Printable Sheet Music
When Christ was Born

Printable sheet music When Christ is Born is haunting and gentle. (The kind of piece students' parents tend to appreciate!)

This free piano sheet music is a beautiful piece for early intermediate pianists, with a flowing left hand using broken chords.

Free Christmas sheet music When Christ was Born

Please scroll down the page for the links to the free printable PDFs.

A closeup of page 1

Closeup look at Christmas music for piano "When Christ was Born", showing plain open fifth chords in left hand.

Two ways to do the left hand accompaniment

The first version of When Christ was Born has a rocking feeling, due to the left hand back-and-forth chords.

The contrast when the broken chords begin on page two is very nice, and makes the piece sound harder than it really is, and very full.

When Christ was Born for piano, with big broken chords in the left hand.

Please scroll down the page for the download links.

What's hard about this piece?

There are two primary difficulties learning this piece, whether you choose the simpler version above or the harder version, shown below, of the two free Christmas songs.

Finger substitution

First, the melody calls for lots of finger replacement. LOTS.

Fortunately, it so happens that finger number 3 is the usual finger called upon, so that there seems almost to be a pattern.

When I teach this piece, I usually have a red pen ready, for me or the student to circle all the finger replacements.

This is an opportunity to work on a skill

It hasn't proven to be an issue; rather, students have found this song to be a learning experience.  When the fingering is good, the right hand just falls into place!

A different approach with the 2nd arrangement

Here is the longer version, starting with just the melody.  Use lots of pedal, to give it atmosphere:

When Christ was Born, a beautiful and unfamiliar Christmas song, with long extended broken chords in the left hand.  Page one starts with just the melody.

Another difficulty: Grace notes

Secondly, piano students who have never used simple grace notes such as the ones found in this piece find them enchanting!

Learning to use them, however, and planning the attack, is a whole new skill, and one which will encourage creativity in your students' own composing and arranging.

I suggest learning the first phrase of the melody without the left hand, until the grace note feels natural.

A harder version of When Christ was Born, with long flowing left hand chords, page two.
3 pages of an unfamiliar and little-known Christmas song, When Christ was Born.  With long flowing left hand chords.

If your student struggles with left/right hand coordination...

For tips on how to put the right hand together with the left-hand with eighth notes for students who are just learning these skills, see my page Holly and Ivy.

I hope you enjoy using these free Christmas songs!



The links to the piano music:


Download free piano printable sheet music When Christ was Born


Download free piano music When Christ was Born long version



Interested in songs from the Bible for your students or church?  Check out my other website, SingTheBibleStory.com!

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Kitana:
Hi! I'm teaching my little brother to play the piano and this is really helpful. 

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Krista:
Thank you thank you thank you!! I have recently started my own vocal studio, and though I have studied music education for years in college, a private studio is a daunting task for me.

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About the Author

Dana Thynes

Hi, I'm Dana!  (Say that like "Anna".)  I'm the owner of Music-for-Music-Teachers.com, and a newer site, SingTheBibleStory.com.

Like some of you, I've been playing the piano since early childhood, and have added a few other instruments along the way, plus an interest in arranging and composing music.

You can find out more about me and the reason for this website at my About Me page.