Christmas piano fun...

...for the whole family!

Christmas piano fun can include everyone in your family!

What are the holidays without music?

Music of all kinds always helps me get in the spirit of the season.

I love Christmas - it's my favorite time of the year.

I thought I'd share some of the ways I use music to celebrate Christmas.

Piano music is plentiful, of course.

Season of Peace

Christmas Around The Piano

Free Christmas Sheet Music for Piano

Have you visited my free Christmas sheet music page?

I've researched and found some terrific sites for printable Christmas music, ranging in difficulty and style.

Spend a few minutes downloading and printing, and you can create quite a nice notebook of piano Christmas carols and other holiday music to play!

Christmas Piano Decorations

Don't leave your piano out of the holiday decorating fun! Decorating your piano can not only make your room more beautiful, but tempt you to take some time away from the hustle and bustle to sit and play.

I love to have a beautiful runner for the top of the piano. You could use:

• Wide, velvety Christmas ribbon
• A beautiful scarf in holiday colors
• Crisp, white crocheted doilies placed end to end
• A yard or two of fun Christmas fabric

A grouping of candles, family photos, or even Christmas cards in inexpensive frames make a beautiful display over your runner. The top of the piano is also great for displaying Christmas cards, and even a small, table-top Christmas tree!

Last but not least, don't forget to open some Christmas piano music on the music rack. So inviting!

Host a Christmas Music Party

Are you an adult beginner? Know some other piano students? Invite them over for coffee, tea, cookies, and an afternoon of shared piano music. Sound too nerve-wracking? Consider it your gift to yourself: a step in helping to overcome stage fright. (OK, that was the piano teacher in me coming out... couldn't resist!)

You can do the same if your children are in piano lessons. Host a fun piano afternoon! Kids don't usually look forward to recitals, but playing with a group of friends at home? That's fun!

Go Caroling

I recently discovered a great site: An Online Christmas Songbook. This is a compilation of 106 Christmas songs that you are free to print, sing, and play!

Most of these songs are arrangements from old hymnals. This makes them perfect if you have experienced singers among you who can read music -- the songs are arranged as soprano, alto, tenor, and bass lines. They also have all the verses, easily readable.

The downside is that hymn arrangements take considerable skill to play on the piano. So, as music goes, these aren't beginner-friendly piano pieces. But, they're a great way to get you reading both the treble and bass clefs very quickly! :-)

Christmas Evening

Create Your Perfect Christmas CD or Playlist

I love having my favorite Christmas music with me all the time! I've imported all of my Christmas CDs into iTunes, and made a playlist of my favorites. Here are two artists I can't live without during the holidays!

Jim Brickman -- wonderful, wonderful piano music. He has several Christmas CDs, and they are all wonderful. Chances are, even if you've never heard his name, you've heard Jim Brickman's music. It's played everywhere during the holidays - you'll hear it when you're shopping, driving in the car...

You can also get sheet music to play yourself. There are the standard piano editions, and I know many of the songs are available in easy piano versions. I have several Brickman books on my music shelf!

Mannheim Steamroller -- Another group that you may not have heard of, but is literally played everywhere during the holidays. A combination of orchestral and electronic instruments, the music is creative and fun!

Not only do they have music, but an entire line of fun products (you've got to try the Cinnamon Hot Chocolate -- yummy)!

And perfect for a winter's night: Whirley Pop Popcorn Maker that comes with everything you need, even a Mannheim Christmas CD!

Have a wonderful Christmas!

I hope this holiday season is full of wonder and joy for you!

Merry Christmas!

More Holiday & Fun Piano Articles

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