Top Holiday Music Resources

• Katie Senn
• Posted 11/23/20
• 0 comments

Thinking about your holiday music programs? West Music has you covered with a vast selection of resources for classroom music teachers, and we hope you find inspiration! Below you will find resources for recorder, Orff, voice, drumming, and children’s books.

Recorder Holiday Music Resources

The Christmas Album

Containing eleven traditional carols for the intermediate recorder player, “The Christmas Album” by Gerald Burakoff and Willy Strickland is voiced for 2 parts. Both parts may be played on soprano recorders, or the second part may be performed on an alto recorder.

Christmas in the BAG

Are you looking for a collection of seasonal music for the soprano recorder with only B, A, and G for your beginners to play? “Christmas is in the BAG” by John Riggio is just the ticket! This kit includes a Teacher’s Handbook with reproducible parts for students. Additionally, the included CD contains 2 recordings of each song. The first version models all parts of the song, including a professional artist performing the melody. The second version is the accompaniment tracks without the solo line. 

A Joyous Season for Recorders

This collection of classical-themed arrangements by Paul Jennings also contains reproducible parts for your students. We love this book because the parts are scaffolded for your students. The Recorder 1 part uses the notes D, G, A, B, C, and D. Then, Recorder 2 uses G, A, and B. Last, the alto recorder part consists of G, C, D, E, F#, and G. The included CD contains both performance and accompaniment tracks!  

A Recorder Christmas

Here is a resource to accommodate your class of multi-level players! The 6-holiday tunes in “A Recorder Christmas” feature eighteen different variations! Again, the teacher handbook includes reproducible student parts, in addition to the performance/accompaniment CD.

We Wish You a Recorder Christmas

For something a little different, try “We Wish You a Recorder Christmas” by John Riggio. The 6 arrangements are written in various styles to keep students motivated, including Celtic, rock, ballad, and ska! Each tune has two parts; Part 1 contains the notes D, E, G, A, B, and C. Part 2 contains B, A, and G.  Reproducible student parts are included in this holiday music resource.  

Orff Holiday Music Resources

Orffestrations for Winter Holidays

 Ideal for fourth – seventh graders, “Orffestrations for Winter Holidays” by Linda Forrest includes 5 traditional and 3 original holiday pieces. Pieces may be performed in unison or in 2-parts. This book contains more than traditional carols, including both winter songs and Kwanzaa songs. “Orffestrations for Winter Holidays” features the full score of each song, plus separate Orff instrument and vocal parts. You may reproduce parts for classroom use. It is important to note these arrangements are not arranged in the traditional Orff elemental style.

Orffestrations for Christmas

Love “Orffestrations for Winter Holidays”? For even more pieces, here is another “Orffestration” edition from Linda Forrest. “Orffestrations for Christmas” includes: “Jingle Bells,” “Christmas Bells,” “What Child Is This?”, “African Noel,” “Away in a Manger,” “Jolly Old St. Nicholas,” “The Angel Band,” “The Friendly Beasts,” “Ding Dong Merrily on High,” “Silent Night,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” and “The 12 Days of Christmas”! Your students will enjoy these festive classics.

Deck the Halls with Holiday Sounds

Do you want to add massive amounts of percussion to your holiday program? “Deck the Halls with Holiday Sounds” by Linda Forrest is a collection of old favorites for unison or 2-part voices, piano, and Orff instruments, plus many percussion instrument possibilities. Featuring a wide variety of instruments. If you are unsure about implementing some of these percussive instruments, this holiday music resource includes helpful teaching tips and suggestions for instruction.

Ultimate Orff: Winter Celebrations

There is a reason this book has “ultimate” in the title.” Written by Linda Forrest and Cathy Blair, this collection of holiday classics from around the world is designed to give you flexibility. Use as few or as many Orff instruments as you like. Each of the ten songs includes a complete arrangement for Orff instruments, including a recorded performance of each Orff arrangement at a variety of tempos, an optional piano accompaniment, and an optional recorded accompaniment. These components give you the freedom to personalize the songs to fit the needs of your students.

Holiday Songs & Play-Alongs

This festive collection is perfect for first through sixth-grade singers and ringers. “Holiday Songs & Play-Alongs” by David Asplund and Mike Byrd includes original compositions and traditional favorites. With easy-to-follow teaching tips and learning procedures, the arrangements accessible for both teachers and students.

Merry Christmas

“Merry Christmas” by Alice Olsen contains eleven Christmas songs from Canada, the U.S., Congo, and Ukraine, all arranged for Orff instruments. Each song includes English lyrics except for the German, French, and Swedish carols. Don’t fret, pronunciation guides included! 

Making the Most of the Holidays

This holiday music resource spans more than just the winter holidays. “Making the Most of the Holidays” by Jeff Kriske and Randy DeLelles is a collection of twenty Orff-arranged songs that incorporate speech, movement, instruments, and songs for elementary ages. Winter themes include Hanukah, Santa Claus, Christmas. You will also find material for Martin Luther King Day, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Spring, Halloween, and more!

Ensemble Holiday Music Resources

Ten Folk Carols for Christmas from the United States

“Ten Folk Carols for Christmas” is a collection of Appalachian and less-commonly known folk carols from the United States. Arranged for voice, Orff instruments, and recorders, both religious and festive songs are included!

The Little Christmas Book

Are you focusing on composition and orchestration in your ensemble? This holiday resource contains recommendations for children to develop their own orchestrations. “The Little Christmas Book” by Mary Helen Solomon includes thirteen songs for children’s voices, Orff instruments, and recorders. This holiday music resource demonstrates how rhythmic building brick and model word processes developed by Gunild Keetman may be used to develop students’ composition and improvisation skills. Six of the songs may be performed as canons.

Singing and Playing at Christmas 1

“Singing and Playing at Christmas” by Gunild Keetman and Minna Ronnefeld contains European Christmas carols arranged for voices, soprano recorders, and Orff instruments. The songs can be either sang (in English) or played on the soprano recorder. The Orff instrument parts use C1 to D2, without accidentals. The accompaniment parts are simple and allow for variation according to preference and ability. 

Drumming Holiday Music Resources

Rhythm Sticks & Bucket Bands for the Holidays

“Rhythm Sticks and Bucket Bands for the Holidays” is a creative collection of holiday arrangements. These songs can be played by buckets, unpitched percussion instruments, rhythm sticks, or all of the above! Parts are designed to be performed by beginning bucket ensembles. Additionally, the included performance/accompaniment CD contains access to the score and individual parts’ downloadable resources.

Hand Bell Holiday Music Resources

Classical Christmas Bells

Designed for grades 4 and up, “Classical Christmas Bells” by Karl Hitzemann includes both the teacher handbook and CD. Each holiday tune is arranged in the style of a famous classical composer. Along with each song, you find information about each arrangement’s stylistic connection to the chosen classical composer and a mini-biography about the composer. Student parts are reproducible. Additionally, the book contains a password to grant you online access to PDFs of each arrangement’s full piano score. This holiday music resource works with 8-note handbells or any C instrument. 

Christmas Bells

“Christmas Bells” by Bradley Bonner features 2 songs for 8-note bells, 3 songs for 13-note bells, and 3 songs for 20-note bells. The songs for 8 or 13 notes may also be used with Sound Choice Handbell/Deskbell sets. Most songs have a melody part and a harmony part. The harmony parts are simple at the beginning of the book and become progressively more difficult. Again, permission is granted to reproduce the written scores for ensemble members. The “Christmas Bells” CD includes two tracks for each song – one with a full performance, including handbell and accompaniment parts, and one with accompaniment only for use during a performance. 

Children’s Books

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Tim Hopgood illustrated this picture book based on the song by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith and sung by Peggy Lee. This beautifully illustrated picture book celebrates winter and all its fun.  Follow a family through frosty fields and snow-covered woods as they walk and play together.  Sweet and positive in its message, with bright, eye-catching art, this book is an uplifting celebration of the season!

A Tuba Christmas

This incredible story is about trying things “outside of the norm,” being confident, and standing up for what you want. Helen Wilbur’s heartwarming tale introduces us to a young girl who comes from a very musical family.  When it’s time for her to choose her instrument, she doesn’t go with a standard instrument like piano, flute, or violin.  She chooses tuba! The young girl finds that playing the tuba is more complicated than she thought. Plus, her family doesn’t have any tuba parts for their family holiday concert! However, with the encouragement of her music teacher, she finds a way to be involved in the holiday celebration after all.

The Nutcracker

Inspired by the classic ballet “The Nutcracker” by Susan Jeffers expands the story. This book pairs perfectly with a recording of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece. And you are set! We bet you already have the musical themes in your head!

Jingle Bells

Join children from around the world as they brave a growing snowstorm while flying through the air on a sleigh. “Jingle Bells,” as Iza Trapani told, features various holiday festivities and traditional customs – from breaking pinatas in Mexico to lighting candles on Christmas trees in Poland. Bonus, sheet music included at the end of the book for additional merriment. Oh, what fun it is to sing and read along!

Do you have a favorite holiday book or resource that is missing from this list? Tell us about it in the comments below!