| The Church Pianist |
| A help ministry for church pianists all over the world! |
I know it’s not the Christmas season but had to share a video of my FREE piano arrangement…”In the Bleak Midwinter” played by Fred, better known as…The African Pianist. Thanks Fred for your dedication to the keyboard as well as your contagious inspiration!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85rg5yJ9Nq4&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR1plGALMabI54Of495Lxj2GzWUyw2VuajUubILDOEpw8w5SYnXqzI1BedU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yG-z3-zGO0
Can the church pianist modulate up a half step from verse to chorus during congregational singing? The answer is…yes! 🙂
(Of course….with the song leader’s permission) 😉
Jenifer gives several modulating tips in the following video tutorial.
Click below the video to download the FREE printable that provides several modulation examples for modulating a half step from the verse to the chorus during congregational singing.
I just wrote this arrangement of Silent Night for Ady, one of my late beginner students.
She needed something that wouldn’t take long to learn.
Ady loves it!
I will offer this Christmas piano solo for FREE until December 5, 2019.
Just click on the link below this video to download your FREE copy.
One of my piano students recently requested improvising ideas for More About Jesus.
Specs I consider before improvising a hymn:
In this tutorial, I added improvised notes for a moderate tempo.
Click HERE for free printable version of “More About Jesus” (verse only)
The following article discusses the limitations that come with the intermediate level church pianist. A reminder, they are doing the best they can do for the moment. But with a little extra practice…they can blossom into a fuller sound of playing by expanding their right hand horizon; opening up space for more left hand creativity! The following article is meant to encourage the intermediate level church pianist.
Most intermediate level church pianists play basically in the middle area of the keyboard when accompanying congregational singing or other vocal specials.
(See the picture of their range below)
The bass part in the hymnal doesn’t normally go below the second G under Middle C and the right hand probably doesn’t go as high as the second F above Middle C unless the intermediate pianist takes quick ventures into the upper register 😉
When the right hand stays within this boundary…the left hand playing space is limited. Taking the right hand an octave higher for an occasional spin…opens up more room for the left hand. This does not mean the pianist must stay an octave higher throughout the entire hymn. It’s actually better to use a combination of both the middle or upper register for variety in sound.
When to change registers for the right hand? In my early days of training, I was taught to change right hand registers at the end of a line which equates to at least two sentences. It’s nice to gradually work your way up or down by playing extra chords or notes leading into whatever register you’re heading for.
See example below in the hymn excerpt “Like a River Glorious” (click on image to enlarge)
Just finished writing a quickie congregational arrangement for Rescue the Perishing.
My daughter in law is covering for me on the piano this Sunday and I just realized I didn’t have a congregational arrangement of this song written out….so squeaked this one out in about thirty minutes…not always that quick 😉
I want to publish another congregational booklet asap….just so much writing IS taking place…even though you haven’t seen the fruits of my labor yet! 😉
My husband reminds me…”quality” Jenifer not “quantity”. I can truthfully say that is taking place….hopefully!
Thanks for your extreme patience.
Click here to download your free copy of “Rescue the Perishing” congregational accompaniment
During choir practice yesterday afternoon…our choir was practicing “Faith is the Victory” in unison.
I noticed it was just SO awkward trying to grab all the melody notes…especially during the verse!
Each sentence of the verse starts on a fast note (eighth note) making it almost impossible to keep up with the melody. I thought, “The choir KNOWS the melody…why not delete the first word of each sentence to alleviate the awkwardness!?! (Exception: I’ll play the first word of the song to allow for secure entry) 🙂
My mind devised a plan to ease up my old moving hands 😉 Time to have some fun! Just stay within the vicinity of the melody and you won’t get AS lost 😉
Let the singers do the work!
The result: (Download the free pdf version of “Faith is the Victory” below)
Just to let my readers know…I’m working on “Infant Holy” right now to hopefully publish by today!
I already published “What Child is This?” (early intermediate piano solo) just yesterday.
Both of these can be free (for limited time)… when ordering my book from Lorenz entitled: “My Redeemer and Friend”.
See promo details for this book at the following link: PROMO DETAILS
See sampling of “What Child is This?” below:
