Simply Christmas: Piano Book

Coates has a gift for balancing recognizability with playability. Every tune here sounds like itself, yet remains genuinely manageable for early intermediate pianists. The large print, detailed fingering, and performance markings mean your students spend rehearsal time making music, not squinting at notation or guessing at interpretation.

These arrangements capture the warmth and familiarity of the season without sacrificing musical substance. The writing invites singers and accompanists to find joy in melody and harmony alike, offering genuine musical satisfaction at an accessible level.

Early intermediate pianists preparing Christmas recitals or holiday performances benefit most from this collection. Students aged 8 and up, whether in private lessons or group settings, will find arrangements that challenge them without overwhelming them.

• Follow the pedal markings closely, especially in pieces like "O Holy Night" and "Silent Night" where the sustain pedal creates harmonic resonance that defines the arrangement's character.
• Use the phrase markings as breathing guides. Think of each marked phrase as a singer would approach it, shaping dynamics and tempo subtly within the marked sections.
• Observe the articulation markings precisely. Staccato touches in "Jingle Bells" and "Frosty the Snowman" add rhythmic lift, while legato lines in "Away in a Manger" require smooth voice leading.

Program one or more selections for a winter holiday concert featuring student soloists, or use several pieces as a set to open or close a festive program. The variety here supports anything from formal recitals to school assemblies and community performances.

• Reading large-print notation with confidence
• Interpreting articulation and phrase markings
• Managing sustain pedal effectively across different musical textures
• Executing fingering patterns that support legato and passagework
• Shaping dynamics within marked phrases
• Balancing melody and accompaniment in a two-hand framework