Piano Solo - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1323881

By Michael Buble. By Haven Gillespie and John Frederick Coots. Arranged by Thomas Gunther. Blues,Christmas,Jazz. Score. 5 pages. Thomas Gunther Music Productions #912057. Published by Thomas Gunther Music Productions (A0.1323881).

Solo Piano Arrangement By Thomas Gunther
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town is another one of my favorite Christmas songs. For some reason I love playing it in a bluesy style, with some jazz voicings. The bridge is more in stride piano style.
About The Arrangement
The arrangement includes different stylistic elements found in more traditional popular piano music. It definitely has a bluesy vibe, but also shows elements of jazz and stride piano.
When it comes to the form I extended it by adding an intro that comes back in-between sections in form of an interlude. There is also an outro. 
About The Sheet Music
The sheet music is basically a transcription of my recording. It contains jazz chord symbols and plentiful of articulations as well as some dynamic markings. 
My Arranging Workflow
I have different approaches for creating solo piano arrangements of songs. The one I took here is as follows. First I come up with different ideas, try them out, and after a while settle on those I like best. Once I practiced and internalized those ideas I press record and hope for the best. Before the final version is done, I record myself many times over. This gives me the opportunity to improve upon each version until I have one that I feel comfortable with.
Recommendations For Learning The Song
I recommend that you first listen to my performance while reading along in the sheet music. This way you get a better understanding about the phrasing and the rhythmic feel.
You may want to spend a little time just vamping a few bars to get into the groove. When that feels good move on to different sections.
The bridge is different in feel because it is based on stride piano rather than blues. Stride piano features big jumps in the left hand and big intervals between the outer notes (up to a 10th). Should you have difficulty in playing those big intervals (smaller hands will make this hard) you may roll the notes and use the sustain pedal.
Is This Arrangement For You?
This solo piano arrangement is for every pianist who would like to try playing Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town in a more bluesy-jazzy style. Dependent on what your specialty is musically speaking, you made benefit from it in different ways. Here are some examples.
Classical Pianists
If you are a classical pianist who rarely listens to jazz and blues music, this arrangement might be a great way to dip your feed into more contemporary genres and styles like blues and jazz. This said, it might be quite challenging. Not from a technical point of view, but from a musical point of view. For example, swung eighth notes and accents and phrasing in blues and jazz are somewhat contrary to classical music. It's gonna be a great learning experience for sure!
Jazz Pianists
Should you be a jazz musician or blues musician, you may not necessarily want to play the arrangement as written note for note. Instead, you might just fall in love with some of my ideas and create your own arrangement based on those.
This goes especially for the solo section. You can play my solo or use it as inspiration for your own solo. Of course experiences blues and jazz musicians will prefer to make up their own solo.
I truly hope you have fun playing this arrangement! Yes.

Instrumental Duet Alto Saxophone,Clarinet,Instrumental Duet - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.587317

By Steve Tyrell. By John Frederick Coots. Arranged by David McKeown. Christmas,Holiday,Jazz,Pop,Rock. Score and parts. 3 pages. David McKeown #3132727. Published by David McKeown (A0.587317).

Santa Claus is Coming to Town was written in 1934 by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Although it was a big sheet music seller at the time, it was Perry Como’s 1951 recording that turned it into a major hit. The simple harmony and melody have made this a perennial favourite with everyone from Sinatra to the Jacksons, Maria Carey and Bruce Springsteen. This version borrows from the swinging jazz style of various Sinatra recordings and is arranged as a duet for one Clarinet and one Alto Saxophone.

Musicians at an intermediate level and above will find this ideal for formal and informal Christmas performances. There are syncopated swing rhythms and some less familiar accidentals. The overall performance time is around two and a half minutes. The short audio sample is from the Clarinet and Alto Saxophone version while the full length performance on the youtube link is the Clarinet duet.

Teachers will enjoy using this arrangement as a fun way to help with jazz rhythms and articulation.

There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Flute Duet Flute - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.587319

By Steve Tyrell. By John Frederick Coots. Arranged by David McKeown. Christmas,Holiday,Jazz,Pop,Rock. Score. 3 pages. David McKeown #3132731. Published by David McKeown (A0.587319).

Santa Claus is Coming to Town was written in 1934 by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Although it was a big sheet music seller at the time, it was Perry Como’s 1951 recording that turned it into a major hit. The simple harmony and melody have made this a perennial favourite with everyone from Sinatra to the Jacksons, Maria Carey and Bruce Springsteen. This version borrows from the swinging jazz style of various Sinatra recordings and is arranged as a duet for two Flutes.

