Archive for the ‘Free music’ Category

FREE Sacred Piano Arrangement: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

Wednesday, February 28th, 2024

I shared a post a couple of years ago of me playing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” excerpt from my congregational playing at my church.

A good handful of you have expressed interest in that arrangement.  I tried to duplicate the arrangement into written form.

This particular arrangement is accompaniment style only… not compatible as a piano solo.

Click on the following title to download this free piano congregational arrangement.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

A Mighty Fortress is Our God (FREE Congregational)

Saturday, October 7th, 2023

Awhile ago, one of my readers asked if I had a congregational arrangement for “A Might Fortress is Our God.”

I didn’t at the time but decided to tackle it this week.  This particular arrangement is for the late intermediate church pianist.

What a challenge to stay within the written chords from the hymnal! Maybe I need to come up with a piano solo for this hymn too.

Important Notice!

This arrangement was created for congregational style only.  If  you insert the melody in measures #16 and #20…it can be used for a piano solo.

Print your own copy for free and then listen to the audio while you’re holding the music!

A Mighty Fortress is Our God (FREE PDF)

 A Mighty Fortress is Our God (audio)

 

Holy Holy Holy (Visual Aid)

Friday, October 6th, 2023

Here’s a visual aid for measure #34 in my advanced version of “Holy Holy Holy”.

I used eighth notes instead of sixteenth notes to give a clearer presentation of the RH run layout.

I created this for a reader that was asking if some of the notes were wrong in the right hand run of this measure.

I’m not surprised. It’s a tricky measure!  I had to practice and practice this page!

Download this visual aid HERE

 

Praise Him! Praise Him! Left Hand Improvising Tips

Friday, September 22nd, 2023

Just throwing a quickie your way!  Here are a couple left hand improvising tips for the hymn…Praise Him! Praise Him!

The tips can be applied to hymns in different time signatures.

I have a student who is late intermediate level and she wants to learn congregational style so bad! So…I’ll be walking her through different hymns and giving her improvising tips along the way.

Let me know if you all want more of these quickies along the way.  Click on this title to download your free copy of this page.  PRAISE HIM! PRAISE!

The Old Rugged Cross: Suggested Fingering

Monday, August 14th, 2023

One of my viewers recently requested fingering suggestions for my free arrangement of “The Old Rugged Cross.”

I added the suggested fingering by hand.  This is just the fingering that’s most comfortable for me.

Here are two different free PDFs for The Old Rugged Cross…

The Old Rugged Cross without fingering

The Old Rugged Cross WITH fingering

Christ Arose: Early Intermediate Congregational Piano Arrangement

Tuesday, March 14th, 2023

Here’s a free arrangement of Christ Arose for the early intermediate church pianist.

Most hymnals offer this  Easter hymn in the key of C Major.  I’ve provided this arrangement in a lower key…B flat major.

This early intermediate piano arrangement was written for one of my students who is the church pianist for her church.

Just click the following link to print this arrangement:

CHRIST AROSE (early intermediate congregational arrangement)

 

More Right Hand Runs: Using Sixteenth Notes

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022

For those wanting more written examples… I’m sharing two more visuals of right hand runs using sixteenth notes.

Runs add a nice driving force to the music and creates energy if played correctly 🙂

Tip:

Emphasize the 1st note in each sixteenth note group for a more shapely sound.  Emphasizing every note can sound mechanical.

In my earlier days of being church pianist, I would often rush a run.  It’s so easy for our fingers to speed too much when viewing a sea of black notes  that need to occur in a brief moment!  I had to  make myself slowly practice the run and count the main beats as I conquered the sea of notes in front of me. In time the run sounded like it fit!  Just remember….not all runs mean “super fast!”

Click on the following title to download free pdf with two more examples of this right hand run:

 MORE RIGHT HAND RUNS

 

 

 

 

 

More Right Hand Runs Using Sixteenth Notes Coming Soon!

Monday, March 21st, 2022

Do you want to add spice to your congregational playing  or playing for  the choir?

As promised…I will be sharing more right hand run examples tomorrow.

For those just stopping by….click on the following link to see the 1st examples of a right hand run using sixteenth notes.

Right Hand Run: Using Sixteenth Notes

 

 

Church Pianist Tip: Connector Chord During Congregational Singing

Friday, May 28th, 2021

One of my viewers recently asked me what I use for a connector chord going from the end of a chorus back into another verse of a hymn.

I like to use the IV chord. (It usually is an inverted IV chord).  The IV chord spices up the sound a little bit too.

Hope the following examples are beneficial to you!

Click on the following title for free download: Add a Connector Chord!

Part Two: Dwelling in Beulah Land (Chorus)

Monday, May 24th, 2021

I checked the most recent recording of our congregation singing Dwelling in Beulah Land and discovered they didn’t sing it as fast as I was thinking.

My son led this hymn in a more moderate tempo.  But…the arrangement is quite suitable for medium speed.

Some hymns just seem more demanding than others. This is one of those hymns!  Once you see the chorus…you may understand why I’m tired after playing just one verse and chorus!  😉

I get very emotionally involved in the text as you’ll notice in the chorus 😉

I’m sure  you all may have even better ideas for this particular hymn. Special note: I did add several corrections to this arrangement as of June 8th, 2021

Click here for verse and chorus

 

 

Question Concerning the Chorus:

Anybody know the purpose for the right hand quarter rests during the chorus?