Maybe it’s a bad habit, maybe it’s not.  I start playing piano Christmas music in September.  I even pick the Christmas Choir music early September.  The beauty of the Christmas season is made complete with music.  Everywhere you go from mid-November through the end of the year, Christmas music is playing.  There are so many songs… and the list grows longer every year.  If a new movie comes out whether it’s Hallmark, Disney, Hollywood, and it includes new Christmas music, all of a sudden it becomes popular and takes its place on the “list”.  My favorite semi new song has to be “Where Are You Christmas?” from the Grinch.  The Faith Hill version.  Someone wrote a piano solo to that melody and, of course, it’s in my collection. 

In my opinion the spiritual Christmas hymns still lead the pack.  Silent Night, Joy to the World, Angels We Have Heard On High, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Come All Ye Faithful, I Heard the Bells, and so on.  When someone has the talent and skill to arrange a medley of some of the above songs, especially for a piano solo, I’m in heaven.

Several years ago I came across a talented pianist, arranger and writer named Jason Tonioli.  He has two wonderful Christmas piano solo books and several piano solo hymn books and some secular books.  He has recorded piano music on CD’s as well.  This season he is offering a coupon for $4.00 off any of his music.  Here’s his website link: https://tonioli.com  He gave me permission to spread the word of his music on my website.  Take a look at his sheet music.  You can download some of it for free.  One of the things I love about his music, for the most part,  is you can sit down and play it.  It gives you such a lift and anyone listening to you play is lifted as well.  If you haven’t heard of him and check out his music and don’t love it, I’ll be shocked.  I’d love to hear your thoughts if you have time.

I was thinking what might be fun to leave you this week and decided on websites that lets us download music for free.  https://musescore.com/user/27167696/scores/5292764

 Irving Berlin’s White Christmas is a definite season favorite.  One more:  Carol of the Bells https://www.8notes.com/scores/2811.asp

Teaching Corner:

I keep a picture of the notes on the lines and spaces of the treble and bass clef on my piano.  The new students glance over at it when they are sight reading or when they can’t remember a note.  I found it on a free website, downloaded it and printed it on cardstock.  The internet is a valuable music resource.  Here’s one that is similar to mine.  I hope it will help your students learn to read music.