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Goodness...November already!! My teacher hosts an annual Christmas piano party and we share music. The last couple of years I've accompanied my husband on a song as well. It really pushes me to keep playing and listen to him as well as the notes.
This year he wants to do "I'll be home for Christmas" and the version I have is ok but kind of bland accompaniment. Does anyone have suggestions on an intermediate (NOT late intermediate) version of this piece that lends itself to tenor voice?
For my solo piece I'm doing David Lanz "What Child is This" ...much to my teacher's dismay since new age anything sounds wrong to her ears. She's humoring me on this one with only some grumbling. What are you working on for the holiday season??
[ . Wise as in learner Buff as in Colorado Buffalo
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How could David Lanz possibly sound wrong to her ears?? I'll be playing that for Christmas too Just started looking at the book in yesterday's lesson. I'm probably going to stick with the easy arrangements, just to get more done in limited time.
David Lanz - Skyline Firedance Suite Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy 7 Main Theme
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Christmas music?? Did someone say Christmas music?? I LOVE Christmas music. Pardon me for shouting! I always have a few pieces I play every year, and when it gets close to Christmas, I try to go over a few pieces written for piano and voice so we can do some singing. But there are always a few pieces I work on early as well so I have a large-ish collection of things to play. Here are the pieces I've added new for this year and am currently practicing: 1) Carol of the Bells (Michele McLaughlin arrangement, highly recommended) 2) Joy, George Winston's arrangement/adaptation of Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (this piece is deceptively difficult!) Near the end of this month, I'll start practicing these as well (these are all pieces I have played before): 3) Angels We Have Heard on High (David Nevue arrangement) 4) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (David Nevue arrangement) 5) Joy to the World (Nevue arrangement, I'm beginning to sense a pattern here) There may be some others that I have easy arrangements of that I tack on last minute. I actually have David Lanz's Christmas score book, but I haven't played anything from it. Any suggestions of arrangements of his that you particularly recommend? If I can get through Winston's Joy this year, next year I think I'll take on his arrangement of the Holly and the Ivy, which is a fantastic piece. Yay, Christmas music!!
Started piano June 1999. Proud owner of a Yamaha C2
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If I'm not mistaken, Mr S/H usually start Christmas music thread every year. I cannot remember when he usually does. But wait a few. It will come up.
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No reason to wait if people want to talk about what they are working on right now. There is always room for another thread about piano music here : D
Started piano June 1999. Proud owner of a Yamaha C2
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I love Christmas music on the piano as well... I'm working on a couple of bluesy/boogie Christmas tunes, and they really get me in the Christmas mood! One is what I call Jazzy Jingle Bells and the other is boogie-woogie Santa Clause is coming to town. I like em' both. I've been invited to play the piano at our annual Christmas dinner at my place of work again this year... I didn't think I could play all that well, but they keep inviting me back; this is the 5th year in a row, I think. Rick
Piano enthusiast and amateur musician: "Treat others the way you would like to be treated". Yamaha C7. YouTube Channel
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ShiroKuro- I so love your joy and enthusiasm about Christmas Music! I feel the same! I am already sight reading through "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "A Jazz Inspired Christmas". I am looking for the George Winston "December" piano transcription in total.
Thank you for sharing.
"Yay Christmas Music!"
Barbara ...without music, no life...
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WiseBuff - I don't know of other arrangements, but could you add a couple of frills to the one you have? I often hear little fill-ins on the long notes (Christma..a..s/tinkle tinkle tinkle) in my head and can find some version of them on the piano (altho often not the exact one in my head. I think I must hear micro intervals in my head or something.) Or maybe add full chords in the left hand, or a little short run from one chord to the next? Sometimes it doesn't take a lot behind a singer - just enough to add a little interest and to let the audience know there's a piano player I'm not the Christmas music aficionado here, tho, so maybe someone will have a better idea. Cathy
Cathy Perhaps "more music" is always the answer, no matter what the question might be! - Qwerty53
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This year he wants to do "I'll be home for Christmas" and the version I have is ok but kind of bland accompaniment. Does anyone have suggestions on an intermediate (NOT late intermediate) version of this piece that lends itself to tenor voice? WiseBuff, This is one of my all time favorite Christmas songs. Michael Bublé Christmas book has a pretty decent arrangement, not too difficult. It's Piano/Vocal scores too. ISBN 978-1-4584-1918-7.
Ragdoll At first, she only flew when she thought no one was watching.
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See?!? I *knew* someone would have a better idea! Cathy
Cathy Perhaps "more music" is always the answer, no matter what the question might be! - Qwerty53
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This thread got me going for Christmas music stash. I was playing Christmas music for an hour before I realized what I was doing. I love Christmas.
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As mentioned earlier, here is my version of "Jazzy jingle bells". I didn't realize it had been 4 years since I recorded this video... time does fly when you are having fun. "Jazzy Jinglebells" Rick
Piano enthusiast and amateur musician: "Treat others the way you would like to be treated". Yamaha C7. YouTube Channel
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I'm looking for an intermediate arrangement for O Holy Night. Anything close to Martina mcbride version.
Deb
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Rerun "Seat of the pants piano player" DMD
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Perhaps my teacher would like Lanz better if I played it up to speed...I'm working on it. ShiroKiro, my favorite is the First Noel/Christmas Waltz. This year though it's What child is this which has some other melody in there as well that I recognize as a U.S. Revolutionary war song, Johnny has gone for a soldier. I want to be able to play the "noodling" left hand softly and smoothly as background. I have Alfred's Christmas sing along but the left hand as written is supposed to be simple but ends up feeling awkward to me. Jotur I need your improv skills. It gives me the Chord symbols but I don't think in chords (although my music theory teacher is pushing for it). Rickster...love the jazzy jingle bells Ragdoll I'll look at your suggestion...thanks
Last edited by WiseBuff; 11/07/13 08:39 AM.
[ . Wise as in learner Buff as in Colorado Buffalo
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Really nice, Rick! And great voice too, I have been checking out some of your videos.
I'll better start learning my carols!!! (As we say in Spain... "que te pilla el toro", or "the bull is going to catch you"... or in other words "hurry up!")
Serious since Dec 2013. March 2014, Kawai CA95! Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted
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WiseBuff, I love those songs. First Noel/Christmas Waltz is really pretty. Currently working on Angels We Have Heard On High, but I hope to finish it this week and get to the next one soon! This Christmas music is really motivating; I'll be doubling my piano hours, at the very least.
Now to find an arrangement for three hands that I can play together with my sister...
David Lanz - Skyline Firedance Suite Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy 7 Main Theme
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Wisebuff, I'll have to check that out, I love Christmas songs that have another melody embedded into them.
Started piano June 1999. Proud owner of a Yamaha C2
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Wisebuff, I'll have to check that out, I love Christmas songs that have another melody embedded into them. It's not traditional, but here's one of the better ones I've run into in the last few years: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkcvCMi3lIA
Rerun "Seat of the pants piano player" DMD
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Rickster, finally had a chance to listen to that, what fun! Do I hear a bit of Little Richard "The Girl Can't Help It" in there.
One thing about this, and other Christmas songs like Sleigh Ride, is the tempo is a make or break deal. I'm working on George Winston's Joy, and the music on the page couldn't be any "simpler" but it's so fast, and it's syncopated (or should be!) and I can't quite get it into my fingers. I'll find a video clip later and share it.
Started piano June 1999. Proud owner of a Yamaha C2
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