Musicians at an intermediate level and above will find this ideal for formal and informal Christmas performances. There are syncopated swing rhythms and some less familiar accidentals. The overall performance time is around two and a half minutes. The short audio sample is from the Clarinet and Alto Saxophone version while the full length performance on the youtube link is the Clarinet duet.

Teachers will enjoy using this arrangement as a fun way to help with jazz rhythms and articulation.

There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Trombone Duet Trombone - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.587323

By Steve Tyrell. By John Frederick Coots. Arranged by David McKeown. Christmas,Jazz,Pop,Rock. Score. 3 pages. David McKeown #3132741. Published by David McKeown (A0.587323).

Santa Claus is Coming to Town was written in 1934 by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Although it was a big sheet music seller at the time, it was Perry Como’s 1951 recording that turned it into a major hit. The simple harmony and melody have made this a perennial favourite with everyone from Sinatra to the Jacksons, Maria Carey and Bruce Springsteen. This version borrows from the swinging jazz style of various Sinatra recordings and is arranged as a duet for two Trombones.

Musicians at an intermediate level and above will find this ideal for formal and informal Christmas performances. There are syncopated swing rhythms and some less familiar accidentals. The overall performance time is around two and a half minutes. The short audio sample is from the Clarinet and Alto Saxophone version while the full length performance on the youtube link is the Clarinet duet.

Teachers will enjoy using this arrangement as a fun way to help with jazz rhythms and articulation.

There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Instrumental Duet Clarinet,Flute,Instrumental Duet - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.587320

By Steve Tyrell. By John Frederick Coots. Arranged by David McKeown. Christmas,Holiday,Jazz,Pop,Rock. Score and parts. 3 pages. David McKeown #3132733. Published by David McKeown (A0.587320).

Santa Claus is Coming to Town was written in 1934 by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Although it was a big sheet music seller at the time, it was Perry Como’s 1951 recording that turned it into a major hit. The simple harmony and melody have made this a perennial favourite with everyone from Sinatra to the Jacksons, Maria Carey and Bruce Springsteen. This version borrows from the swinging jazz style of various Sinatra recordings and is arranged as a duet for one Flute and one Clarinet.

Musicians at an intermediate level and above will find this ideal for formal and informal Christmas performances. There are syncopated swing rhythms and some less familiar accidentals. The overall performance time is around two and a half minutes. The short audio sample is from the Clarinet and Alto Saxophone version while the full length performance on the youtube link is the Clarinet duet.

Teachers will enjoy using this arrangement as a fun way to help with jazz rhythms and articulation.

There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Tenor Saxophone Duet Tenor Saxophone - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.587315

By Steve Tyrell. By John Frederick Coots. Arranged by David McKeown. Christmas,Holiday,Jazz,Pop,Rock. Score. 3 pages. David McKeown #3132723. Published by David McKeown (A0.587315).

Santa Claus is Coming to Town was written in 1934 by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Although it was a big sheet music seller at the time, it was Perry Como’s 1951 recording that turned it into a major hit. The simple harmony and melody have made this a perennial favourite with everyone from Sinatra to the Jacksons, Maria Carey and Bruce Springsteen. This version borrows from the swinging jazz style of various Sinatra recordings and is arranged as a duet for two Tenor Saxophones.

Musicians at an intermediate level and above will find this ideal for formal and informal Christmas performances. There are syncopated swing rhythms and some less familiar accidentals. The overall performance time is around two and a half minutes. The short audio sample is from the Clarinet and Alto Saxophone version while the full length performance on the youtube link is the Clarinet duet.

Teachers will enjoy using this arrangement as a fun way to help with jazz rhythms and articulation.

There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Viola Duet Viola - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.587326

By Steve Tyrell. By John Frederick Coots. Arranged by David McKeown. Christmas,Jazz,Rock. Score. 3 pages. David McKeown #3132747. Published by David McKeown (A0.587326).

Santa Claus is Coming to Town was written in 1934 by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Although it was a big sheet music seller at the time, it was Perry Como’s 1951 recording that turned it into a major hit. The simple harmony and melody have made this a perennial favourite with everyone from Sinatra to the Jacksons, Maria Carey and Bruce Springsteen. This version borrows from the swinging jazz style of various Sinatra recordings and is arranged as a duet for two Violas.

