Piano Solo - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1325497

By Nat Cole With N. Riddle Orch. By Mel Torme and Robert Wells. Arranged by Thomas Gunther. Christmas,Holiday,Jazz. Score. 4 pages. Thomas Gunther Music Productions #913724. Published by Thomas Gunther Music Productions (A0.1325497).

Solo Piano Arrangement By Thomas Gunther
The Christmas Song is maybe the most popular Christmas Song in the USA. Some know it as Chestnuts Roasted On An Open Fire or Merry Christmas to You. 
The melody is absolutely beautiful, and the chord changes super interesting. I especially like Nat King Cole's version, which is in Db major. To make it easier for intermediate piano players I wrote my piano solo arrangement in C major instead. It is still challenging  enough.
The sheet music will be available for purchase at 2pm Chicago time on Nov 27.
About The Arrangement
The arrangement is written in jazz ballade style. It doesn't swing. I includes a fun double time improvisation section though which I made up on the spot during the second B section when I recorded the song. It is in latin style. 
The arrangement can be performed with or without improvisation. Should you be a jazz pianist you could use the included chord symbols to make up your own improvisation.
About The Sheet Music
The sheet music is the exact transcription of my recording, including the improvisation part. (You can listen to it and see me perform in the video below.)
The sheet music contains jazz chord symbols and plentiful of articulations as well as some dynamic markings. 
How This Arrangement Came About
May arrangement is heavily based on the Nat King Cole version. I love the ballade feel and the beautiful chord substitutions he uses in the orchestration. First I simply played along with his version in Db major. This helped me to figure out the harmony. Next I start thinking about the accompaniment. Now it is time to practice it. Once I have the arrangement figured out I start recording it a few times, listen to each version, iron out the edges. Now it is time to record the entire thing. 
Recommendations For Learning The Song
I recommend that you first listen to my performance while reading along in the sheet music. 
I always think about fingering and sustain pedal use at the same time when learning a song. Smart use of the sustain pedal can really make it much easier to play.
Is This Arrangement For You?
This solo piano arrangement is for every pianist who loves The Christmas Song. It doesn't matter would kind of pianist you are. 
The arrangement is certainly for intermediate pianists and up. It is also beneficial when you don't have very small hands. Some chords in the left hand require a hand span of a 10th. However, there are ways to get around that by simply rolling the notes with the help of the sustain pedal.

Piano Solo - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.693021

Composed by Ben Dockery. Children,Contemporary,Jazz,Standards. Score. 42 pages. Ben Dockery #3539271. Published by Ben Dockery (A0.693021).

These twelve short pieces for piano were inspired by the sounds from my childhood, namely the musical themes from games played on eight-bit consoles like Nintendo. Whether or not you share such memories, I’m confident we can find common ground here; each piece attempts to see and hear the world from a child’s imaginative, wonder-filled perspective.

All of these impromptus can be heard for free by visiting my website www.bendockery.com.

While you’re there, please consider joining my email list to get updates and tons of free music.

Dr. Ben Dockery is an Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Keyboard Studies at Tennessee Wesleyan University.  There he teaches courses related to music theory, ear training, piano, and orchestration and arranging. After receiving degrees from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and DePaul University, he completed his D.M.A. from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in 2012. Dr. Dockery began teaching piano in 1999 and has taught and performed music ever since.

Dr. Dockery has composed and arranged for piano, small jazz ensemble, and jazz big band. He has performed on numerous recordings with noted musicians such as Phil Woods, the DePaul Big Band, the late Zim Ngquwana, the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, and others.  In addition to writing the book Conceptualizing the Jazz Piano Trio, Dr. Dockery has written for Chicago Jazz Magazine and continues to publish articles, interviews, compositions, and more at his website www.bendockery.com.  He maintains an active performance career playing in regional venues and serves as organist for Inskip Baptist Church.

Piano Solo - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.808934

Composed by Aldo Finzi. 20th Century. Score. 16 pages. Preludio s.r.l. #5213937. Published by Preludio s.r.l. (A0.808934).

Aldo Finzi's Due valzer lenti for piano that have been performed in a world première by Simonetta Heger in Vico Equense (near Naples) on October 2001 were written, together with the lyric Catharine and another piano piece Tempo di fox-trot, when the composer was hoping to move shortly to the United States. Unfortunately, this never happened although Finzi already had a contract with a music school in Chicago. In both waltzes a short introduction precedes the dance theme and the pleasant piano style, certainly nearer to the Pavana's noble simplicity than to the complex writing of the Toccata, vaguely suggests thoughts of George Gershwin.