Christmas Songs & Solos, Book 2: Piano Book

Goldston understood exactly what early intermediate pianists need: accessible first readings that build confidence, paired with genuinely musical elaborations that reward practice and provide real recital material. The dual-version format transforms familiar carols into teaching tools that grow with your students, preventing the holiday repertoire from feeling like filler and instead making it a season highlight.

These carols strike a balance between comfort and artistry. The song arrangements feel direct and singable, inviting you into the holiday spirit without demanding technical fireworks; the solo versions then bloom into richer textures, fuller harmonies, and genuine concert pieces that feel substantial without losing the warmth of the original tune.

Early intermediate to intermediate piano students preparing holiday recitals or seasonal performances. Students benefit from having two distinct performance options within a single piece, whether they're building repertoire or exploring how arrangers expand simple melodies into fuller musical statements.

• In the simple song arrangement, let the words guide your phrasing and tempo; the text will help you avoid mechanical rhythmic playing and shape the line naturally.
• When tackling the elaborate solo version, learn the introduction and coda separately before connecting them to the main arrangement; this prevents the added figurework from derailing your basic knowledge of the piece.
• Balance the melody and accompaniment in both versions by voicing chord tones clearly rather than playing thick left-hand blocks that obscure the tune.
• Use the simpler arrangement as a warm-up or refresher before performing the elaborate version, which helps your fingers settle into the more complex texture without building tension.

Present the simple arrangement early in rehearsal season or as a group warmup; later, feature individual students performing the elaborate solo version in a holiday concert. This structure allows students at different levels of preparation to contribute meaningfully to a December program, and it demonstrates orchestration concepts through live performance rather than abstract discussion.

• Harmonic awareness through chord-based accompaniment patterns
• Introductory improvisation and elaboration techniques
• Textural contrast and balance between melody and accompaniment
• Phrase shaping in familiar, text-driven melodies
• Interpretation of written introductions and codas as structural bookends