Quick Answer

Christmas duets help violinists, violists, and cellists develop ensemble skills, rhythm, listening, and musical confidence while making holiday music more fun and social. Easy holiday duets are especially useful because players can focus on playing together instead of struggling with difficult technique.

Simple Christmas duet music can help students:

• strengthen counting and rhythm
• improve intonation and tone matching
• build ensemble awareness
• stay motivated during holiday practice
• enjoy playing music with friends and family

Holiday duets are also popular for studio classes, recitals, school concerts, and informal seasonal performances.

How new duet books made it to press in the middle of a super busy fall…

In the middle of way too many scheduled performances and tons of teaching, Myanna was writing the books in the Dancing Into Bethlehem series.

Now, I just have to say that Myanna is wonderfully secretive. She never reveals what books she’ll write next; no group-think or input from anyone ever inspires what will be written.

​However, I can tell something new is coming when I hear strains of her duets wafting up from the studio below mine. Myanna’s music is just so inventive, evoking film scores and folk dances, that I always know when I’m hearing her arrangements.

Writing is just the first part. After that she figures out bowings, edits the books, plays through the books many times, tries the duets out with her many students, and finally sends the books to me. Yay.

Although I’ve figured out that new books are coming, I can only prepare so much. Most of the work I do can’t start until I actually have the manuscripts.

​I pick the titles, design the covers, set up the layouts, do more proofreading, register the ISBNs, send the books to our various printers, make book cover and sample page images for the website, write the book descriptions, design the webpages, order the books, and finally start letting everyone know.

Let’s just say that Black Friday shopping didn’t happen. I didn’t even have time to do Cyber Monday shopping! Instead, I caught a few of those “Cyber Monday Extended” sales. Yep, those extended sales are just about perfect for us.

As an aside, I’d like to thank our wonderful UPS, USPS, and Fedex, and AmazonFresh delivery people, without whom this company (and these hungry musicians) would not be able to run!

• All duets are compatible between instruments (violin and viola, violin and cello, and viola and cello can play together!)
• All duets are intermediate. The violin and viola books are all in first position but are musically and technically challenging. The cello book uses first through fourth positions (but no tenor clef.)
• Myanna picked a really neat selection of carols and Christmas music! I love her other Christmas duet book, Sailing Into Bethlehem, and I’m excited to have new music to play with my students this year.
• These duets can be played for gigs, in lessons, or just for fun. They bring an enchanting, lively warmth to the Christmas season!​

• These free violin, viola, and cello duets are compatible between instruments, just like the duets in Sailing Into Bethlehem and Dancing Into Bethlehem.
• These duets are not included in either of the two Christmas duet books; they’re only available here!

• Click to view larger images and play from your screen. To get a free PDF copy of the exercises, sign up with the contact form below.

Want a PDF of these? See below!

Want a PDF of these? See below!

Want a PDF of these? See below!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Christmas duets good for string students?

Christmas duets help string students practice rhythm, listening, ensemble playing, and musical communication in a fun and motivating way. Seasonal music often feels familiar and approachable, which can make students more excited to practice and perform during the holidays.

Can violin, viola, and cello players perform holiday duets together?

These holiday duets, as well as the duets in Sailing Into Bethlehem, can be played by any combination of violin, viola, and cello. Flexible duet arrangements make it easier for siblings, friends, classmates, and mixed string groups to play together even if they study different instruments.

Can these duets be used for gigs?

The flexibility of instrumentation and harmonic creativity make these duets great for gigs!

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