror is a Creative Study of Performance + Theory for Multi Level Piano Ensemble
Created by Susan Staples Bell, ASCAP
Are you ready for something really different? (16 Pages)
This piece is a study in Atmospheric Music- which accentuates texture, tone, mood, and atmosphere. It does not always contain the formal melodies or steady rhythms found in most popular music, opting instead to craft ambience from waves of aural textures.
How can we create this Atmospheric Mood? By using the Whole Tone Scale, Augmented Chords, and Rhythmic patterns that suggest “knocking”- is that a scary goblin knocking at the door? Melodic patterns like ascending & descending Whole tone scales mimic, perhaps, chills going up & down your spine. Dynamics & Shaping the phrase will greatly enhance the mood of this piece.
Teaching moments to consider in this Multi Level Piano Ensemble arrangement:
1. Theory activity- Whole Tone Scale & Augmented Chords, Enharmonic concept.
2. What is Atmospheric Music? How can we create the Mood?
3. Patterns & Form: So important in understanding the music.
4. Ensemble Playing & Accompanying: What are the important parts? Make the background parts softer. Work together to create the big picture.
The written Score and 4 parts work together as an Ensemble, but each part can also be a Stand Alone Solo. Each part is Level appropriate and every level adds some new feature- teach everyone the easiest part first. Elementary introduces the Whole Tone Penta Scale, while next level adds Hand position changes; Early Intermediate introduces partial Augmented Chords and eighth notes, and Intermediate plays parallel Augmented Chords and expands to the full Octave Whole Tone Scale.
Make sure to grab the FREE Backing Track. Great to share with students to explore at home on their own or use in class for a low stress option.
This STUDIO LICENSE grants multiple copies in YOUR Studio ONLY. Thank you for honoring the composer’s work by not sharing with other teachers.
