The Joy of Christmas Book 1 is composed at the elementary level and is appropriate for students studying in Piano Safari Levels 1 and 2. This book contains student/teacher duets. These new arrangements of familiar Christmas carols are appropriate for use in Christmas piano recitals and as solos at seasonal church events.
Sean Parsons is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and educator. Originally from Illinois, Sean holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Composition from Illinois Wesleyan University, a Master's degree in Jazz Studies from DePaul University, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois. Prior to his appointment at Ohio University, where he teaches Jazz Studies and Music Theory, Sean has held faculty positions at Marshall University and Illinois Wesleyan University. He is in demand as a performer and clinician nationwide. Sean has shared the stage with many of the most notable musicians in jazz, including Clark Terry, James Moody, Aretha Franklin, Jon Faddis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Steve Turre, and Randy Brecker.
Dr. Christopher Fisher is Professor of Piano at the Ohio University School of Music in Athens, Ohio where he directs the internationally respected graduate programs in piano performance and pedagogy. Dr. Fisher is the author of Teaching Piano in Groups (Oxford University Press, 2010), co-author of Piano Duet Repertoire (Indiana University Press, 2016), and co-author of Functional Skills for Pianists (Oxford University Press, 2022). He is currently co-editing the Oxford Handbook of Piano Pedagogy (Oxford University Press). In demand as a workshop and master class clinician, Dr. Fisher has been a guest artist and/or clinician at conferences, conservatories, and universities across the globe.
Teodora Owen, originally from Romania, attended the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, United Kingdom, for her undergraduate studies prior to studying with Christopher Fisher at the Ohio University School of Music. At the Royal Conservatoire, she studied piano performance with concert pianist Jonathan Plowright. She also worked with Adriano Ambrossini at the Conservatorio Dall’Abbaco in Verona, Italy. Highlighted performances include recitals and collaborations across the United States and Europe, as well as solo appearances with the Oradea State Philharmonic in Romania. Teodora Owen teaches a successful private studio of piano students and is an up-and-coming collaborative pianist, improviser and arranger.
