Anyone like to join this club if it doesn't already exist?! I really tried to hold off on carols until December, but have had so many pleading requests, followed by 'I promise to do more practice' that I caved in. Luckily I have accumulated quite a few versions over the years and get the kids to buy different books, but it's still driving me mad! Roll on January...............

The problem is, many of them won't get carols and Christmas songs anything like right if you don't start early. Not so much of a problem if it's just for fun, if it's for a school assembly or something it's important they play them well.

Which is why I started on carols with my recorder club in October - with apologies to the headmistress and an early warning to the teachers.

Yes, I agree, Jingle Bells is fairly dreadful, Rudolph isn't much better. Having to endure Frosty the Snowman as well this year, my recorder players were all clamouring for it.

I can cope with Jingle Bells, Jingle-bell Rock on the other hand is a different matter entirely.

I did a swung version of God Rest ye merry gentleman with a pupil today!!! Quite fun really.... got a swung version of I saw 3 ships for next week.

Makes a change from James Bond that my pupils all clamour to play... and the theme from Eastenders. As soon as we begin the higher notes on the clarinet they discover Eastenders in the book. My pupils often bump into each other and the boths seem to be able to memorise James Bond and play it as soon as the instrument is assembled and the next pupil comes in "X can play James Bond. Can I play it?" Or "Why haven't I learnt James Bond?"
ARRGGHH Actually the version I have has lots of slurring over the break so it's quite useful!!!

I like Jingle Bells.....
I even like Frosty the Snowman. (Not so sure about Jingle Bell Rock....)
I love jazzy versions God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, but my absolute favourite Christmas ditty of this type has to be Walking in a Winter Wonderland.

Now I'm off to hide....

I don't mind Jingle Bells too much. A lot of mine seem to be going for Silent Night so it will be the one stuck in my head for a month this year lol!

I got a lovely cd last year... "Christmas with the Rat Pack". It's fantastic and I've managed to work out all the songs for piano. There's a lovely one called "The Christmas Waltz". A nice change from all the usual sort of carols

I like 'em all! Which is just as well as I have 38 students singing Christmas songs in our student concert on 1st December. And poor hubby has been listening to them since August!

Have to say i love it when Christmas carols start coming up, although i avoid playing then until mid November (which means i can look out the book tomorrow ).
Rather difficult to choose a favourite, although White Christmas is especially good, and the flutes had a really nice part of the tune in the school band's arrangement.

Yes, I too have to start early - most particularly at our junior school where they really do need lots of practice for their Christmas Celebration. I've been at it all day with different groups and tomorrow will be the same.

I really. miss all those hundreds of lovely carols everyone in England knows. Nothing like that repertoire here.

The kids love Jingle Bells - and anything that encourages them to sing can't be a bad thing. It's also easy to play on the piano!

They also love good old Frosty, Rudolph and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

I tend to dig out the Rat Pack CD that I bought several X'mases ago - good old bit of nostalgia *sigh* but my favourite has to be "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" or "The Christmas Song"......

Is it the one with "Marshmallow World" on it? I love that one and I'd never heard it before

Not sure - I don't think so - but I can't find the CD to check!

Will look out for "Marshmallow World"

That sounds like my sort of record to chill out with with a glass of good red wine and a book, and leave the children's dad to play board games with the kids

I like most of them, but don't like the "Gloria" in Ding Dong Merrily. I am the only one in our choir who can do it in one breath though. There are advantages to being a wind player.
Bev.

Did you ever see "The Vicar of Dibley" episode where Alice had a choir and they just kept singing it lower and lower