
Jack-O-Lanterns, Parties, Candy, Spooky Music, Costume Parades -- these are all part of the fun of Halloween.
The kid in each of us is always ready to play a new character and experience a silly trick or two. And who doesn't enjoy being spooked now and then -- just to get the old heart pumping again. Besides, it can be different and interesting to sing in minor tonalities.
One of the most memorable and interesting Church Social Traditions we ever hosted was a Trunk-or-Treat combined with a Chili Cook-Off and Pumpkin Carving Contest. The evening started with the guests going from room to room (the classrooms at the building) doing different activities such as bobbing for apples or trying to bite a doughnut off a string. No hands allowed, of course. Or trying to find the little prizes on the floor of a room filled with balloons. Different families volunteered to set-up and host a room. There was everything from reaching through curtained holes to touch "brains" or "guts" (jello molds or chilled noodles and other spooky things to bowling for jack-o-lanterns to crawling through a maze of cardboard boxes to singing Halloween songs and many more. (Nothing too frightening, though!) Each activity was very short and resulted in a prize or candy treat. Next on the agenda was the Costume Parade. I played a variety of songs on the piano that suited the characters represented -- including hero songs, spooky songs, and even beautiful princess and butterfly songs. Meanwhile, our judges were given certain parameters and began the arduous task of ranking the Chili, the amazing Carved Pumpkins, and the Costumes. After the Costume Parade, the judges recognized the winners and then turned us loose to eat the wonderful fixin's. Last of all, the children enjoyed a safe and easy-to-walk "Trunk or Treat" out in the parking lot. What great fun!
Here are a few of the songs I like to use at Halloween:
The kid in each of us is always ready to play a new character and experience a silly trick or two. And who doesn't enjoy being spooked now and then -- just to get the old heart pumping again. Besides, it can be different and interesting to sing in minor tonalities.
One of the most memorable and interesting Church Social Traditions we ever hosted was a Trunk-or-Treat combined with a Chili Cook-Off and Pumpkin Carving Contest. The evening started with the guests going from room to room (the classrooms at the building) doing different activities such as bobbing for apples or trying to bite a doughnut off a string. No hands allowed, of course. Or trying to find the little prizes on the floor of a room filled with balloons. Different families volunteered to set-up and host a room. There was everything from reaching through curtained holes to touch "brains" or "guts" (jello molds or chilled noodles and other spooky things to bowling for jack-o-lanterns to crawling through a maze of cardboard boxes to singing Halloween songs and many more. (Nothing too frightening, though!) Each activity was very short and resulted in a prize or candy treat. Next on the agenda was the Costume Parade. I played a variety of songs on the piano that suited the characters represented -- including hero songs, spooky songs, and even beautiful princess and butterfly songs. Meanwhile, our judges were given certain parameters and began the arduous task of ranking the Chili, the amazing Carved Pumpkins, and the Costumes. After the Costume Parade, the judges recognized the winners and then turned us loose to eat the wonderful fixin's. Last of all, the children enjoyed a safe and easy-to-walk "Trunk or Treat" out in the parking lot. What great fun!
Here are a few of the songs I like to use at Halloween:

Three Little Witches - to the Tune of "Three Little Indians"
One little, Two little, Three little Witches
Fly over haystacks, fly over ditches.
Slide down the moon without any hitches.
Hi Ho Halloween's here!
Be sure to improvise hand motions!
One little, Two little, Three little Witches
Fly over haystacks, fly over ditches.
Slide down the moon without any hitches.
Hi Ho Halloween's here!
Be sure to improvise hand motions!
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![]() For This Is Halloween - Traditional Halloween Finger Play arranged by Betsy Lee Bailey
Available for immediate Digital Download at SheetMusicPlus.com |
It can be adapted for use with hand motions, puppets, or simple choreography. The simple intervals and scale passage will help introduce young children to singing in the minor tonality in a fun and engaging way. Enjoyable for K-3 classes or young Elementary Chorus.
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We Are Out to Scare You Traditional Halloween Song arranged by Betsy Lee Bailey
Available for immediate Digital Download at SheetMusicPlus.com |
Arrangement of a traditional Halloween song. Each chorus is changed to spotlight a costumed character in the group of children -- anything with three syllables. Depending on the ages in your group, you may have to nix the scary stuff!
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