Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
There are many reasons why I love Christmas, but without doubt, among the best is the rich and varied tapestry of music we play purely for our enjoyment, and share with others for theirs. Music can and should always bring people together, and at this time of year it perhaps does so more than at any other.
Supporting players, teachers and learners everywhere, the Pianodao Music Library offers in depth reviews of a wide range of seasonally-themed piano publications to suit all tastes and levels of playing.
Each year, my Christmas Shortlist is here to help guide you through this treasure-trove, opening a door to this wealth of wonderful music, guided by level.
Best of all, the list automatically updates whenever titles are added, updated, or replace, so that you can come back throughout the season for the latest and best recommendations. Enjoy the festive season…
Beginner to Elementary
As Christmas approaches, it’s natural that anyone playing the piano will want to explore seasonal fare, and there need be no disappointment.
Here are some of the best publications for beginner to elementary players (up to UK Grade 2) who are eager to get into the Christmas spirit…
Christmas for Ten Fingers
OUP Music’s evergreen ‘Piano Time Carols’ book now has a contemporary redesign, with added audio, and they have also published the excellent ‘Christmas for Ten Fingers’ for younger learners.
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Pianoworks Christmas
Within my teaching practice, Pianoworks Christmas has proven to be a perennial chestnut, and my top, most tasty recommendation for a basic no-frills Christmas songbook.
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Easy Piano Series: Christmas
What I especially like here is the quality of the arrangements, so sympathetic to the originals while also being accessible to less advanced players. That others can join in, singing and strumming along, is the icing on an already delicious stollen!
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Get Set! Christmas Crackers
There are many good Christmas collections for beginners, but this one is special, offering a genuinely unique and brilliantly educational approach…
Keep readingEarly Intermediate
Intermediate players will continue to enjoy all the publications listed in the Elementary section above, either as ‘quick-win’ pieces, sight reading material, or as a starting point for developing fuller creative arrangements themselves.
Meanwhile, the field of appealing publications significantly opens up at this level, and here are some of my favourite choices:
Calming Christmas Carols for Graded Piano
With so many Christmas-themed piano books on the market, and with yet more appearing to challenge our established favourites each year, it takes something quite special and distinctive to stand out from the crowd. And here it is…
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Simply Christmas
This brilliant collection of 24 traditional carols, suitable for late elementary to intermediate players (Grades 2-5), stand out from the crowd thanks to some truly exceptional and fresh arrangements.
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Piano Player • Christmas Time
As a simple book of seasonal fare, this surprise addition to Faber’s “Piano Player” imprint joins a crowded market, but for collectors of the series its appeal will be obvious, while for those wanting a fairly standard book of Christmas music it makes an attractive and affordable choice…
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The Pam Wedgwood Christmas Collection
Pam Wedgwood has created some excellent Christmas music over the years, and this well-priced anthology offers a progressively arranged and nicely balanced selection of some of her very best seasonal music for elementary and intermediate players.
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Christmas Around the World
Jennifer Linn’s “Christmas Around the World” might not be the first publication to curate seasonal music from a wider range of traditions than is typical, but I think it is probably the most musically engaging and successful attempt I have yet seen…
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Piano Calm Christmas
While the music in this collection has the Christmas stamp on it throughout, I am happy to report that the piano writing and style of arrangement is in a similar vein to the previous ‘Piano Calm’ book, making this a perfect fusion of seasonal cheer and relaxed piano vibe.
Keep readingLate Intermediate
The Christmas Market stall is also well stocked with increasingly challenging arrangements and music suitable for the developing player.
The following publications would suit the later intermediate player, and in many cases offer more reflective pianistic versions of the established favourites:
The Christmas Piano Book
The Christmas Piano Book is truly one to cherish, and designed to stand the test of time. Here is a distinctive collection that firmly and unapologetically celebrates the season with a smorgasbord of superb classical melodies and evocative Christmas pieces.
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A Nostalgic Christmas
‘A Nostalgic Christmas’, from Hal Leonard, offers 17 fresh arrangements of popular Christmas favourites, suitable for early advanced pianists.
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Christmas Imaginations
This selection of arrangements written by composers with very contrasting styles proves to be a collection with genuine educational and musical value, and one to which I expect to return as a teacher, and for my own personal pleasure, for many years to come. Truly superb!
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Phillip Keveren Carol Anthology
This anthology offers “36 Stunning Seasonal Arrangements”, selected from five previous Phillip Keveren titles, and including five new arrangements. Could it be the only Christmas collection late intermediate players need?
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Piano Player • Wintertide
With its gorgeous presentation, superb musical selection, adept pianistic arrangements and helpful fingering, it is very easy to recommend Faber Music’s Wintertide Collection to late intermediate and more advanced players everywhere:
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Peaceful Christmas Playlist
With content that will have wide appeal and suggests versatile use, Faber Music’s ‘Peaceful Piano Playlist Christmas’ will be especially attractive to late intermediate players who embrace a wide range of music and will appreciate the relaxed contemporary vibe…
Keep readingMore Advanced
For the more advanced piano player, there are many wonderful seasonal publications, including several stunning jazz collections. Take your pick from these:
John Rutter • Complete Piano Album
John Rutter is rightly considered a national treasure, and publisher OUP Music are celebrating his 80th birthday year with this fresh compilation of his Christmas and solo Piano Album as one superb collection of 16 pieces.
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Christmas Boogie and Jazz
For advanced players with a penchant for boogie and jazz piano, here’s where the Christmas party starts!
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Jazz It Up! Christmas
From boogie-tinged swing to Latin spice, taking in waltz and ballads along the way, every one of these dazzling arrangements proves totally irresistible, adding up to one of the most charming and joyously festive collections I’ve yet discovered…
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Donald Thomson’s Winter Piano Music
With ‘Winter Piano Music’ Donald Thomson has delivered a winning collection which deserves to find its place as a seasonal favourite for many years to come…
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Peaceful Christmas Piano Solos
Housed within a subtle, understated cover, “Peaceful Christmas Piano Solos” succeeds in looking very sophisticated from the outset… I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed in this excellent collection.
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Jazz on a Winter’s Night
Jazz on a Winter’s Night has established itself as my all-time favourite Christmas music book, but its sequel gives it a run for its money!
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The Christmas Piano Anthology
This is a book which has significantly raised the bar, instantly establishing itself as the new “must-have” Christmas music book.
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