Holiday Rock: F Educational Pack
Angels We Have Heard on High / God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen / Deck the Halls / Dreydl Song / Jingle Bells
Traditional / arr. Chris M. Bernotas
Grade: 0.5 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0018485_F_EDPAK
$3.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
This version of Holiday Rock arranged by Chris Bernotas is part of our Alfred FLEX offerings and is designed with maximum flexibility for use by any mix of instruments---wind, strings, and percussion, including like- or mixed-ensembles with as few as 4 players. The suggested instrumentation and a customizable Teacher Map will help you plan out how to best assign parts to suit your ensemble's needs. The 4-part instrumentation will support balanced instrumentation of the lower voices. It also comes with supplemental parts for maximum flexibility. With the purchase of this piece, permission is granted to photocopy the parts as needed for your ensemble. A percussion accompaniment track is also available as a free download. String parts have been carefully edited with extra fingerings and appropriate bowings to support students in mixed ensembles playing in less familiar keys.
This holiday mash-up only uses the first six notes of the scale and is VERY easy---perfect for the first concert. With no articulations, dynamics, dotted notes, or key signature, this wonderful arrangement by Chris Bernotas is playable by the youngest of bands. (2:20)
Percussion Accompaniment Track Downloads:
with click
without click.
This holiday mash-up only uses the first six notes of the scale and is VERY easy---perfect for the first concert. With no articulations, dynamics, dotted notes, or key signature, this wonderful arrangement by Chris Bernotas is playable by the youngest of bands. (2:20)
Percussion Accompaniment Track Downloads:
with click
without click.
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Sound Innovations for Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
89
SKU:
00-PC-0018485_F_EDPAK
More about this title
About the Arranger: Chris M. Bernotas
Chris M. Bernotas directs instrumental publications at Alfred Music, where he shapes curriculum and repertoire for band and orchestra programs across North America and beyond. With more than 25 years in music education, he combines classroom experience with compositional skill to create music that addresses what teachers actually need: pieces that engage students while respecting their developmental stage.
Beyond his publishing work, Bernotas regularly conducts honor bands and clinics, bringing fresh pedagogical approaches to directors and their ensembles. He has authored numerous educational resources including the Sound Innovations series, Sound Percussion, Sound Artistry, and Sound Performance. His arrangements and compositions are performed globally by ensembles ranging from elementary students to advanced groups, and his career reflects a fundamental commitment to fostering creativity and growth in both students and the educators who teach them.
Why we love this
This is the perfect opener for an ensemble's first holiday concert. The scaffolding is masterful: pentatonic melody, no key signature, no articulation markings, and a design that thrives with any combination of instruments you have available. Bernotas has eliminated every barrier to success without sacrificing genuine musicality.
What to expect
Bright, celebratory, and utterly approachable. The pentatonic framework gives the melody immediate familiarity while the minimal notation lets young players focus on ensemble listening and phrasing rather than decoding complex symbols. It sounds polished and intentional within two or three rehearsals.
Who it's for
This arrangement serves ensembles in grades 1-3 that are just building confidence, including mixed instrumentation groups where students play instruments unfamiliar to their section (such as strings in a band or winds in an orchestra). It works equally well for very small ensembles of 4 or 5 players and for full mixed groups where flexibility in part assignments prevents exclusion.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the parts carefully in early rehearsals by listening to which instruments are carrying melody versus accompaniment, then adjust seating or part assignments to ensure the tune cuts through clearly.
- Use the provided Teacher Map to assign parts strategically before rehearsal begins; mixing instruments on the same line (such as trumpet with violin on Part 1) creates natural doublings that stabilize young players.
- Download both the click and click-free accompaniment tracks and alternate between them during rehearsals to build independence while maintaining ensemble cohesion.
- With string parts that include fingerings and bowing guides, take time in the first rehearsal to verify that bowings are comfortable for your players and adjust if needed for mixed-ability groups.
How to use it
Program this as your winter concert opener to build ensemble confidence and audience goodwill early in the show. Its accessibility makes it an excellent choice for a school assembly or community performance where you need immediate musical impact without lengthy rehearsal preparation. You might also use it as a sightreading exercise or warm-up in January and February.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and playing in unfamiliar keys with fingering and bowing guides
- Blending tone quality across mixed instrument groups
- Listening to ensemble balance and adjusting dynamic contribution
- Following a conductor with confidence in a heterogeneous ensemble
- Understanding part assignments and flexibility in instrumental roles