Did you know that playing Christmas and holiday songs can make you a better pianist and give you a wonderful ROI besides?
In this article, I'll not only tell you how to revitalize music of the season, but I'll also explain how you will truly reap the benefits of your many hours of piano practice at this time each year.
To do this, I'll show you the types of arrangements followed by performances that I used to transform 7 well-known holiday selections.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas-Bass in 2
One of the best ways to play a medium tempo tune is to use the Bass in 2 accompaniment pattern. I learned to do this back in my early performing career when couples wanted to dance the Fox Trot.
Recently, when I was teaching one of my adult piano students how to play the bass in 2, he told me that he was quite familiar with the Fox Trot, because he met his wife when they were taking ballroom dance lessons. The rhythm is dotted quarter note - 8th note - dotted quarter note -8th note. The notes are based on the chords (root-5th-10th-5th). Have a listen to Have Yourself a Merry Christmas with Bass in 2
O Holy Night-Flowing Style
This song provides a beautiful contrast to the upbeat holiday tunes. The left hand accompaniment is a pattern of Root-5-8 in triplets (Root is the name of the chord; 5th is the 5th of the chord; 8 is the octave). This is a very effective way to keep the flow of a song moving. I've used it with Memory, The Impossible Dream, Send in the Clowns and other show tunes. It's an easy pattern that allows you to embellish the melody with your right hand. Have a listen to O Holy Night in a Flowing Style
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen-Jazz Waltz
Although this Christmas carol is in written in 4/4 time, I was able to change the meter to 3/4 time. Once that was done, the Jazz Waltz accompaniment fell into place. I've done this with many songs over the years. even if it seems complicated, many of my adult piano students and teenaged students have learned to do this in a few lessons. Have a listen to: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen-Jazz Waltz style
In my recent Blog Post: How to Make a Medley of Songs on the Piano
I talked about the ways you could connect songs so that they flow from one to another. In my Holiday Hits Medley, I have included excerpts from four tunes: Let It Snow, Christmas Time is Here, Here Comes Santa Claus and Jingle Bells. Let it Snow uses bass in 2 as we discussed, Christmas Time Is Here is a straight forward waltz using the 10th system accompaniment, Here Comes Santa Claus uses the beguine bass accompaniment style and you can read about, learn how to play and listen to complete version of Jingle Bells with the shuffle bass in my recent blog post. For now, have a listen to my Medley of Holiday Hits:
How To Reap the Benefits of Piano Practice at This Time Each Year
In addition to my adults and teenaged students, I have a couple of 8 year old piano students this year. Even at their early first and second year levels of piano lessons, they have been playing lots of holiday selections that they have heard before. Fast forward to several of my teenagers who are now playing more advanced versions of Christmas songs. These students are starting to sound quite sophisticated because their current arrangements are at a much higher level than in past years. Why? because they already know the songs, the chords, the rhythm and musical; concepts that have taken their piano playing to a higher level.
Play Holiday Music Year After Year-See Your Improvement
Once of the most gratifying things about playing holiday music is that you can see how much progress you've made in the previous 12 months of practicing and learning the piano. Talk about a ROI!!!!
Diana Mascari-Piano Teacher for Adults
Diana Mascari-Piano Teacher for Adults
Diana Mascari has taught piano to hundreds of students for more than 46 years. She is dedicated to enriching her students’ lives by supporting their individual musicality.
She has developed a teaching system called the Transformational Approach to Piano (TAP System). It offers her students colorful musical insights that broaden their experience beyond traditional methods.
Diana holds two Masters of Music degrees from New England Conservatory, taught keyboard harmony to music majors at Boston University, and was the music director of a multicultural Presbyterian Church for four decades.
Diana has performed as a solo jazz pianist as well as with her ensembles at many colleges and jazz clubs throughout New England. Many of these performances featured Diana's jazz compositions.
As a composer, she has explored the intersection of jazz and classical music. Her compositions reflect her deep appreciation for musical structure, enhanced by the spontaneity and emotion of jazz. Each piece has a timeless sense and is designed to move and inspire. Her works have been performed in Europe, Japan and the Eastern United States.
Diana’s vibrant personality infuses her teaching, performing and composing as she inspires piano students to achieve their musical goals.
To Get Her FREE Course: Accompaniment Styles to Energize Your Piano Playing, click here
To get Her FREE Course: Song Playing Starter Kit for Pianists, click here
To schedule your FREE 30 Minute Piano Lesson Consultation on Zoom, click here.
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