What are your favourite Christmas books for piano, at any level? Pam Wedgwood's Jazzin' About Christmas is good, and I also like A Jazzy Christmas arranged by Paul Honey for grade 6+.

At Christmas I always have a copy of the News Chronicle Christmas Music book open on the harmonium in my studio. Don't laugh! It is a lovely old copy, full of memories of singing and playing around the piano as a child with the rest of the family. The harmonium does not get used often, but I love the sound of it at this time of the year. My pupils have copies of "The Easiest Book of Christmas Carols" books 1 and 2 and they love these. Even the very youngest players can manage the melodies, even if they do cheat a bit and add the left hand parts by finger numbers at first!

"My pupils have copies of "The Easiest Book of Christmas Carols" books 1 and 2 and they love these. "


Who are these by petrat?

I don't like them.
I have used them with one student (the only one I've had who actually knew more than 2 Christmas carols).

I have these lurking in the piano stool somewhere...almost time to dig them out. Yay, I love Christmas! I never actually used them with a piano teacher though.

They are by Eleanor Franklyn-Pike. Book one is very simple and book two contains a few more unusual carols including some lovely French and Flemish ones.

I picked up a copy of John Thompson's Christmas Carols in a charity shop the other day for 10p (clearly unopened) and it's one of the best I've come across for young beginners!

I also like Christmas Carol Time by Fanny Waterman - solos with optional duet accompaniments, which are really easy. We have good fun with these when I have two pre-Grade Ones back to back. I get one to come 10 minutes early and tell the early one to get picked up 10 minutes late.

Bastien is great for those of those between Grade 1 and about 4.

Myself - I have that big red book - "The Best Christmas Song Book Ever".

EDIT - I forgot about Laura Shur - "Christmas Tunes For Three" - six hands, published by Novello (special order) Some of these are on the Trinity list for six hands - I can't remember what level. If you enjoy utter chaos, these are brilliant to do with pupils - and a real hit at pupil concerts! I haven't done it this year, as it does take a fair bit of effort on the teacher's part, and I'm busy, but if you've time to spare for extra lessons it's very rewarding and a real laugh. Don't put a broader than average child in the middle, though...

My all time favourite book for Christmas is Christmas Magic published by Chappell.

Is this still around? I have a copy of this from when I was learning the piano some twenty years ago and I don't think it was new even then.

Don't know Kerioboe, I've had my copy for some years...can't remember when I got it.

I'm rather fond of the Usborne Book of Christmas Carols. It's my way of seeing if I've improved since last year.

the only christmas book i've got is 'the joys of christmas'. beurrk.
im not a great christmas fan to be honest.
it overshadows my birthday too much! (boxing day)
haha im such a scrooge.....

The John Thompson book rocks... I've got a mixture of my pupils doing from the easiest to the slightly challenging carols. It comes out each year! For my own enjoyment, while I was at uni I did some great christmas duets, On the Lighter Side by John Kember. They set out the carols 'straight' so to speak and then jazzed up. I really enjoyed playing them, and they saw my friend and i through our ensemble element of degree! I can't recommend them enough!!!!

I've not used John Kember's Christmassy ones, but I do like some of the other books in his "Lighter Side" series.