I have recently found out that I have got to play the piano on holiday

The scenario is a country house setting for enthusiastic walkers in the Christmas week. My husband is one of the walk leaders and the house manager has asked me to play for the guests at around 6.30pm while they have their pre-dinner drinks in the lounge.

I have the usual carol books to take with me - traditional and popular arrangements.

Does anyone have any experience of playing 'background' piano music? I will need music as I don't play by ear - any tips on some light repertoire, suitable for the occasion, not too challlenging as I haven't got much time to practise - say around Grade 5-6 standard. I am a good sight-reader.

Many thanks

That sounds good fun. Play something soothing and relaxing and not too lively. They will only half listen to you anyway so some medleys of Christmas stuff might be nice and perhaps some coctail piano music.

After Hours (Pam Wedgwood) has some possible pieces in - although not Christmassy. But if you wanted a change from seasonal things .. ?

There are three books - the one I have to hand is only grades 3-5 but the others are 4-6 and 5-6 if the blurb on the back is any indication.

I gave a background music job to a pupil of mine who is about grade 4/5 standard as I couldn't do it due to work. She loved it! I lent her my big "Joy of Christmas" book as this is quite easy to sight read but sounds good. There was enough to keep her going for an hour anyway.

What we practised was sight reading the easy music, but using the guitar chords to flesh it out a bit

She also played a few of her own pieces in between, as it doesn't have to be all Christmassy. It's nice as people aren't listening intently so you can relax a bit.

I've always had sheet music with me doing anything like this and there's no problem with doing that. I know a lot of people play from memory/ear only for background music, but no one cares whether you have a book in front of you or not.

Hope you have fun

Why don't you also take a book of duets with you - you never know, there may be another pianist - or pianists - in the group.

Thank you all. It is very likely that there will be another pianist among the guests, so good idea to take a duet book. I met one of my best piano teacher friends on a walking holiday back in 2000 and there was lady last year who helped out in a sing-a-long - by the time everyone was warmed up by Thursday evening!!

I love the idea of the Pam Wedgewood 'After Hours' book - I had forgotten about those and I didn't know the standard - they sound ideal for non-Christmas fare. Good tip too about soothing and relaxing music - I'll need that too after walking 8 miles in the freezing cold all day - good company though makes it fun!
And I won't have to cook the Christmas dinner

Edit: Just found an 'After Hours Christmas' and a duet book by Pam W. on-line. I'll be phoning the music shop tomorrow asap - hope they've got them in stock!

something familiar that people will know, like arrangements of well known jazz or pop ballads, there are quite a few good collections available.

In assembly at school, I often play Einaudi stuff as background music - and it's relaxingly easy so that's fine!

I have found that the slow movements of Haydn and Mozart sonatas go down well in those situations. Many of them are sight-readable at grade 6. It is wonderful music for anyone that cares to listen properly, but will also provide a non-intrusive background for those that choose not to.

I went to the shop today and bought 'After Hours' Book One which does the job very nicely and also the Christmas version - more difficult but manageable and great fun to play. There are some duets in there as well. (BTW - anyone looking for DipABRSM Quick Study practice these books are ideal with key and time changes all over the piano etc).

I'll take the Einaudi - and I might take some easy Clementi, Kuhlau etc. I've got some Kember jazz as well - should be enough to keep me going for seven days playing!

Thanks again to everyone.

Happy Christmas all

xx