Secular Selections for the Holiday Season!

Do you have students that don’t celebrate Christmas, or those that prefer not to play religious music this time of year?

If you are like me, you are probably looking for ways to be sensitive to these students and their families, but also to make sure they feel included in your seasonal studio events.



Luckily there are lots of great options for seasonal pieces that are secular in nature! Read on for a selection of my favorite seasonal, non-religious musical options for students at a variety of levels.

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There are a few categories of secular music that I like to keep in mind this time of year:

1. Winter-themed pieces
A lovely, winter-inspired piece is a perfect addition to your holiday recital! Here are a couple of my own pieces:

Snowfall at Lake Geneva (late elementary)
Winter Winds (early intermediate)

There are several other lovely options composed by my fellow composers at the Piano Pronto Composers Community that you can see HERE.

For your early advanced students, Sleighbells in the Snow by William Gillock is another favorite in my studio (perfect for festivals and competitions, too!).

2. Popular songs
There are lots of well-known folk and popular songs that are seasonal, but don't reference Christmas or other religious holidays. "Frosty the Snowman," "Skating" (from "A Charlie Brown Christmas"), "My Favorite Things" (from "The Sound of Music"), and "Once Upon a December" (from "Anastasia") have all been favorites with my students.

Here are a few more of my favorites (arranged by yours truly):

Do You Want to Build a Snowman? (from "Frozen") - elementary
Over the River and Through the Wood - late elementary
Sleigh Ride - late elementary
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - multiple levels
Winter Wonderland - multiple levels
Linus and Lucy (from "A Charlie Brown Christmas") - multiple levels and a duet
Auld Lang Syne - multiple levels
Simple Gifts - late intermediate

3. Classical favorites
There are quite a few classical pieces I enjoy teaching during the holidays! "Winter" from Vivaldi's "Four Seasons," "Skater's Waltz" (by Emile Waldteufel), and "Snow is Dancing" by Debussy are all seasonal classical pieces that I have used with my students in past years.

Here are a few more familiar, seasonal options that I have arranged:

Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite" - check out my whole easy collection HERE!
Russian Dance (Tchaikovsky) - multiple levels, including a free version!
Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy (Tchaikovsky)  - multiple levels
Canon in D (Pachelbel) - multiple levels

What do you think? What seasonal favorites do you use in your studio? I would love to hear from you in the comments!