Traditional Christmas Carols for Two String Instruments

Posted on July 27, 2021 by miriamtroxler

Traditional Christmas Carols for string duets are more challenging that the set for solo instrument and optional piano. Four of the five carols are in the key of F. Joy to the World is in the key of D Major. In all the duets, both partners have a chance to play the melody.

All demonstration videos show the carols with violin and cello. You can listen to O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks by Night, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing and Joy to the World.

The sheet music for violin and viola is available for purchase here.
The sheet music for violin and cello is available for purchase here.
The sheet music for viola and cello is available for purchase here.

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Traditional Christmas Carols for Violin, Viola or Cello

Posted on July 26, 2021 by miriamtroxler

Traditional Christmas Carols for string instrument with optional piano. All demonstration videos show the carols with violin and piano. You can listen to O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks by Night, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing and Joy to the World.

This is the easiest string set. The sheet music for violin is available for purchase here.
The sheet music for viola is available for purchase here. The sheet music for cello is available for purchase here. The piano parts are included with each set.

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Traditional Christmas Carols: Blue Set

Posted on July 25, 2021 by miriamtroxler

The Blue Set carols are the most musically challenging. Each carol has a statement of the melody and then a variation. The carols are suitable for recitals or special music in church.

Included in the set are O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks by Night, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing and Joy to the World.

The sheet music is available for purchase here.

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Traditional Christmas Carols: Green Set

Posted on July 24, 2021 by miriamtroxler

All of the Green Set carols have a demonstration video. You can listen to O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks by Night, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing and Joy to the World.

All of the carols use both hands with more chords in each hand. Very musically satisfying; a significant step forward from the Yellow Set. The sheet music is available for purchase here.

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Traditional Christmas Carols: Yellow Set

Posted on July 23, 2021 by miriamtroxler

All of the Yellow Set carols have a demonstration video. You can listen to O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks by Night, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing and Joy to the World.

All of the carols use right hand to play the melody with simple accompaniments in the left hand. The sheet music is available for purchase here.

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Traditional Christmas Carols: Duet Set

Posted on July 22, 2021 by miriamtroxler

All of the Duet Set carols have a demonstration video. You can listen to O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks by Night, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing and Joy to the World.

The duets are written in bass clef. They fit with the red and orange sets of music. The melody moves up an octave and the duet partner joins them at the piano. The parts could also be played on the cello or other bass clef C instruments. The sheet music is available for purchase here.

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Traditional Christmas Carols: Orange Set

Posted on July 22, 2021 by miriamtroxler

All of the Orange Set carols have a demonstration video. You can listen to O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Joy to the World.

All of the carols use both hands to play the melody. In some places, both hands play together. The sheet music is available for purchase here.

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Traditional Christmas Carols: Red Set

Posted on July 21, 2021 by miriamtroxler

All of the Red Set carols have a demonstration video. You can listen to O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks By Night, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Joy to the World.

All of the carols use both hands to play the melody. The sheet music is available for purchase here.

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Virtual Christmas Recitals

Posted on July 20, 2021 by miriamtroxler

In September I began writing new Christmas carol arrangements. I made five versions for solo piano in different levels of difficulty. The red set is the easiest. Then following rainbow order, each set added more challenges. For my string students I made three versions. The easiest is for solo instrument with optional piano. The second set is for duet playing. The most challenging set is for unaccompanied solo violin, viola or cello.

The recital structure is to tell the Christmas story with words and music. Using the new arrangements, everyone had a piece at his or her challenge point. Then they could be combined for best scheduling.

Here’s several examples of how it turned out.

Megan, Andrew, and Nathan playing piano.

Grace, Eve and Richard on piano, violin and cello.

Max, Alex and Janna on piano and cello.

Gabriel, Grace and Bella on piano, violin and cello.

Jack, Claire and Kate playing piano.

Here are some examples of students who performed the entire set as a solo recital.

Bingan playing piano.

Jacob playing cello.

Most recitals were between 10 and 15 minutes. It was a terrific length for an online recital during the holidays.

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Piano Pirates Practice Sessions

Posted on June 25, 2021 by miriamtroxler

Ahoy Mateys!


Join me for Piano Pirates Practice Sessions!


Wednesday and Friday Mornings 9:00 to 9:30 on July 7, 9, 14, and 16.

Sessions will take place on zoom, so you can participate on your own piano in any ocean. Sessions will be recorded so you can catch up if you have been shanghaied. 


Suitable for pianists in the Red Level 1 Piano Adventures Book and above. Primer pianists can participate with adult assistance on deck.


Register by July 1 – minimum 5 pirates required

$30 for the sessions

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