Category: Christmas

Another Free Christmas Solo/Duet for Strings: Ding, Dong Merrily on High!

11/25/2022

These days, even small tasks can be complicated!

Recording sample tracks from the new Advent books these past few weeks required a sense of humor! Baby Lilya was absolutely determined to be heard in the outtake below... Having heard Joy to the World quite a lot by now, she even gets a little rhythmic in the middle of the video. 😂

Let's just say that it wasn't the most efficient session...

But we finally managed to get a couple of (mostly) clean takes to put on the product pages; hooray! And despite the challenges, we are loving having baby Lilya in rehearsals, planning sessions, some lessons, and even a performance or two!

We are happy, however,

that we got all of the actual recording done for this Christmas violin and cello CD before the baby was born. It's a little surreal that in all of the craziness of this past year that a second duo CD release was possible.

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Note: We encourage you to purchase and review the album on Amazon (rather than here on the website) because we really need reviews!

There is a lot of excitement about these new Advent books!

Flexible, compatible, and fun, these books give students and musicians material to play each day of the Christmas Advent season.

First, the Warm-Up helps you work on the difficulties in the carol and variation. Then the carol Melody is followed by a Variation on the carol. The Duet part can be played with either the Melody or the Variation. (Please note: it is not recommended to play the Melody along with the Variation).

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To celebrate the new Advent books

We are releasing two free Christmas carols for violin, viola, and cello. Here is the blog post with the first free Christmas carol, Good Christian Men, Rejoice!

And here is the second free Christmas carol:
Ding Dong Merrily on High!

Note: This solo/duet is compatible between instruments and so are the new Advent books!

Ding, Dong Merrily on High, Page 1: Free Violin Christmas Carol

Ding, Dong Merrily on High, Page 2: Free Violin Christmas Carol

Ding, Dong Merrily on High, Page 1: Free Viola Christmas Carol

Ding, Dong Merrily on High, Page 2: Free Viola Christmas Carol

Ding, Dong Merrily on High, Page 1: Free Cello Christmas Carol

Ding, Dong Merrily on High, Page 2: Free Cello Christmas Carol

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Free Christmas Solo and Duet: Good Christian Men, Rejoice! (In dulci jubilo)

11/20/2022

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New Album Release for Violin and Cello!

Music + Baby = Fun but Exhausting Rehearsals

People say that having a baby changes everything. It most certainly has changed Myanna's life completely. But it has also changed our writing and publishing and performing and teaching. We had the idea for String Duo Christmas nearly two years ago, and started mapping out the project.

While Myanna was expecting, we were in the

middle of intense recording sessions. We finished the final recording session just in time: three weeks before the baby was born.

Lilya has heard more Christmas music in her life than she knows what to do with. In fact, between the album and the new Advent books that are being released this fall, and all the Christmas-themed rehearsals and lessons she will listed to, she will probably think that Christmas is year-round...

She was (almost) as excited as we were when the CDs came...

You can learn more about the album here:

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Once the restocking issues are worked out in a week or so, we encourage you to purchase and review the album on Amazon because we really need reviews!

This year, we are releasing three Advent study books!

These books have warm-up exercises, carol melodies, and carol variations for every day of the Christmas season; a sort of music advent calendar!

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Looking for a stress-free solo or duo gig book this holiday season? Whether you want just the basics or something a little fancier, these tunes and variations are all completely sight-readable. With interchangeable harmonies so both instruments can take the lead, and an easy-to-read layout for those low light situations, these books are an effortless way to expand your holiday rep!

Violin Takes the Lead!

Cello Takes the Lead!

To celebrate these releases, here is a free compatible solo and duet version of Good Christian Men, Rejoice! (In dulci jubilo)

Good Christian Men, Rejoice, Page 1: Free Violin Christmas Carol

Free Violin Christmas Solo and Duet: Good Christian Men, Rejoice!

Good Christian Men, Rejoice, Page 2: Free Violin Christmas Carol

Good Christian Men, Rejoice, Page 1: Free Viola Christmas Carol

Free Viola Christmas Solo and Duet: Good Christian Men, Rejoice!

Good Christian Men, Rejoice, Page 2: Free Viola Christmas Carol

Good Christian Men, Rejoice, Page 1: Free Cello Christmas Carol

Free Cello Christmas Solo and Duet: Good Christian Men, Rejoice!

Good Christian Men, Rejoice, Page 2: Free Cello Christmas Carol

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Free Christmas Duets to Celebrate New Book Releases!

12/10/2019

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How three 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!

Here's a little bit about the new books:

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!

And to Celebrate the Release,

Here Are Some Free Mini Books of Carols!

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!