Fun & Games for Christmas: Late Elementary Piano Book

Holiday books can feel like obligatory filler, but Rossi integrates musical learning so seamlessly into the games that students don't realize they're sharpening their skills. The familiar carols give students immediate wins (they know the melodies), while the creative settings and embedded activities keep them engaged beyond surface-level familiarity.

Playful without being silly. The carols retain their warmth and familiarity while the creative settings and interactive games bring fresh energy to material students think they already know. There's genuine musical substance here, not just decoration.

Late elementary pianists who need holiday repertoire that feels fun rather than like work. This book serves teachers looking for material that extends beyond simple arrangements and includes intentional music theory reinforcement woven into the performance itself.

• Read through the games before assigning them to understand the musical concepts each one targets; this helps you reinforce those concepts in lessons.
• Let students choose which carol settings appeal to them rather than assigning them sequentially; ownership increases practice time and polish.
• Use the games as skill-building stations during group lessons or studio classes, rotating students through different activities so no one feels stuck on drill work.

Program individual carol settings for studio recitals throughout December, or use the entire collection as a December studio class where students perform their favorite selections for each other. The games work equally well as winter break practice assignments that keep students engaged without requiring teacher feedback.

• Recognizing and playing carol melodies in varied harmonic contexts
• Music theory application through embedded games
• Sight-reading in late elementary ranges and common key signatures
• Rhythmic accuracy in familiar melodic contexts
• Building confidence with holiday material