Level: Intermediate

Format: PDF Digital Download

License: Single (please do not share with anyone)

The opening chord progression is one that I absolutely love and one, I confess, that is borrowed. 

I made it my own by mixing it with the melancholic and beloved tune of “What Child is This?”

The arrangement is geared towards intermediate to late intermediate students and is intended to be accessible. I define accessible as a piece that sounds sophisticated yet doesn’t require too much practice to pull it off in style.

This sheet music is the latest addition to a digital course I created and recently relaunched with friend and colleague, Drew Collins. The course is called “How to Play Piano in a Band” and outlines all the steps I’ve learned since I first encountered a chord chart.  So, if you sign up for the digital course, this sheet music IS INCLUDED already!

As a longtime church pianist, organist and accompanist, the three-module course lays out the steps I took to develop skills to read from chord charts alongside the wisdom and guidance of Drew, a seasoned worship team leader.

 This setting of “What Child is This?” is obviously not a chord chart but like most church musicians, it’s important to be versatile and play from both standard notation as well as lead sheets and chord charts.

 The piece begins in C minor and then seamlessly shifts to C Major for a brief reflection on “Silent Night.” If you’re a teacher, this is a great piece to review the concept of parallel keys—same home tone or tonic but different mode.

The cover art is courtesy of my mother, award-winning textile artist, Joanne Alberda.