Musicians at an intermediate level and above will find this ideal for formal and informal Christmas performances. There are syncopated swing rhythms and some less familiar accidentals. The overall performance time is around two and a half minutes. The short audio sample is from the Clarinet and Alto Saxophone version while the full length performance on the youtube link is the Clarinet duet.

Teachers will enjoy using this arrangement as a fun way to help with jazz rhythms and articulation.

There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Instrumental Duet Flute,Instrumental Duet,Viola - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.589349

By Steve Tyrell. By John Frederick Coots. Arranged by David McKeown. Christmas,Contemporary,Jazz,Rock. Score and parts. 3 pages. David McKeown #6064555. Published by David McKeown (A0.589349).

Santa Claus is Coming to Town was written in 1934 by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Although it was a big sheet music seller at the time, it was Perry Como’s 1951 recording that turned it into a major hit. The simple harmony and melody have made this a perennial favourite with everyone from Sinatra to the Jacksons, Maria Carey and Bruce Springsteen. This version borrows from the swinging jazz style of various Sinatra recordings and is arranged as a duet for one Flute and one Viola.

Musicians at an intermediate level and above will find this ideal for formal and informal Christmas performances. There are syncopated swing rhythms and some less familiar accidentals. The overall performance time is around two and a half minutes. The short audio sample is from the Clarinet and Alto Saxophone version.

Teachers will enjoy using this arrangement as a fun way to help with jazz rhythms and articulation.

There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Instrumental Duet Bassoon,Instrumental Duet,Oboe - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.589351

By Steve Tyrell. By John Frederick Coots. Arranged by David McKeown. Christmas,Contemporary,Jazz,Rock. Score and parts. 3 pages. David McKeown #6064561. Published by David McKeown (A0.589351).

Santa Claus is Coming to Town was written in 1934 by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Although it was a big sheet music seller at the time, it was Perry Como’s 1951 recording that turned it into a major hit. The simple harmony and melody have made this a perennial favourite with everyone from Sinatra to the Jacksons, Maria Carey and Bruce Springsteen. This version borrows from the swinging jazz style of various Sinatra recordings and is arranged as a duet for one Oboe and one Bassoon.

Musicians at an intermediate level and above will find this ideal for formal and informal Christmas performances. There are syncopated swing rhythms and some less familiar accidentals. The overall performance time is around two and a half minutes. The short audio sample is from the Clarinet and Alto Saxophone version.

Teachers will enjoy using this arrangement as a fun way to help with jazz rhythms and articulation.

There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Instrumental Duet Alto Saxophone,Instrumental Duet,Trumpet - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.589360

By Steve Tyrell. By John Frederick Coots. Arranged by David McKeown. Christmas,Contemporary,Jazz,Rock. Score and parts. 3 pages. David McKeown #6064591. Published by David McKeown (A0.589360).

Santa Claus is Coming to Town was written in 1934 by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Although it was a big sheet music seller at the time, it was Perry Como’s 1951 recording that turned it into a major hit. The simple harmony and melody have made this a perennial favourite with everyone from Sinatra to the Jacksons, Maria Carey and Bruce Springsteen. This version borrows from the swinging jazz style of various Sinatra recordings and is arranged as a duet for one Trumpet and one Alto Saxophone.

Musicians at an intermediate level and above will find this ideal for formal and informal Christmas performances. There are syncopated swing rhythms and some less familiar accidentals. The overall performance time is around two and a half minutes. The short audio sample is from the Clarinet and Alto Saxophone version.

Teachers will enjoy using this arrangement as a fun way to help with jazz rhythms and articulation.

There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Instrumental Duet Clarinet,Instrumental Duet,Violin - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.589362

By Steve Tyrell. By John Frederick Coots. Arranged by David McKeown. Christmas,Contemporary,Jazz,Rock. Score and parts. 3 pages. David McKeown #6064595. Published by David McKeown (A0.589362).

Santa Claus is Coming to Town was written in 1934 by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Although it was a big sheet music seller at the time, it was Perry Como’s 1951 recording that turned it into a major hit. The simple harmony and melody have made this a perennial favourite with everyone from Sinatra to the Jacksons, Maria Carey and Bruce Springsteen. This version borrows from the swinging jazz style of various Sinatra recordings and is arranged as a duet for one Violin and one Clarinet.

Musicians at an intermediate level and above will find this ideal for formal and informal Christmas performances. There are syncopated swing rhythms and some less familiar accidentals. The overall performance time is around two and a half minutes. The short audio sample is from the Clarinet and Alto Saxophone version.

