If you know the Charlie Brown Christmas Special, then you probably remember the dazzling score to the holiday episode in search of the true meaning of Christmas, created by Jazz piano icon Vince Guaraldi. 

The introduction frames the entire piece, both harmonically and metrically. In the opening, Imagine defining the four corners of a picture frame with which a picture will be created. In this lilting jazz waltz, listen and catch the groove. Seek out the expressive qualities of each line and connect body gestures to match that of the musician’s delicate phasing that could represent how skating is bound by so much effort to get moving and almost like flying once finally started. The music just fades out on the third repeat, freeze on the last chop. Tell students to always watch their own hands as much as possible.

Enjoy!

John Crever is a driven educator with more than 30 years of music coaching, conducting, composition, instructional, production, management and community organizing experience.   His ability to connect with students and teachers of diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds has enabled him to successfully teach general music and choir in communities ranging from those ravaged by urban blight, to suburban public and private settings, to overseas students in the international school system in the Arabian Gulf.