All I Want For Christmas Is You (arr. Fred Sokolow): Ukulele

Fred Sokolow's ukulele treatment captures the warmth and accessibility that makes this holiday standard so beloved, while the five-page length keeps the arrangement digestible without sacrificing musicality. Players at intermediate levels get authentic phrasing cues and chord voicings that feel true to the original's character, making this an excellent choice for holiday recitals or informal ensemble settings.

Warm, instantly familiar, and celebratory. The arrangement invites a conversational approach to the melody, with enough harmonic substance to feel complete on a solo ukulele while remaining easy on the ears.

Intermediate ukulele players preparing for holiday performances, casual ensemble settings, or winter concert programming. Teachers seeking contemporary material with strong melodic hooks will find this accessible for classroom ukulele programs.

• Pay attention to the vocal melody line in the notation; Sokolow's arrangement preserves Carey's signature phrasing, which relies on slight rhythmic flexibility and well-placed breath points rather than metronomic precision.
• Test your fingering options across different positions on the neck before settling into one approach; ukulele arrangements of pop standards often benefit from hybrid positions that blend comfort with tonal consistency.
• Lean into dynamics across the sections; the opening verses sit differently than the chorus, and varying your touch and attack will maintain listener engagement across all five pages.

Feature this in a December recital or holiday concert where ukulele students need a contemporary showpiece with broad audience appeal. It works equally well as a standalone performance or paired with other modern holiday arrangements that demonstrate stylistic range.

• Navigating chord voicings across different neck positions
• Executing smooth transitions between verse and chorus sections
• Balancing melodic phrasing with harmonic accompaniment on a single instrument
• Interpreting rhythmic flexibility in written notation