Teachers will enjoy using this arrangement as a fun way to help with jazz rhythms and articulation.

There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Instrumental Duet Flute,Instrumental Duet,Trumpet - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.589348

By Steve Tyrell. By John Frederick Coots. Arranged by David McKeown. Christmas,Contemporary,Jazz,Rock. Score and parts. 3 pages. David McKeown #6064553. Published by David McKeown (A0.589348).

Santa Claus is Coming to Town was written in 1934 by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Although it was a big sheet music seller at the time, it was Perry Como’s 1951 recording that turned it into a major hit. The simple harmony and melody have made this a perennial favourite with everyone from Sinatra to the Jacksons, Maria Carey and Bruce Springsteen. This version borrows from the swinging jazz style of various Sinatra recordings and is arranged as a duet for one Flute and one Trumpet.

Musicians at an intermediate level and above will find this ideal for formal and informal Christmas performances. There are syncopated swing rhythms and some less familiar accidentals. The overall performance time is around two and a half minutes. The short audio sample is from the Clarinet and Alto Saxophone version.

Teachers will enjoy using this arrangement as a fun way to help with jazz rhythms and articulation.

There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Instrumental Duet Instrumental Duet,Oboe,Violin - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.589354

By Steve Tyrell. By John Frederick Coots. Arranged by David McKeown. Christmas,Contemporary,Jazz,Rock. Score and parts. 3 pages. David McKeown #6064569. Published by David McKeown (A0.589354).

Santa Claus is Coming to Town was written in 1934 by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Although it was a big sheet music seller at the time, it was Perry Como’s 1951 recording that turned it into a major hit. The simple harmony and melody have made this a perennial favourite with everyone from Sinatra to the Jacksons, Maria Carey and Bruce Springsteen. This version borrows from the swinging jazz style of various Sinatra recordings and is arranged as a duet for one Oboe and one Violin.

Musicians at an intermediate level and above will find this ideal for formal and informal Christmas performances. There are syncopated swing rhythms and some less familiar accidentals. The overall performance time is around two and a half minutes. The short audio sample is from the Clarinet and Alto Saxophone version.

Teachers will enjoy using this arrangement as a fun way to help with jazz rhythms and articulation. 

There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Oboe Duet Oboe - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.589355

By Steve Tyrell. By John Frederick Coots. Arranged by David McKeown. Christmas,Contemporary,Jazz,Rock. Score. 3 pages. David McKeown #6064577. Published by David McKeown (A0.589355).

Santa Claus is Coming to Town was written in 1934 by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Although it was a big sheet music seller at the time, it was Perry Como’s 1951 recording that turned it into a major hit. The simple harmony and melody have made this a perennial favourite with everyone from Sinatra to the Jacksons, Maria Carey and Bruce Springsteen. This version borrows from the swinging jazz style of various Sinatra recordings and is arranged as a duet for two Oboes.

Musicians at an intermediate level and above will find this ideal for formal and informal Christmas performances. There are syncopated swing rhythms and some less familiar accidentals. The overall performance time is around two and a half minutes. The short audio sample is from the Clarinet and Alto Saxophone version.

Teachers will enjoy using this arrangement as a fun way to help with jazz rhythms and articulation. 

There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203

Instrumental Duet English Horn,Instrumental Duet,Oboe - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.589353

By Steve Tyrell. By John Frederick Coots. Arranged by David McKeown. Christmas,Contemporary,Jazz,Rock. Score and parts. 3 pages. David McKeown #6064567. Published by David McKeown (A0.589353).

Santa Claus is Coming to Town was written in 1934 by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Although it was a big sheet music seller at the time, it was Perry Como’s 1951 recording that turned it into a major hit. The simple harmony and melody have made this a perennial favourite with everyone from Sinatra to the Jacksons, Maria Carey and Bruce Springsteen. This version borrows from the swinging jazz style of various Sinatra recordings and is arranged as a duet for one Oboe and one Cor Anglais, (or English Horn).

Musicians at an intermediate level and above will find this ideal for formal and informal Christmas performances. There are syncopated swing rhythms and some less familiar accidentals. The overall performance time is around two and a half minutes. The short audio sample is from the Clarinet and Alto Saxophone version.

Teachers will enjoy using this arrangement as a fun way to help with jazz rhythms and articulation. 

There are many more top quality arrangements and compositions by David McKeown for you to browse at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/david-mckeown/6203