The Best Christmas Songs for Beginner Piano Students
For Piano Students
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We know the usual traditional Christmas tunes beginner piano students get to learn. Jingle Bells, Up On the Housetop, and sometimes Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
But I’ve had students ask for some fun Christmas tunes that aren’t as widely available for beginner piano students.
So I made a few for their level, then found others, and put together this list for parents, teachers, and students looking for even more unique and cheerful selections at beginner levels.
Here’s the list I’ve put together that will hopefully add even more merriment to your Christmas season.
Don’t forget to check out some of my other articles on practice tips for learning to play songs quickly! Get that Christmas set list down early for the family to enjoy.
Popular Christmas Songs
For popular Christmas songs from the radio or your favorite playlist, try these.
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All I Want For Christmas Is You By Lady Antebellum. By Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff. Arranged by Laura Reynolds. Contemporary. Score. 3 pages. Laura Reynolds #6111545. Published by Laura Reynolds (A0.810389). |
This pop tune icon “All I Want for Christmas Is You” can easily be tailored to, and learned by students in levels 1-3 in method book curriculums.
You will see 8th notes and simple left hand harmonies for level 1 students. The right hand does move a bit for students in level 1, but can easily be taught by rote. If you already have them practicing transposing songs in the positions they know on the piano this will be much easier and they will learn it in no time.
This version is great for students learning scales in level 2 material. I like to tie the two together so they see why scales apply to playing in music.
There are some triplets for students in level 3 and a fun slide every student will love.
For students having trouble with the small triplet section, just have them play a shuffle pattern instead. It will still sound great and is fun to learn.
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Jingle Bell Rock Composed by Gary Keady, Gary Lawrence Keady, John Mcintyre Vallins, Phillip Beazley, and John Vallins. Arranged by Laura Reynolds. Contemporary. Score. 3 pages. Laura Reynolds #6111515. Published by Laura Reynolds (A0.810387). |
Jingle Bell Rock is a pop song and a soundtrack so you’ll see more practice tips from me in the next genre section.
The first thing to do is practice stepping up and down one piano key in the left hand. That will set you up pretty quickly for successs.
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My Favorite Things By Lorrie Morgan. By Richard Rodgers. Arranged by Laura Reynolds. Broadway, Film/TV. Score. 3 pages. Laura Reynolds #4990963. Published by Laura Reynolds (A0.810365). |
This has a waltz rhythm for students needing more work on 3/4 time signatures. It also uses scales for students in level 2 method books.
There’s not a bunch of crazy chords, it’s mostly simple intervals. If you follow the finger suggestions and practice the jumps students will pick this piece up quite fast.
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Best Modern Christmas Songs -. By Various. Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook. Christmas. Softcover. 128 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.367424). |
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Most-Streamed Christmas Songs -. By Various. Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook. Christmas, Christmas Secular. Softcover. 208 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.666189). |
These two recommendations have a lot of great popular song requests but are a bit more advanced than my previous recommendations. Students can still easily learn these with some help. You can find some tips and practice skills in some of my other blog posts.
If a more challenging arrangement is what you’re looking for then these books are perfect.
Christmas Show Tunes & Film Soundtracks
For songs you like from that favorite holiday movie, check out these.
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White Christmas By Dave Koz & Kelly Sweet. By Irving Berlin. Arranged by Arr. by Laura Reynolds. Contemporary. Score. 3 pages. Laura Reynolds #6114075. Published by Laura Reynolds (A0.810390). |
White Christmas is always a great classic to add to your repertoire!
This arrangement is best for students in 2 or 2B, and 3 Curriculums. Despite its simplicity, it still keeps a full and rich sound and keeps the intro to the song. You will see eighth notes, dotted quarter notes, parallel 6ths, easy I, IV, and V chord arrangements that match method book voicing introductions, High Treble Clef C, and some ledger lines.
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Jingle Bell Rock Composed by Gary Keady, Gary Lawrence Keady, John Mcintyre Vallins, Phillip Beazley, and John Vallins. Arranged by Laura Reynolds. Contemporary. Score. 3 pages. Laura Reynolds #6111515. Published by Laura Reynolds (A0.810387). |
This Jingle Bell Rock music arrangement is centered around the Middle C piano key, but the left hand will have to step up and down one piano key for the melody. Students will also need to find one sharp and one flat and count for eighth notes.
If you play by ear a bit, the toughest measure of rhythm will be quite easy to play. To really make it fun and easy to pick up, warm up playing a D minor Penta Scale using different rhythms.
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Linus And Lucy By The Vince Guaraldi Trio. By Vince Guaraldi. Arranged by K.L. Phillips. Christmas, Contemporary. Score. 5 pages. K L Phillips #6196419. Published by K L Phillips (A0.751682). |
There are two exercises to help students adjust to the hand alternation in Linus and Lucy.
