Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course: Christmas Hits Book 2: Piano Book

Warm, accessible, and immediately familiar. You recognize every melody from the moment you read the first phrase, which lets you focus on the joy of playing rather than decoding unfamiliar material. The arrangements sit comfortably under the hands and capture the nostalgic, celebratory spirit of the holiday season.

Adult piano students working through Level 2 of Alfred's Basic Adult Course who want to apply their emerging skills to beloved Christmas repertoire. These arrangements honor both the songs adults remember and the reading level they've reached, making seasonal practice feel rewarding rather than frustrating.

• Balance melody and accompaniment by listening critically to which hand carries the line in each piece. Some arrangements spotlight the right hand melody while others distribute the tune across both hands.
• Treat the rhythm section (left hand accompaniment patterns) with the same precision you'd give the melody. Even simple broken chords and block chords define the character of these arrangements.
• Lean into the seasonal mood of each song. "A Marshmallow World" invites a light, dancing touch; "Mary Did You Know?" calls for sustained, thoughtful phrasing.
• Pedal sparingly at this level. Use the sustain pedal to enhance resonance in slower pieces, but lift it frequently in faster arrangements to keep clarity.

Assign individual pieces throughout the holiday season as students move through Level 2, or reserve the collection as a seasonal celebration unit in November and December. The 32-page format makes it easy to rotate selections into student recitals or casual performance opportunities without disrupting the main course sequence.

• Playing melody and accompaniment simultaneously with independent hand coordination
• Recognizing and executing common left-hand patterns (broken chords, block chords, Alberti bass figurations)
• Reading treble and bass clef in moderate tempos with varied rhythmic content
• Balancing dynamic control between hands to maintain musical phrasing
• Applying sustain pedal effectively in context of harmonic change
• Interpreting style and mood within the boundaries of Level 2 technique