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Christmas with limited instruments beginners

Posted by Aaaaaa on 9/6/2026, 7:00 am

Hi! If you do limited instruments (flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, percussion only), what do you program for Christmas concerts? I want to do more than lines in the book, but am not sure what to program. What do others do?

Re: Christmas with limited instruments beginners

Posted by Me on 9/8/2026, 8:32 am, in reply to "Christmas with limited instruments beginners"

These books are objectively awful, but they're very very teachable for beginners.

Get the Essential Elements Christmas books. Quarter-half-whole rhythms, recognizable melodies, easily playable by limited instruments.

Re: Christmas with limited instruments beginners

Posted by Me on 9/8/2026, 9:39 pm, in reply to "Re: Christmas with limited instruments beginners"

Yep, I’ve used jingle bells and up on the housetop for nearly 20 years. Easy

Re: Christmas with limited instruments beginners

Posted by And.... on 9/14/2026, 3:57 pm, in reply to "Re: Christmas with limited instruments beginners"

...same here. As soon as the beginners know the "famous five" notes, they get the Christmas music.

Re: Christmas with limited instruments beginners

Posted by SouthEast Central on 9/10/2026, 7:30 am, in reply to "Re: Christmas with limited instruments beginners"

I put together an "Ode to Joy" in the same style as those pieces a bunch of years ago - I use it as a third piece. Not sure if I can find it but I'll try.

Re: Christmas with limited instruments beginners

Posted by Standridge on 9/8/2026, 6:06 am, in reply to "Christmas with limited instruments beginners"

Randall Standridge's website has free Christmas music that should be pretty adaptable!

Re: Christmas with limited instruments beginners

Posted by Staff paper on 9/6/2026, 3:33 pm, in reply to "Christmas with limited instruments beginners"

Compose and arrange!

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