What Child is This? Piano Solo Arrangement, Inspired by Lead Sheets
What Child is This?
You might have noticed, I love this tune. I’ve done many arrangements of it over the years. The melody never grows old.
This arrangement is inspired by my Method Book - 20 Favorite Christmas Songs: How to Play Lead Sheets. In the book, I use this carol to teach about playing a Left hand pattern I call: 1 - 5 - 3 or Root - Fifth - Third of the chord. It’s easier to recognize the last note as a 3rd rather than a 10th, although we play it as a 10th. This pattern gives a wonderful richness to the sound. The tempo marking is “Dance - like” because I want you to feel this in “One”. Experiment with the soft pedal: if you use it at the end, and maybe even at the beginning phrase, it will give the sound a mysterious, magical sound. This lyrical piece is a wonderful chance to explore expressive playing.
Key: E Natural Minor and G Major
Time signature: 3/4. BPM = 144
Skill development: Left hand pattern as taught in my Method Book - 20 Favorite Christmas Songs: How to Play Lead Sheets. Study this arrangement to see how many other patterns I use, as well as: identify the chord symbols, what other chord tones are included? Lyrical, expressive playing. Soft pedal.
Level: Early Intermediate
How long: 48 measures. 2 Pages. 1:20 minutes performance time.
This is a Single License: One purchase - One copy. Thank for honoring the composer’s work by not sharing with anyone. Encourage them to purchase their own copy please!
What Child is This?
You might have noticed, I love this tune. I’ve done many arrangements of it over the years. The melody never grows old.
This arrangement is inspired by my Method Book - 20 Favorite Christmas Songs: How to Play Lead Sheets. In the book, I use this carol to teach about playing a Left hand pattern I call: 1 - 5 - 3 or Root - Fifth - Third of the chord. It’s easier to recognize the last note as a 3rd rather than a 10th, although we play it as a 10th. This pattern gives a wonderful richness to the sound. The tempo marking is “Dance - like” because I want you to feel this in “One”. Experiment with the soft pedal: if you use it at the end, and maybe even at the beginning phrase, it will give the sound a mysterious, magical sound. This lyrical piece is a wonderful chance to explore expressive playing.
Key: E Natural Minor and G Major
Time signature: 3/4. BPM = 144
Skill development: Left hand pattern as taught in my Method Book - 20 Favorite Christmas Songs: How to Play Lead Sheets. Study this arrangement to see how many other patterns I use, as well as: identify the chord symbols, what other chord tones are included? Lyrical, expressive playing. Soft pedal.
Level: Early Intermediate
How long: 48 measures. 2 Pages. 1:20 minutes performance time.
This is a Single License: One purchase - One copy. Thank for honoring the composer’s work by not sharing with anyone. Encourage them to purchase their own copy please!
What Child is This?
You might have noticed, I love this tune. I’ve done many arrangements of it over the years. The melody never grows old.
This arrangement is inspired by my Method Book - 20 Favorite Christmas Songs: How to Play Lead Sheets. In the book, I use this carol to teach about playing a Left hand pattern I call: 1 - 5 - 3 or Root - Fifth - Third of the chord. It’s easier to recognize the last note as a 3rd rather than a 10th, although we play it as a 10th. This pattern gives a wonderful richness to the sound. The tempo marking is “Dance - like” because I want you to feel this in “One”. Experiment with the soft pedal: if you use it at the end, and maybe even at the beginning phrase, it will give the sound a mysterious, magical sound. This lyrical piece is a wonderful chance to explore expressive playing.
Key: E Natural Minor and G Major
Time signature: 3/4. BPM = 144
Skill development: Left hand pattern as taught in my Method Book - 20 Favorite Christmas Songs: How to Play Lead Sheets. Study this arrangement to see how many other patterns I use, as well as: identify the chord symbols, what other chord tones are included? Lyrical, expressive playing. Soft pedal.
Level: Early Intermediate
How long: 48 measures. 2 Pages. 1:20 minutes performance time.
This is a Single License: One purchase - One copy. Thank for honoring the composer’s work by not sharing with anyone. Encourage them to purchase their own copy please!
