MR. SH
Great playing "Christmas Time" I don't know which is better your ear or your piano! They make a wonderful pairing.

Elssa
Thanks for the Sleigh Ride...I had fun!

Ladypayne
Thanks for the Merry Christmas Wish, I enjoyed listening.

Hi, Scott - I laughed all the way thru the Jingle Bells. I won't remember the exact chords, but it'll make my experimenting crazier yet - which is good, really, it's good! I can hardly wait to try out more minors and then major 7ths instead of dominants. Thanks for the smiles this morning.

Cathy

Carl Mc - Thanks for watching/listening... and for your kind comment(s) - I'm glad you enjoyed them.

I've been having *BIG* fun using these 'string methods' (see: Henry Cowell, etc.), and combining/looping them with the computer, in a 'live' presentation. - It's very much like walking on eggs sometime... But I'm learning to wear soft shoes as I proceed down this path...

Working on O Come O Come Emmanuel from Bastien's Christmas Book 4. Some very unnatural jumps for me, and it's been very slow going, but I'll get something posted in the next week or so.

It's good to see everyone getting along so well. I just got off the company's union forum and I needed to escape to make sure that the world isn't coming to an end.

Mr. S-H, good job on Christmas Time is here. I think I remember that from a couple of years back. Ladypayne, I liked your piece...it sounds like a clock playing.

I just recorded another video and I'm going to take my Best Buy rewards and cash them in for a new video camera, because the quality is terrible. I hope you can look past that. I'm a big fan of Vince Guaraldi, so here's another one. Christmas Song from the Charlie Brown Christmas Album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaAqH6F17tI&feature=player_embedded

OK, I heard the "jazzy jingle bells" I posted a few days ago was a little tough for some of you. For you beginners, here's 3 sequential lessons to get you playing a very passable version of Silent Night by next week's holiday.

If this gets any of you playing Silent Night in the next few days - post it here! Let's hear it!

Have fun!

If you want a lead sheet in the key I am playing it you can get one here:
PDF of Silent Night Lead Sheet

Lesson 1:


Lesson 2:


Lesson 3:

I've thoroughly enjoyed all the Christmas songs posted here. Just out of curiosity, what do you all use to record video? The recordings are pretty good quality, without any background noise (and some recordings are clear without any editing). Does a normal web camera suffice, or a normal camera, or do I need to invest in a camcorder?

icekid
Good one! Very nice job with the Christmas Song classic.

to scmay: i just use a regular digital camera for mine. Nothing to special, then I use a freecorder toolbar which you can get for free off the net and I use the record audio button to get my audio mp3 from my video and load it up to box.net :P pretty simple and inexpensive way of doing it. Or I'm sure you can invest in more expensive ways to record your videos if you want really good quality stuff.

I just bought a Pure Digital Ultra HD with my Best Buy rewards card and I re-recorded the Charlie Brown Christmas song this evening. I think this one may be a little better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyRRdxb87iw

I took Scott's jingle bells, and, well, jingled up the chords, and here's what I came up with:

http://www.box.net/shared/sqqy3z02oq

Well done indeed!
- SC

Thanks! You can tell I'm just feeling my way in it.

TLT
Good job!
I played around with this the other day as well, it is fun to fill the gaps. I must spend a little more time over in the jazz thread. I suspect I could learn a lot on improvisation.

I'm using a Canon PowerShot A550 digital camera/recorder.

I enjoyed your Jingle Bells, Ten Left Thumbs, with the sophisticated cords!

Here is my version of “Jingle Bells”. Of course, I'm back to my old jazzy, bluesy self. I think I’m just hyper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aloL3lC81I

Take care and Merry Christmas All!!

Rick

Coming from you Rickster, that means a lot to me.

I prefer your version, especially the bits where you go off the page into your bluesy thing. And you always look so happy when you play. Sometimes I feel I should transcribe what you play, but there are just so many notes!

TLT- Really liked your reharm on the Jingle Bells! I've got to try some of this.

RICKSTER-some day I hope I will be able to play as relaxed as you do. You just look like you're having the time of your life! Does anyone ever sing along with you? I think it would be hard not to. Really great!

This thread has given me so much joy this month - EVERYONE was wonderful! I've been away from the computer for a few days, so trying to catch up.

LadyPayne-I'm glad you played We Wish You a Merry Christmas - who doesn't like that one?! (it's one even I can play w/o too many mistakes. ha-ha!) Good job!

Here's a Mark Hayes arrangement of Joy to the World that I nearly tore my hair out as I was trying to make this for a Christmas CD to give to friends and family. Nothing like the holidays to get us all nice and stressed out!!

http://www.box.net/shared/r4ltby8yqm

Morodiene, if none of your friends and family manage to give you compliments then at least I will. It takes a lot of dedication to try and undertake a musical project like that (and in a fairly short timeframe too.)

Plus, you still find some time to waste on the IRC channel as well.

Maybe I'll tackle some Christmas stuff for next year when I'll have more family members closer for the holidays. Or maybe I can convince someone else to learn how to play piano and make them learn the Christmas stuff.

really nice Morodiene! I like it alot! You always play really fancy pieces! :P

An impressionistic rendition of bells tolling on Christmas Eve, with fragments of "O Sanctissima"/"O Du Fröhliche"/"O How Joyfully" thrown in:

Ferruccio Busoni - Nuit de Noël

Happy holidays everybody!

I really enjoyed your Jazzy Jingle Bells, Rick! That was awesome!

That was super, Morodiene! Your family and friends are going to love it. Great playing and a super arrangement.

Thanks anthony, lady and mom3gram. I think you should plan on it for next year, anythony...you already have the recording part down, which I was working out in the process!

grotrainer: wow, that was really unexpected! Hauntingly beautiful, thanks for sharing that!

Morodiene
My favorite... it had me smiling the whole way through!
Loved it!
PS
What is required to get on your "friends" list?
Sure would like a copy of the CD

PPS
It is unflattering to beg.

PPPS
Just a little?

PPPPS
No!

Grotrianer
Wonderful expression, It was an unexpected path leading to an unexpected ending... I enjoyed listening!

Photo ID, completed application, and a $20 processing fee.

Bet I can make it next year!
Merry Christmas Morodiene!