Easy Christmas Piano Music for Beginners: Pieces for Every Level
Christmas music can create some of the most memorable moments of the piano year—but only when the music fits the student.
A preschooler may want to play part of a familiar song for the very first time. A pre-reading student needs music that looks approachable, while an older beginner may be ready to play a Christmas piano duet or help close the holiday recital.
Here are five easy Christmas piano pieces for students at different stages of beginning study—from a preschooler’s first Christmas at the piano through a mid-elementary ensemble.
A First Christmas Piano Piece for Preschoolers
Little Fingers, Jingle Bells
Preschoolers love “Jingle Bells”! Let’s make their first Christmas as a piano student a memorable one.
In Little Fingers, Jingle Bells, the first phrase is color-coded. Students simply match the colored notes in the music to the colored keys on their piano.
Students can play the phrase using any fingering they desire. They may even want to play their entire part with one finger—and that is perfectly fine!
At this stage, the goal isn’t correct fingering or polished music reading. The goal is to help a young child recognize the song, find the notes, and experience the excitement of making Christmas music at the piano.
The piece is divided between the student and teacher:
The student plays phrase one.
The teacher plays phrase two.
The student plays phrase three.
The teacher plays phrase four.
This back-and-forth format allows a preschooler to participate in the entire song without having to play every note. The teacher’s phrases keep the music moving and make the simple student part sound like a complete performance.
It is an easy, no-pressure way to give a very young student a successful first Christmas at the piano.
(If you’re teaching a very young beginner, you may also enjoy these ideas for a 4-year-old’s first piano lesson.)
Free Pre-Reading Christmas Piano Music
O Christmas Tree
For young students who can count quarter notes and half notes and play on the white keys, choose O Christmas Tree.
This free pre-reading Christmas piano arrangement gives beginners a familiar melody without requiring them to read notes on the staff. Because many students already know the tune, they can listen and recognize whether they are playing the correct notes.
The arrangement includes a Piano 2 part that can be played by the teacher, another beginning student, or even a family member.
Playing with a parent, sibling, or friend can turn a simple Christmas piece into a special family experience. It also gives the student an early introduction to listening and playing with someone else.
O Christmas Tree is a good choice for a first holiday performance, a studio Christmas activity, or a new student who begins piano lessons close to Christmas.
(If your student is still learning the difference between the beat and the rhythm, try this simple beat versus rhythm piano activity first.)
A Pre-Reading Christmas Solo or Duet That Isn’t Jingle Bells
Carol of the Bells
“Jingle Bells” is fun, but it doesn’t need to be every beginner’s first—or only—Christmas piece. (If you are a teacher, I don’t have to tell you how completely bored you will get listening to “Jingle Bells”!)
Carol of the Bells gives pre-reading students the opportunity to play another highly recognizable Christmas selection. Its repeating musical ideas make the piece feel manageable, while its dramatic sound makes it especially exciting for students.
The piece can be played as a solo or duet. Adding the duet part creates a bigger, more impressive sound without making the student’s music unnecessarily difficult.
This allows a beginning student to experience the excitement of ensemble playing before becoming a fluent music reader. A simple student part combined with a fuller partner part can also make the piece feel ready for a Christmas piano recital.
Level 1 Christmas Piano Music in Middle C Position
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Students who have moved beyond pre-reading music may be ready for a Christmas piece written on the traditional staff.
The Level 1 part of Ding Dong Merrily on High is written in Middle C position. It gives early readers the opportunity to use familiar notes and hand positions while learning a Christmas carol that may be new to them.
The comfortable position helps the beginning student concentrate on reading the notes and rhythm. It also makes the piece manageable during a busy time of year, when there may only be a few lessons available before a recital or Christmas break.
Ding Dong Merrily on High also includes a duet part best suited for a mid-elementary student. Pairing the Level 1 student with a more experienced pianist creates a wonderful opportunity for multi-level learning and mentoring within the piano studio.
The older student practices listening, leading, and supporting a younger musician. Meanwhile, the beginning student experiences the confidence and excitement of playing alongside someone they admire.
This type of multi-level Christmas piano duet can also build connections among students who do not normally attend lessons together. Both students contribute something important to the final performance.
An Important Rule for Christmas Piano Duets and Trios
Playing with another musician requires a different set of skills from playing a solo.
When choosing a duet or trio, select music that is approximately one level easier than the music the students normally read. The notes should be the easy part.
Students need enough mental space to listen to the other musicians, maintain a steady beat, and keep playing when another part enters. They must also learn to begin and end together, balance the parts, and recover without stopping if someone makes a mistake.
These listening skills are an important part of becoming a musician—but they take time to develop.
Choose ensemble pieces that are easy to play, easy to put together, and likely to make the students feel successful. Easier music does not hold students back; it allows them to focus on the partnering skills that ensemble playing requires.
Before assigning a Christmas piano duet or trio, ask whether the students can:
Read their individual parts comfortably
Learn the notes fairly quickly
Play without watching their hands constantly
Maintain a steady beat while another part is playing
Rehearse the music successfully within the available lessons
If students are struggling to read their own parts, they won’t have much attention left for listening to their partners.
Here’s some more ideas on how to teach piano duets to young kids.
A Christmas Piano Recital Closing Piece
Up on the Housetop
Up on the Housetop can be performed as a solo or duet, but the parts can also be combined to create a trio. The trio version makes a festive closing piece for a Christmas piano recital.
This arrangement is designed for mid-elementary students. Its familiar melody is fun for students to play and immediately recognizable to the audience.
As a trio, the piece gives students an opportunity to experience the energy of making music together. It also creates a sense of celebration and community at the end of the recital.
Even if the students are reading more advanced solo music, choose the ensemble parts carefully. Accessible parts allow them to concentrate on steady rhythm, balance, listening, and playing together.
The result is a Christmas recital finale that sounds impressive but can still be prepared successfully.
Easy Christmas Piano Music for Every Beginner Level
Choose your student’s level below to find an appropriate Christmas piano piece and performance option.
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A memorable first Christmas piano experience. The child plays color-coded phrases while the teacher completes the alternating phrases.escription text goes here
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A free pre-reading piece for students who can count quarter and half notes and play on the white keys. Includes a Piano 2 part for a teacher, student, or family member.ere
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A recognizable alternative to “Jingle Bells.” Students can play it as a solo or add the duet part for a fuller Christmas performance.
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Pairs a Level 1 student playing in Middle C position with a mid-elementary duet partner. A good choice for multi-level learning and student mentoring.
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Can be performed as a solo, duet, or trio. The trio arrangement makes a festive closing selection for a Christmas piano recital.
Help Beginning Piano Students Feel Successful at Christmas
The best Christmas piano piece is not necessarily the hardest music a student can manage.
Choose music that fits the student’s current reading skills, can be prepared in the available time, and leaves room for musical listening. For Christmas piano duets and trios, remember to choose music that is easier than the students’ usual solo repertoire.
Christmas music should give students a reason to run to the piano. Whether they are playing one easy phrase of “Jingle Bells,” partnering with an older student, or joining friends for a recital-closing trio, the right arrangement helps them feel like successful musicians.
New to Piano Music for Kids? Download the free pre-reading O Christmas Tree piano music.
Planning your holiday lessons or recital? Browse all Christmas piano music for beginners.
