This has been a very difficult week.  One of my piano students I’ve been mentoring to be a church pianist passed away this week…very unexpectedly.  Please pray for the family.

I’ve managed to prepare a “free accompaniment” idea for Heaven Came Down.  This particular hymn contains a mundane bass line..making it a challenge for the average church pianist to create an interesting accompaniment.  What to do?  You have to play what’s not there   Easy said…but a challenge to do right?  For that reason, I’m sharing a free accompaniment idea that can be used for the verse of this hymn.

I”m limited on what I can share because this hymn is still under copyright. Therefore, I can only share a small portion for educational purposes only…(called the “fair use” law). Just use the same accompaniment idea to finish out the verse.  I would tend to use this accompaniment idea ONLY if the congregation is secure with their voice parts…whatever that may be.  Most of our congregation sings melody.

Click here to download Heaven-Came-Down-congregational-idea

I decided to publish my piano solo of  “How Great Thou Art” today since we’re expecting our first grandchild any day now!

What a challenge to write this out by ear!  I played this spontaneous piano arrangement at our local nursing home several years ago…posted the video… and began receiving requests for the music in print.

Keep in mind, I played this straight from my heart “free style”. Therefore, the style of writing is not as structured like the majority of my arrangements. I did my best to stay true to the youtube version.

My favorite part of this arrangement is when I suddenly get soft on the second verse during the words “…then I shall bow…” and then build in excitement on the words “…and there proclaim, my God how GREAT Thou art!”

Thanks again to all who encouraged me to write this advanced piano arrangement of “How Great Thou Art”!  (downloadable only)

How Great Thou Art (NEW!)

Advanced sacred piano solo, 4 pgs. *Audio not included. *See youtube link below.

Price: $3.95

Youtube link of “How Great Thou Art”

Since I’ve been sick all this week…I’ve had a little spare time to write music.  One of my music writing projects has been to write a  piano arrangement  of the traditional “Wedding March” recessional.  (This is the march that is played at the end of the wedding)

There’s nothing wrong with the traditional arrangement.  I’m just ready for a change. The last few times I played this song… it sounded so repetitive. If I could just add some different chords and melody twists.

It’s a challenge to draw this song to a close at just the right moment. I always work out my escape hatch (premature ending) in advance for short weddings.  (I’ll share alternate repeats and endings in the finished arrangement).

I decided to google piano arrangements for the “Wedding March”. What a variety of styles! I heard everything from slow romantic to party time renditions of this traditional tune.   It made me think…”What mood am I trying to create?”  I think…Happy! Yeah! I’m married! Joyful!

Therefore… a happy, joyful, triumphant mood…right?  So, I’m trying to add some spice to the already traditional “Wedding March” but not overdo it… or my changes will sound out of place/out of character.

This upcoming  arrangement of the “Wedding March” will be available for sale very soon.  I will offer the arrangement at a discount for a limited time.

Click here to see new arrangement of “Wedding March”

All church pianists understand there are those hymns that just need a little dress-up to bring them to life!  One of those such hymns is When the Roll is Called Up Yonder. Why the need for a dress-up?  Because there are a lot of repeated chords throughout the entire hymn.  What can be done to make this hymn sound more interesting?  Replace the repetitive bass line with a simple improvising idea.

Click on the following song title to see this improvising idea put to use. The pattern can be seen in the first few measures.

When the Roll is Called Up Yonder (part of chorus)  Intermediate version

For those of you at a more advanced level..you’ll find a free sample below of what I would play to accompany congregational singing. (I transferred the stepping down pattern to the right hand for the first phrase of the chorus.

When the Roll is Called Up Yonder (part of chorus) Advanced version

 Over the past ten years, I’ve learned ALOT of theory amidst many hours of  composing hymn arrangements.  There’s so much more I need to learn but I just pick up tips here and there and put them to use.  Now…I’ll share one of those tips with you.

The following improvising tip has made a difference in my hymnplaying; creating a more open, balanced sound.  I apply this tip to my congregational and solo playing.

The following hymn example contains “Come Thou Fount” in D major and the improvising tip.

Click here to download “Come Thou Fount” with improvising tip.

Just for fun: After playing  the above improvised example…add the 3rd of the chord in the right hand too…just to hear the difference.

Here is the rest of the free piano arrangement of “Blessed Assurance”. The complete arrangement contains two verses and choruses.  The second verse is actually arranged for the last verse of “Blessed Assurance”.

Explanation of my note on page three:  “Watch the director closely here”  is meant for the final verse.  Of course the church pianist should watch the director through the entire song but especially where a slow down occurs. Many directors begin to broaden the tempo at this part of the hymn…making it easier for the church pianist to throw in some busy note passages such as you see in the right hand on the words: “Sa-viour” and “long”.   Adding extra notes helps to maintain a  steady tempo during slower sections.

Click here for free sacred piano arrangement of “Blessed Assurance” page two and three

Click here for “Blessed Assurance” page one

Keep in mind…every church sings a different tempo…making the accompaniment feel SO different.

Blessed Assurance audio: 

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Since believing on Jesus Christ at the age of 29…I can truly say: “Blessed Assurance Jesus is Mine”.  This became one of my favorite hymns after becoming a Christian.

Shortly after being saved I arranged an offertory that included: “Blessed Assurance, Saved by the Blood and Since Jesus Came Into My Heart”.  I will have to write it out in my (ha ha) spare time.

This free sacred piano arrangement of “Blessed Assurance”  is a result of preparing several of our own soon-to-be church pianists to play for congregational singing.  We now have a rotational schedule for our intermediate to advanced pianists to allow them to play for our congregational singing.  It’s exciting to see them gain experience to better equip them for serving the Lord.

Click here for the free sacred piano arrangment of “Blessed Assurance” page one.

I’ll share the rest of this free arrangement in the next article.

Just discovered a practical instructional book on  improvising hymns found on Alfred Publishing’s site.

This book is a great starter for the intermediate pianist who wants to improvise from the church hymnal.  The pianist will learn how to do the following:

*Add tenor to the right hand

*Double the bass note

*A couple of easy-to-learn  left hand fill-in ideas

*PLUS…a collection of hymns already arranged for the intermediate church pianist using the improvising ideas that are taught in the book.

Click on the following book title to view the book and sample pages!

“How to Play Hymns & Gospel Songs in an Evangelistic Style”

Click here to download worksheet before watching video for “Improvising Hymns” Lesson Two 

Have a pencil handy!

The following short video tutorial on improvising hymns is geared to the beginning church pianist.  Playing straight from the church hymnal can sound rather plain. Learning how to dress up the hymns adds a new dimension of sound! This lesson gives some simple left hand fill in ideas for the first line of “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”.

Special clarification about the theory rule mentioned in this lesson concerning omitting the 3rd of the chord…The 3rd can be omitted from either hand.   Wait until you see the video below to understand this explanation

The next video tutorial will reveal more improvising ideas for “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”.

Click here to see My First Improvising Lesson

The hymn “Count Your Blessings” carries a great message in song but contains frequent repetitive notes providing a rather plain accompaniment for the average church pianist

Free Improvising Ideas for Count Your Blessings (congregational style)

Key of D Major

1. Use alternate bass movement (see measure #2) LH beat one…I played an ‘A’ rather than ‘D’

2. Measure #1 and #5, beat one ( no need to play every word) when playing congregational style; allows more ease of movement for the pianist.

3. The four note RH chords provide support to the singers.

4. Measure #6, notice the contrary octave movement between the hands for variety.

    *Contrary movement between both hands always adds a nice touch of spice

Click here to download Free Improvising Ideas for Count Your Blessings (congregational style)