Simpedia

Shelly E., Utah

There is a book piano Christmas pieces called “Carols by Candlelight” arr. by Jeanine Yeager that I have used to teach SM playing based style for Christmas. There is “Angels We Have Heard on High” in there that has been a HIT. I haven’t tried yet, but Deck the Halls is in there too that looks like it would be successful. Another book is called, “Christmas Moments” book two by Robert Vandall. Which by the way Robert Vandall’s music is quite appealing to kids and is very often based on patterns and so is nice music for SM students for reading based material. Anyway, I was thinking of trying Joy to the World with a few of my more advanced students. The right hand is repeating a pattern while the left hand is playing a melody (which is a descending scale and a little pattern based too). One more suggestion:
Greensleeves from FND 3 can easily be converted to “What Child is This?”. You just need to change the rhythm in the RH a little. I like to show them an intro and then tell them to fill out the LH more by doing broken 5ths (doubled like in the variation) or actually filling out the whole chord in the LH with a broken octaves like students do with level 5 Fur Elise.

Robin T., Tennessee

I use the Carol of the Bells and then I have my most advanced students add in the Greensleeves. I think it does have to be transposed (up one step to E) and I use it as a transposing project. I also have them improvise CONSIDERABLY on it. I’ll let them try to add other holiday songs in it and I have them listen to the TransSiberian Orchestra rendition to variate the rhythms and add even more sounds (digital keyboards) and songs (God Rest you Merry Gentlemen, etc.).

Funny thing on Carol of the Bells on the intro, I think it is listed that you can add a variation by having them add Finger 1 in between each note (5,1 4,1 3,1 2,1) and the first week that I taught that variation, I kept thinking….. “That sounds like something from a horror movie that I know…” But, I couldn’t place my finger on it and proceeded to teach all my students. Finally, the last lesson of the week (with an adult), when I showed it to him he giggled and said, “I see… so, it’s the theme from The Exorcist!” I FREAKED OUT! It is! But, no one ever figured it out and I didn’t get any reports of unusual piano playing behavior. So I figure it’s in a Christmas Carol and that wipes out all the bad stuff! You don’t even notice it until you take it out of context of the rest of the song. This is a great song, and my advanced students always WANT to pull it out again, so I just use it as an improv and transposing exercise.

Rebecca S., Australia

I have made documents to help teach We wish you a Merry Christmas and Jingle Bells. The songs are from the Simply Music Christmas Song Book

Mark M., New York

You’ll find simple C-F-G-only versions of that song along with other public domain holiday season accompaniments in the handout on my website at this page:

http://potluckcreativearts.com/lessons/students/accompaniments/

Lynn F., North Carolina

Carol of the Bells
Introduction:
Hand position: Thumbs of BH on A
RH: Use “top” four fingers envision them playing in a “loop” pattern…beginning with the top (pinky) and playing down 4 fingers and back up with the “ring” finger being the complete part of the loop. (IOW, you would be playing E,D,C,B,C,D.) When the RH reaches the “E” again, the loop is repeated.)

LH: Use top four fingers…One note, from top to bottom of the four, is played and held while the RH plays the loop pattern. When RH reaches the beginning note (“E”), the LH changes. Thus, the RH loop pattern is played 4 times at this position. In my version of the song, I play this complete (4 finger) pattern at least once in two different octave positions on the keyboard.
VARIATION: RH can add a “bottom” note in between each note of the loop…i.e. fingers played would be 5, 1, 4, 1, 3, 1,2 ,1 ,3 ,1, 4, 1. Another variation would be to have the RH play top, bottom to the top on the 4th time the loop is executed (with LH finger 4).
Melody #1:
Hand position: Same as above
RH plays 3, 2, 3, 1 for bell melody

LH plays the same notes as for the introduction – changing with each new, beginning “3”
Melody #2:
Hand position moves up two white keys (bottom on C)
RH plays same as above
LH plays same as above

“Stars shining brightly”
RH: To set up this section, explain that the words “Stars shining” will be used to play the same pitch, regardless of fingering or position. There will be a grouping of fingers used to help remember the melody as well…first, the top 4 fingers will be played, followed by the top 3, then the top 2 and then the thumb alone – i.e. 4, 3, 2, 1. If both these statements are understood, this section will fare easier.
Hand position: RH moves to top on A
Now, play this on fingers…beginning on pinky.. ll use finger numbers….play 5-5-5 (stars shining) 4-3 (brightly) 2 (stars) – you are now on “E” and have completed the 4 finger group. Move RH to position top on this “E” and complete the “shining “5-5”– same pitch with finger 5 playing 2x- we just moved our hand! “Brightly” will be played with fingers 4-3 (thus we’ve used the 3 finger grouping); Next is “stars shining brightly” with fingers 4-4-4-5-4 (2 finger group) then thumb plays “on Christmas Day” with 1-1-1-1.
LH: Hand position = Night Storm. Play in this order: Changes with the words, “Stars” and “On”.
CLOSED (Stars)
CLOSED ”
OPEN ”
CLOSED (On)
Final Section:
I used the traditional words from the carol…”Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas” to help teach this section.

RH: Bottom on E
Play a scale pattern from “E” . As they go up they must play the first two black keys they come to and that is the trigger to remembering to “turn under” finger 1 and go to the top… then back to the middle finger. Fingering would be: “1,2,3,1,2,3,4,5,4,3” – but I don’t use it to teach it!
LH: Bottom on a low E
Play the first LH “E” with the first “E” in the RH and then play an octave higher, if desired, when the RH reaches the “4” or on the word “Merry” the last time when singing the phrase as the RH goes up. (When a greater comfort level is obtained, I tell my students to play the LH “E” anytime/any place in this section!)
To End:
Depends on YOU! When I first taught this piece, we repeated the Melody #1, perhaps repeated it and slowed down, got quieter, etc. then ended with position of Melody #2 but uses the notes – “E, D, E, A”.
Now, many of my students are taking Greensleeves, transposing it to A minor and incorporating it into Carol of the Bells. Some are attempting an interlude that takes the LH from “Sit by My Side” or a variation of that, and making up a RH “melody” to go along with it.
The LH used with the introduction and melodies 1 & 2 can be varied as well – from octaves played together to the same or similar pattern played with “Sit By My Side”.

Have fun with this and allow your students to create their own version. It is much easier to teach than describe. If you have any questions, please feel free to write or call me! Have fun!

Unknown

The First Noel (1:3)

C C F C
The first Noel the angels did say.

C C F C
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay.

C C F C
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,

C C F C
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

C C F C
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel.

C G F C
Born is the King of Israel!