Favorite new books

One thing I love to do in December (and October and November) is play Christmas music. It starts on Halloween day. This first book has been a favorite of mine for several years now. I love to play in it all the time, and it has arrangements of classics, and the last song "Go Tell it on the Mountain" is a little jazzy and fabulous.

This next book I just discovered a few days before Christmas. It became an instant favorite! David Lanz, Christmas Eve. Joy to the World, and The First Noel are at the Top of my list in this book, with several others coming in next. I am anxious to play some of his other music. I am sure I will like it. For Christmas I also received a lost page for Claire De Lune. I can now finish learning that wonderful tune. Those who know me, know I have been on a Jon Schmidt "kick" for a while now. At the beginning of the month, Steven and I were able to attend his Christmas Concert. It was fabulous. He is an amazing pianist. They had a big screen behind him, so you could watching his hands on the piano. Wow! Love, love, love, his music. He and the cellist played Love story meets Viva La Vida. It brought the house down. I am so anxious for him to release the piano music for his new album "Bonus Tracks" Most times when I am walking past the living room, I just have to go in a play a song or two, or three. Fun times. Cavalcade will be coming up in March. It will be a wonderful event featuring Jon Schmidt as our guest soloist! I will be playing 3 of his songs in duet form.

This next book I discovered at the scrapbook store when I was attending a class. I later found it at Costco and couldn't pass it up. Davis received it for Christmas this year, and we've had fun reading it together!