Christmas Time Is Here (arr. Fred Sokolow): Ukulele

Sokolow's take on this jazz standard respects the harmonic sophistication of the original while keeping the ukulele part singable and manageable. The three-page format gives students enough material to really inhabit the melody and chord changes rather than rushing through a skeletal lead sheet.

Warm and introspective, with the gentle vulnerability that defines this Vince Guaraldi classic. The ukulele's natural timbre pairs beautifully with the piece's nostalgic quality, creating an intimate rather than bombastic holiday presence.

Ukulele students at the late beginner to intermediate level who want to venture into jazz vocabulary. This arrangement also serves young ensemble directors building a ukulele section and seeking repertoire that sounds accomplished without demanding virtuosity.

• Capture the gentle swing feel by laying back slightly on the eighth notes rather than playing them straight. This small rhythmic adjustment transforms the piece from sentimental to sophisticated.
• Let the chord voicings breathe. Ukulele players often rush through chord changes out of nervousness; here, settling into each harmonic color for a beat or two makes the arrangement sing.
• Consider whether you'll play fingerstyle or strum. Sokolow's voice leading suggests fingerstyle, but a soft brush stroke pattern also works beautifully for ensemble settings.

Pair this with other jazz standards arranged for ukulele to create a small ensemble set, or use it as a solo feature within a larger holiday concert that spans multiple instrumental configurations. It's equally effective as a lesson piece for teaching jazz comping and as performance material.

• Reading jazz chord symbols and interpreting harmonic movement
• Understanding swing rhythms and phrasing conventions
• Voicing chords idiomatically for ukulele
• Balancing melody with accompaniment in a single instrument
• Interpreting a piece beyond written notation