I Wish It Was Christmas All Year: Piano/Vocal/Chords

This folio gives pianists direct access to Brickman's distinctive arranging voice across a full holiday album. The collection balances familiar carol material (Away in a Manger, Blue Christmas) with Brickman originals and fresh interpretations, so the program never feels formulaic. Whether you're building a winter recital or looking for repertoire that connects with audiences beyond traditional classical circles, this collection delivers sophisticated yet accessible piano writing.

The collection evokes the introspective quiet of a winter evening: sometimes glowing and celebratory, other times gently reflective. Brickman's arrangements wrap familiar melodies in contemporary harmonic language, creating a sense of tradition reimagined rather than tradition replayed. There's warmth throughout, but it's the warmth of candlelight, not spectacle.

Pianists preparing winter recitals, holiday concert performances, or personal repertoire that bridges classical and contemporary sensibilities. This book serves intermediate to advanced players comfortable with jazz-influenced harmony and who want to expand beyond standard classical holiday arrangements.

• Balance the melody against left-hand accompaniment patterns; Brickman's arrangements often layer subtle harmonic movement beneath a soaring line, so resist the urge to overshadow the foundation.
• Pay attention to dynamic contrast within each piece. These arrangements create space through selective use of pedal and texture rather than dramatic swells, so listening closely to where the music thins and thickens will shape your interpretation.
• Approach the mix of sacred and secular material as a curated emotional arc rather than disconnected songs, allowing transitions between pieces to feel intentional.

Build an entire holiday concert around this folio, letting the variety of tempos and moods create natural momentum across the evening. Alternatively, select individual pieces to open or close a winter recital, or pair them with classical sonatas to show how holiday material can work across multiple styles and eras on the same program.

• Reading jazz-influenced chord symbols and substitutions
• Balancing independent melodic and harmonic lines in the right hand
• Voice leading in contemporary arrangements of traditional material
• Dynamic control through texture and pedal rather than volume alone
• Transitioning smoothly between pieces in a thematic program