"It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" (Step-by-Step Lesson)

Free PDF Downloads: www.pianogroove.com/resources In this comprehensive holiday piano tutorial, we break down the classic "It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" and transform it from basic chords into a "lush" jazz arrangement. Whether you are a beginner looking for the core harmony or a more advanced player wanting to spice up your chords, this lesson has something for you. What you’ll learn in this lesson: The Foundation: We start with the basic triads and the song's core AABA form. The "Rocking" Stride: Learn the left-hand technique using 10th intervals to add an instant groove. Pro Voicings: How to use the "Secret" 4-to-4-minor chord movement and Minor 13th formulas. Holiday "Vibe": Adding melodic fills, turns, and rolls to create a professional holiday sound. Upper Structures: Level up your sound with B♭13(#11) and other sophisticated reharmonizations. About the Song: "It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" Written in 1951 by Meredith Willson (famed composer of The Music Man), this holiday standard has become a cornerstone of the Great American Songbook. Originally titled "The Christmas Spirit," it was made famous by legendary crooners like Perry Como and Bing Crosby. Musically, the tune is a perfect vehicle for jazz piano because of its classic AABA structure and its sophisticated harmonic movement. From its "rocking" major-to-minor shifts to its playful melodic leaps, it offers the perfect canvas for exploring stride piano, lush 13th chords, and festive reharmonizations that capture the nostalgic magic of the season. #JazzPiano #ChristmasPiano #PianoTutorial #ItsBeginningToLookALotLikeChristmas #pianolessons 00:00 - Intro 01:15 - First A Section 08:53 - Diminished Chord 11:25 - Options for Small Hands 14:26 - B Section 19:20 - Reharmonizations 31:52 - Four to Four Minor Trick 35:37 - Upper Structure Tricks 37:42 - Improvisation with Chord Tones