Who Let the Elves Out?: Guitar Chords

López takes a beloved carol and transforms it into something that feels completely fresh without losing its melodic core. The rock groove grounds the arrangement in territory your students already understand, while the optional written-out drumset solo lets you decide how much independence to demand from your percussion section.

Imagine a medieval court interrupted by a rock band. The chart keeps that stately carol melody intact but reimagines it bouncing over a driving backbeat and syncopated horns. It's festive without being saccharine, and the energy keeps the holiday concert from feeling like a sleepy reverence fest.

This is ideal for holiday programs featuring newer jazz ensembles or mixed-ability groups. The very easy grading means students focusing on fundamentals can still contribute meaningfully while more advanced players get room to interpret the groove.

• Lock the eighth-note pocket early in sectional rehearsals. A tight rhythm section will make the entire ensemble sound more polished, even at this easy level.
• Treat the wind solo section as a chance to let your section leaders shine individually. Pre-assign soloists and give them space to find their voice over the accompaniment.
• If your drummer isn't ready for the written solo, use it as a study tool in private lessons or drop it entirely without affecting the arrangement's arc.
• Nail the articulation of the melody line during the opening statement. Clear tonguing will cut through the rock texture and make the carol recognizable from the first phrase.

Pair this with a ballad or standard earlier in the concert to show range, then close a set with this crowd-pleasing rocker. It works especially well in a holiday concert that balances traditional and contemporary material, or as a second-half opener to shift the energy after a block of classical repertoire.

• Rock and funk groove articulation in jazz context
• Reading and performing syncopated ensemble parts
• Soloing over a fixed groove (wind solo section)
• Coordination between melody line and accompaniment figures
• Optional: reading a written drumset part with jazz vocabulary