Beyond the Traditional Carol: Fresh Holiday Repertoire for Piano Students
Guest Author: Chrissy Ricker, educator, composer and Musicnotes Signature Artist
Traditional holiday songs will always hold a special place in my heart. But after many years of teaching piano, I’ve found myself searching for fresh arrangements of familiar favorites that my students enjoy playing year after year. Let’s face it: you can only teach “Jingle Bells” so many times!
In this post, I’m sharing three ways to refresh your holiday piano repertoire, along with some of my favorite Christmas sheet music arrangements for students at every level, from early beginner through late intermediate. Whether your students love jazzy rhythms, expressive melodies, or playing piano duets with a friend, there’s something here to make the holiday season feel new again.
1. Jazz It Up with Fresh Holiday Piano Arrangements
These fun arrangements infuse classic holiday melodies with rock and jazz elements that make familiar tunes feel new again, even “Jingle Bells”! They’re perfect for piano students who enjoy driving rhythms, syncopation, and jazzy harmonies.
- "Jingle Bells": Early-beginner piano arrangement with a rock style teacher duet."
- "Silent Night": Early-beginner piano arrangement with a jazzy teacher duet.
- "Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town": Easy piano arrangement in a rock ’n’ roll style.
- "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer": Intermediate piano arrangement in a rock ’n’ roll style.
- "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!": Intermediate piano arrangement in a jazz style.
2. Mix In Heartfelt Christmas Favorites
These lyrical Christmas piano arrangements feature lush harmonies and flowing accompaniments. They’re ideal for students of all ages who enjoy expressive, beautiful music and want to bring a little warmth to a holiday recital or family gathering.
- "Where Are You Christmas?": Beginner piano arrangement with a teacher duet; also available in easy piano and intermediate piano.
- "Mary, Did You Know?": Beginner piano arrangement with a teacher duet; also available in easy piano, intermediate piano, and late-intermediate piano.
- "What Child Is This?": Beginner piano arrangement with a teacher duet; also available in easy piano and intermediate piano.
- "I’ll Be Home for Christmas": Late-intermediate piano arrangement for expressive players.
- "Silent Night": Late-intermediate piano arrangement with a lyrical, reflective feel.
3. Double the Fun with Christmas Piano Duets
Holiday piano duets are a fun way to teach ensemble skills and build a sense of community in your studio at the same time. Both parts in the duets below are evenly leveled, making these arrangements a great option for friends or siblings who want to enjoy their favorite holiday songs together.
- "Carol of the Bells": Beginner piano duet.
- "Baby, It’s Cold Outside": Easy piano duet.
- "You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch": Easy piano duet.
- "Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree": Intermediate piano duet.
- "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas": Intermediate piano duet.
A few fresh arrangements can go a long way toward keeping holiday piano lessons joyful, engaging, and musical. I hope these pieces help your students rediscover the holiday songs they already know and love.
Explore Chrissy Ricker’s complete sheet music catalog here
Chrissy Ricker is pianist, teacher, and composer. She has a passion for piano pedagogy and enjoys sharing her ideas with other teachers.