Premier Piano Course, Christmas 6: Piano Book

Alexander's Christmas arrangements strike the balance every studio teacher craves: pieces recognizable enough to motivate students, yet arranged thoughtfully to reinforce the exact techniques from the corresponding lesson book. The orchestration feels rich without requiring hand stretches beyond a Level 6 student's reach, and the mix of sacred and secular selections gives you programming flexibility whether you're planning a winter recital or a holiday lesson celebration.

These arrangements capture the warmth and familiarity of holiday tradition while maintaining musical substance. Each piece unfolds with clear melodic intention and harmonic color, creating moments of genuine beauty rather than simplified decoration. Students will find satisfaction in playing recognizable melodies with real musical shape.

Intermediate Level 6 piano students who have worked through the Premier Piano Course Lesson Book 6 and are ready to apply those concepts in a celebratory context. This collection works equally well for studio recitals, group holiday performances, or motivated individual practice during the winter season.

• Lean into the character of each piece by adjusting tempo slightly; Sleigh Ride should feel buoyant and playful, while Silent Night benefits from a gentle, unhurried pace that lets the harmony breathe.
• Balance the melody and accompaniment by listening to how the two hands sit together in pieces like Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas; students often push the top line too hard when they should let the left hand anchor the musicality.
• Use the repetition in pieces like Deck the Halls strategically, encouraging students to listen for subtle differences between first and second statements rather than playing them identically.

Program one or two selections as part of a year-end studio recital, or use the entire collection as a thematic set for a December lesson celebration. The variety of arrangements makes it possible to program across different teaching styles within a single event; a student performing Silent Night creates a different energy than one playing Sleigh Ride.

• Playing with stylistic variety across multiple genres (sacred hymn, folk melody, concert waltz, orchestral arrangement)
• Maintaining musical independence between hands while supporting melody with accompaniment patterns
• Applying hand position and technique concepts to new repertoire with familiar melodies
• Interpreting tempo and phrasing choices appropriate to each piece's character
• Building confidence with performance-ready pieces at an intermediate level