From human violins to Wednesday Addams: six Halloween costume ideas for string players

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Your actual instrument:

For those who want a costume that does what it says on the tin. You could go as an oversized cello (a cute one for the kids):

Bonus points for bringing an actual cello as an accessory:

Here’s a violin costume that is ‘playable’, equipped with a sound chip, a headpiece and a stick shaped as a bow. It’s currently out of stock on Amazon, but it’s one to watch if you’re planning early for next year.

Here are some rave reviews in case you need convincing:

‘One of my kids bought this to wear to a concert out in Nashville. It’s absolutely fantastic! It was a little bit better quality than I thought it would be, so occasionally, he will wear it around the house just for fun, especially that headpiece which is hysterical! The little song it plays is not the best thing to hear for the 5th time in a row while you are fighting traffic though.’

‘I’ve got a lot of compliments on my Halloween costume. Especially the head piece, even though I didn’t think I would wear it, but it turned out to be the best attention catcher’.

The instrument enthusiast:

For those not completely committed to dressing up as an instrument, but wanting to show off their love for their instrument with themed attire:

A violin/cello hat (make sure to bend down when passing through doors):

And something for those who aren’t so keen on a Halloween party and want to show where their real intentions lie:

A human violin?

If you want the ultimate violin costume, look to François Ouimet, ‘The Human Violin’, whose wearable violin act has appeared on talent shows across Europe and North America. The get-up combines part costume, part musical instrument and part circus-style performance act.

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A science experiement:

Sure, you may be thinking about Frankenstein’s monster. But how about going as one of the participants in a recent study undertaken by researchers at the University of Nottingham; where novice violinists had their brains scanned before and after a violin lesson. The results were fascinating, and showed how the brain changed after tuition. 

Imagine turning up to your Halloween party wearing the OPM-MEG scanner helmet, in its eye-catching, fluorescent colours, sporting a modified, metal-free violin. It’s a costume sure to get you plenty of comments and spark some serious scientific conversation.

Wednesday Addams:

Since Jenna Ortega’s portrayal of the eponymous character on Netflix’s Wednesday, the cello-playing Addams daughter has become one of the easiest crossover costumes for string players: black dress, pale makeup and braided hair. Remember to BYO cello, and bonus points for performing a rendition of ‘Paint It Black’ at any Halloween gathering.

The dodgy stock photo violinist:

Minimal effort, high reward. For this costume, you’ll want to make sure you have a stunt instrument to sacrifice by removing its bridge (its soundpost may make an appearance at some point too), as well as a bow that you’re willing to tighten to levels beyond comfortable.

Be sure to take regular breaks from holding the bow and instrument so awkwardly (we recommend doing stretches between stints), but most importantly, make sure you look like you’re having blissful fun!

What are you dressing up as for Halloween? Let us know at thestrad@thestrad.com!