Music is something that can turn a winter holiday into something truly special. Whether it’s the warm and fuzzies you get from listening to Christmas music while baking cookies or the pride and nostalgia you feel watching your child perform at an annual holiday concert, music makes the holidays great. From an exciting collection of holiday tunes from around the world to Christmas jazz standards arranged for guitar, today we’re highlighting ten phenomenal holiday songbooks.
1. A Charlie Brown Christmas
For many people around the world, Christmas isn’t complete without watching 1965’s beloved A Charlie Brown Christmas. Generations young and old still root for Charlie Brown and his tiny Christmas tree every year, and Vince Guaraldi’s music has come to symbolize the warmth and nostalgia so many associate with the holiday season around the world. This excellent collection features piano arrangements of all ten Vince Guaraldi tunes from the beloved holiday classic.
2. Jewish Holidays in Song
People in the Jewish faith tradition look forward to Hanukkah every year, but the music doesn’t stop when the winter season is over. Passover, the Sabbath, and High Holidays come with special musical traditions that happen throughout the year. Jewish Holidays in Song features 100 of the most traditional and well-known songs from the Jewish holiday cycle. This comprehensive collection also includes music for lighting candles and reciting kiddush over wine. If you’re searching for the ultimate Jewish holiday songbooks, look no further!
3. Holiday Favorites For Five-Finger Piano
Popular holiday music makes for a phenomenal teaching tool when it comes to teaching budding pianists. Featuring popular secular holiday classics arranged in Five-Finger Piano notation for developing pianists, Holiday Favorites For Five-Finger Piano helps piano students develop their technique and musical skills through easy and fun Christmas classics. Songs include “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth,” “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas (Hippo the Hero),” “The Little Drummer Boy,” “Winter Wonderland,” and more!
4. Jazz Guitar Christmas
When jazz guitar meets Christmas songs, amazing music happens. Jazz Guitar Christmas features 13 challenging Christmas tunes that are a blast to learn and play. Popular classics and exciting lesser-known songs are included in this excellent collection, including “All Through the Night,” “Angels from the Realm of Glory,” “Away in a Manger,” “The Boar’s Head Carol,” “The Coventry Carol,” “Deck the Hall,” “Jolly Old St. Nicholas,” and more!
5. Child of Kwanzaa
Written by Roger Emmerson, Child of Kwanzaa is a heartwarming collection of songs inspired by the Kwanzza holiday. With music arranged for choirs, this terrific book would make an excellent addition to any music educator’s winter programming. Catchy African-inspired percussion meets memorable vocal harmonies in this excellent group of festive holiday songs.
6. Celebrations Around the World! A Global Holiday Songbook
Have you ever wondered what the holidays sound like in other parts of the world? Our next book is a captivating musical passport that will teach you holiday music from around the world! With Celebrations Around the World! A Global Holiday Songbook, you’ll learn traditional holiday songs from places like Barbados, Brazil, United Kingdom, Italy, Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, Japan, Australia, South Africa and Ghana. Written for groups aged grades grades 2 to 7, this fun collection of global holiday music works both as a songbook or a music program.
7. The Christmas Caroling Songbook
Our next selection is a mandatory book if you’re planning on caroling this holiday season. Packed with an impressive 72 holiday favorites, The Christmas Caroling Songbook puts all of your favorite Christmas songs into one place. With this many songs to choose from, you’ll have your pick of holiday standards as well as charming lesser-known songs to sing this Christmas. Happy caroling!
8. The Ultimate Christmas Guitar Songbook
For many guitarists, the ability to play Christmas songs every year is something that brings both them and their loved ones an incredible amount of joy. The Ultimate Christmas Guitar Songbook boasts an impressive 100 holiday songs in a variety of notation styles that suit both beginner players as well as seasoned musicians. Songs are presented both in tabs as well as classical notation in this phenomenal, comprehensive guitar songbook.
9. My Hanukkah Song Book
This charming book of Hanukkah songs features beloved holiday staples such as “Hannah,” “Hanukkah,” and “I Have a Little Dreydl,” as well as many original songs by Judith Berman and Rose Engel. Arranged for piano and vocals, the book’s included illustrations and descriptions help musicians better understand the music to get into the spirit of the holiday.
10. Christmas Songs for Ukulele
Ukulele is an incredible instrument because it’s so welcoming to beginners. People of all ages and musical skill levels can play the ukulele, which means that anyone can learn to play Christmas songs during the holiday season. Christmas Songs for Ukulele features 20 fun, easy-to-play Christmas classics like “Blue Christmas,” “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire),” “Christmas Time Is Here,” “Feliz Navidad,” Frosty the Snow Man,” “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” and many others. Whether you’re interested in learning a new instrument or already play one, this is a great book to have for the Christmas season.
Check out more favorite songbooks for other holidays: