Especially for Christmas, Book 3: Piano Book

Alexander's Christmas arrangements strike a rare balance: they feel sophisticated enough to keep advanced students engaged while remaining genuinely accessible to late intermediate players. The mix of sacred and secular selections means you can program selections from this book to fit almost any winter concert context, whether you're building a full holiday show or adding one standout piece to a broader recital.

This collection captures both the reverent beauty of traditional carols and the warmth of mid-century holiday standards. Whether tender and introspective or rhythmically spirited, every arrangement invites the pianist to shape familiar melodies with fresh harmonic colors and textures that feel both contemporary and timeless.

Late intermediate pianists who want holiday repertoire that respects their growing musical maturity. This book works equally well for private studio students preparing for seasonal recitals and ensemble players seeking accessible Christmas selections that won't require extensive rehearsal time.

• Explore the character contrasts in this collection. The reverent approach needed for The Coventry Carol or O Come, All Ye Faithful requires a completely different touch and tone color than the rhythmic vitality of the Jingle Bells boogie arrangement. Let students study how the same medium expresses such different moods.
• Use the familiar melodies as a learning tool. Since students likely know these carols already, they can focus their attention on Alexander's harmonic choices and accompaniment patterns rather than grappling with unfamiliar melodic material.
• Pay attention to the rhythmic precision in arrangements like the Jingle Bells boogie. Loose tempo control or uneven rhythmic groupings will undermine the groove. Lock into the pulse before worrying about rubato or expressive timing.

These selections pair naturally with larger winter concert frameworks: use Book 3 pieces as solo features between ensemble numbers, or select arrangements that match the emotional arc of your program. The variety means you can program a single carol for intimate recital settings or build an entire Christmas-themed student concerto from multiple selections.

• Balance between melody and accompaniment in varied harmonic textures
• Rhythmic precision in syncopated and boogie-style figures
• Pedal control across different sonorities and dynamic ranges
• Interpretation of familiar material through composer's harmonic language
• Sustained legato in hymn-like passages
• Coordination of independent hand parts with contrasting rhythmic patterns