Play finger games using Simon Says and alternate hands. Try to trip them up by saying the same hand once they catch on to this pattern, or not saying Simon Says to keep them on their toes and really listening.
Warm up Playing your Penta Scales one note at a time and alternating hands. Example: Play left-hand C, then right-hand C. Then move up to left-hand D, then right-hand D, and so forth.
Christmas Jazz Style
For students who enjoy jazzy tunes, try these out.
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Deck the Halls Jazzy Easy Beginner Composed by Traditional. Arranged by Laura Reynolds. Children, Christmas, Concert, Jazz, Standards. Score. 2 pages. Laura Reynolds #6120421. Published by Laura Reynolds (A0.810388). |
This song has simple rhythms and basic I and V introductory chords. To learn the swing rhythm have students warm up playing their scales in swing time. This will make the transition in the song smoother.
There’s also a fun glissando students will enjoy.
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Christmas Time Is Here Composed by Vince Guaraldi. Arranged by Kimberly Steele. Jazz. Score. 2 pages. Kimberly Steele #3877339. Published by Kimberly Steele (A0.733313). |
Even though this song is categorized as a level 1 arrangement, it’s really more appropriate for piano students in levels 2A and 2B method books because of the dotted quarter note rhythms.
Students not quite there looking for a challenge can still play and make the most of their lessons by practicing aural skills. Have the teacher play a small section and then you try to pay back what you hear. You can also use the sheet music to point out rhythmic patterns.
Christmas Classical Nutcracker Themes
The Nutcracker Ballet Suite has found its way into our holiday traditions one way or another each year. We see it in our holiday home decor, many go to the Nutcracker ballet each Christmas, and we listen to it on the radio. Here are some piano pieces from the famous ballet to add to your piano repertoire this year.
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The Nutcracker Suite By Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. By Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893). Arranged by Richard Bradley. This edition: With Story and Coloring Book Illustrations. Masterworks; Piano - Easy Piano Collection; Piano Supplemental. Form: Suite. Christmas; Masterwork Arrangement; Romantic; Winter. Book. 40 pages. Alfred Music #00-BP3034A. Published by Alfred Music (AP.BP3034A). |
If you can’t make up your mind which piece to learn, you can get the whole suite in this book with pretty good beginner arrangements for each piece.
Less Overdone Traditional Christmas Pieces
For students still looking for a traditional Christmas tune that’s usually arranged for students who’ve played a bit longer, try these out.
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Hark the Herald Angels Sing Elementary Piano Composed by Felix Bartholdy Mendelssohn (1809-1847). Arranged by Laura Reynolds. Christian, Christmas, Instructional, Praise & Worship, Romantic Period. Score. 2 pages. Laura Reynolds #6133079. Published by Laura Reynolds (A0.810391). |
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Joy to the World Elementary Piano Composed by George Frideric Handel (1685-1759). Arranged by Laura Reynolds. Children, Christian, Christmas, Folk, Instructional. Score. 3 pages. Laura Reynolds #4991721. Published by Laura Reynolds (A0.810366). |
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Angels We Have Heard on High Elementary Piano Composed by Traditional. Arranged by Laura Reynolds. Children, Christian, Christmas, Folk, Instructional. Score. 3 pages. Laura Reynolds #4991625. Published by Laura Reynolds (A0.810363). |
Method Christmas Books
I use a lot of Christmas selections from these method books too when a student is learning that particular rhythm or note around that time of year and they fit great together.
I prefer the Faber series because they sound a bit more adult while using clean and easy to use notation and appropriate level advancements.
Here’s a few for you to look at in the first beginning levels of piano lessons.
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PreTime Christmas Primer Level. Arranged by Nancy Faber and Randall Faber. Faber Piano Adventures. Christmas, Recital, Supplementary. Softcover. 20 pages. Faber Piano Adventures #FF1015. Published by Faber Piano Adventures (HL.420124). |
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PlayTime Christmas Level 1. Arranged by Nancy Faber and Randall Faber. Faber Piano Adventures. Christmas, Recital, Supplementary. Softcover. 24 pages. Faber Piano Adventures #FF1002. Published by Faber Piano Adventures (HL.420111). |
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ShowTime Christmas Level 2A. Arranged by Nancy Faber and Randall Faber. Faber Piano Adventures. Includes traditional carols as well as seasonal favorites. Christmas. Softcover. 24 pages. Faber Piano Adventures #FF1037. Published by Faber Piano Adventures (HL.420146). |
Whichever Christmas song you decide to learn first, you’ll definitely enjoy any from this list. You’ll learn each song quickly if you follow some of the practice tips mentioned above.
