Christmas Hits for Teens, Book 2: Piano Book

Coates strikes a rare balance here: each arrangement honors the original melody and groove while staying genuinely playable for intermediate pianists. The mix of sacred and secular titles means you can program this collection for holiday concerts, recitals, or casual performance contexts without having to source multiple books. Teenagers appreciate that these don't feel simplified; they feel like real, satisfying arrangements of songs they actually know.

Festive without being saccharine. These arrangements capture the warmth and energy of familiar holiday melodies while offering enough harmonic interest and rhythmic variation to keep pianists engaged throughout.

Intermediate teenage pianists preparing for holiday recitals, ensemble performances, or casual holiday gatherings where recognizable songs are a draw. This book works equally well for students working through repertoire on their own or those preparing pieces for lessons and performances.

• Balance the melody against any accompanying figures in the left hand; resist the urge to overdrive the lower register, which can obscure the tune.
• Use the tempo markings as starting points, but adjust based on your comfort with the harmonic rhythm. "Jingle Bell Rock" and "The Christmas Waltz" especially benefit from a confident, steady pulse.
• Pay attention to any dynamic markings and text cues throughout; Coates often indicates where voices shift or where the arrangement departs from the standard version.

Build an entire holiday recital around this collection, or select individual pieces to anchor a mixed-repertoire concert. You might also use it as foundation material for a winter lesson series, introducing students to seasonal programming while they develop intermediate-level reading and performance skills.

• Interpreting dynamic and articulation markings in arrangement context
• Managing melody and accompaniment balance on a single instrument
• Recognizing and executing common chord progressions in holiday repertoire
• Adjusting tempo to accommodate harmonic rhythm and phrase structure
• Performing from lead sheets and arranged notation without relying solely on ear