Christmas Gifts of Music Learning

One of the surprises I encountered when teaching music was realizing how few of the classic Christmas carols and songs students know these days. Therefore, for this year, I have compiled a list of Christmas songs to assist students in learning the Christmas repertoire. Not only will hearing these songs increase their Christmas music repertoire, but many of the songs in their Christmas books are included in this list which will make learning their pieces easier.

The songs are divided into several “gifts.” After hearing and checking off each song two times and completing the various assignments, the students will unlock the bonus song and are able to list that gift as “unwrapped” or “opened.” When they finish unwrapping a gift, they will be awarded with a trading card to signify their accomplishment. Their name will also be added to the master list of seeing who will open all of the gifts by the Christmas recital.

The PDF provides the completed list with the assignments. Below are the titles with the links for easier access. christmas-music-list

Gift 1 Stillness of the First Christmas

1A. Silent Night (Piano Duet)

1B. Silent Night (Mormon Tabernacle Choir)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ri2thaAIyA

2. O Holy Night (Glass Harp)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asPvyvUpxLg

3. O Little Town of Bethlehem (a capella choir)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA0EzQQZVnk

Bonus: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (Shimmering Silver Flute Quartet)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3Aqs9rJP_M

Gift 2 Bells Galore

1A. Silver Bells/White Christmas (The Chuck Wagon Gang)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVMy0jCGTQE

1B. Silver Bells (original singers)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVEZ3sxJdbU

2. Jingle Bells (pictures of Disney characters)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PgNPc-iFW8

3. Carol of the Bells (a capella vocal band by Ben Everson)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKoC5kPOk0Q

Bonus: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQpP9Ippfps

Gift 3 Christmas from Many Lands

1. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (The Piano Guys)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO7ySn-Swwc

2. Twelve Days of Christmas (sung by a children’s choir)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyEyMjdD2uk

3. Feliz Navidad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDm4XgqTtDg

Bonus: Christmas Time Is Here (a cappella)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWuJsCbHWN4

Gift 4 Classic Christmas

1. Joy to the World (choir)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyciMYZq2-Y

2. Hallelujah Chorus (flash mob)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE

3. O Come, All Ye Faithful (choir and orchestra)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5_FxxWz7pc

Bonus: Frosty the Snowman (contains some art from the 1969 animated movie)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6zW225k_O0

Gift 5 Angels

1. Angels We Have Heard on High (choir)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RlMuRYvndU

2. Hark! The Herald Angles Sing (flash mob)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7FnWOo14xo

3. O Little Town of Bethlehem (Lisa Hedley on flute)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDgNtL3fkL8

1^st Bonus: Deck the Halls

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWHBc3j-oxI

2^nd Bonus: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (song starts about 1:15)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON6X5lEj90E

Gift 6 Songs that Tell the Christmas Story

1. Away in a Manger (Gaither Group)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xob9GQ6vw04

2. The Birthday of a King (George Beverly Shea)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi_Q6z4g5pc

3. We Three Kings (The Chuck Wagon Gang)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iud_24XROpg