These charming collections of popular Christmas carols for beginning piano students are arranged in order of difficulty. Each song includes an optional duet part for a teacher or parent to play on the same keyboard. Titles: Jingle Bells * Angels We Have Heard on High * Hark! The Herald Angels Sing * Silent Night * Go, Tell It on the Mountain * O Little Town of Bethlehem * The Twelve Days of Christmas.
Discover MakeMusic Cloud: thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.
Willard A. Palmer established himself as a prolific composer and pedagogue whose output spans 789 published works across accordion, piano, guitar, and choral literature. His compositions have circulated globally in translations including German, Japanese, French, Dutch, and Spanish. Palmer's scholarly rigor shaped the Alfred Masterworks series and earned him international recognition as a Baroque music authority; he received both a Doctor of Humanities degree (1971) and a Doctor of Music degree (1983) in recognition of his musicological contributions.
Palmer's foundation in performance began early. He played piano on radio broadcasts at age 13 and studied under Mae Vardeman, whose emphasis on improvisation and solid technique became central to his teaching philosophy. His academic career included eighteen years on the music faculty at the University of Houston, where he created the first successful college accordion courses. He served as director of the Riemenschneider Bach Institute and held membership in the American Federation of Musicians, the American Accordionists' Association, and ASCAP.
Why we love this
Palmer understands that young pianists need repertoire that feels celebratory without overwhelming their developing skills. Each carol is carefully calibrated in difficulty, allowing students to experience genuine success within weeks of starting Book D. The optional duet parts transform every piece into a partnership, giving students the gift of immediate musical satisfaction when learning alongside teacher or parent.
What to expect
Familiar melodies bloom beneath developing hands. These arrangements capture the warmth and joy of Christmas carols without the technical barriers that typically accompany holiday collections. Playing them feels like a genuine accomplishment rather than a chore.
Who it's for
Pianists in their first year of study, particularly those working through Alfred's Basic Piano Prep Course at the Level D stage. Music teachers and parents seeking engaging holiday material for young beginners will find immediate value in the duet arrangement feature, which transforms solo practice into shared performance.
How to get the most out of it
Balance the duet parts so the student melody remains audible. The accompaniment should support, not overshadow, the learning musician's voice.
Use the progression of difficulty as your pacing guide. You can teach multiple pieces across several weeks or focus on one carol per rehearsal, depending on your student's readiness.
Encourage rhythmic independence by having the student tap their part while you play the duet. This separation builds confidence before combining the lines.
Record yourself playing the duet part and let your student practice with the playback. Hearing a complete performance demystifies what "finished" sounds like.
How to use it
Assign pieces from this collection during November and December to keep students engaged through the winter season while reinforcing technique work. A student recital featuring solo carols alongside teacher duets creates a celebratory atmosphere and showcases how far beginning pianists have come. Alternatively, mix these selections into student performances at holiday gatherings or school events, where familiar melodies resonate with audiences and build confidence.
Skills your students will build
Reading and playing across both treble and bass clefs with increasing fluency
Maintaining steady rhythm while listening to a separate musical line
Executing hand position and finger dexterity across progressively wider intervals
Interpreting phrasing and dynamics in familiar melodic contexts
Building ensemble awareness through duet participation
You May Also Like
Scan to Complete Your Purchase
Use your phone's camera to scan the code below
You'll log in on your phone and the order will be added to your account
