Christmas Carols for Easy Piano: Piano Book

Cohen knows the elementary piano student's world because she teaches in it. Her arrangements respect the technical ceiling while delivering full musical satisfaction; these aren't stripped-down versions of carols, they're compositions in their own right that let young pianists feel the seasonal warmth of each piece without frustration.

Familiar, warm, and achievable. These carols carry the weight of tradition without demanding virtuosity. Students encounter the joy of recognition, they know these melodies, but experience them fresh through the act of playing, creating a genuine sense of accomplishment.

Elementary piano students with basic note-reading fluency who are ready for real repertoire beyond method book etudes. This collection works equally well for private lesson students, group classes, or students preparing for their first holiday performance.

• Encourage students to sing or hum the melody while playing. The lyrics are included, so they can practice speaking or singing the text in rhythm, which solidifies the phrasing before adding the pedal.
• Let each student choose one carol to perform at a winter concert or family gathering. Ownership transforms a practice exercise into a real event worth preparing for.
• Pair these arrangements with recordings of the full versions. Hearing a professional performance of "O Holy Night" or "O Come All Ye Faithful" gives students context for interpretation and shows them what they're building toward.
• Frame ensemble opportunities early. Two students at similar levels can play through the same carol together, with one taking melody and one taking harmony, which builds listening and coordination skills.

Use this as your December sight-reading material across all elementary piano lessons, with students selecting two or three pieces to prepare fully for an end-of-term recital. The collection also anchors a winter concert where piano students perform alongside other instruments, offering accessible yet musically complete pieces that balance the program.

• Legato phrasing at the keyboard, using arm weight and sustain pedal
• Lyric awareness and musical storytelling through text
• Playing in multiple keys common to vocal arranging
• Hand independence and coordination in alberti bass patterns
• Sight-reading fluency across a varied collection of well-known melodies