Archive for the ‘Miscellaneous tips’ 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

Easy-Piano-Christmas Congregationals-Late-Elementary

Tuesday, November 21st, 2023

Last year, I wrote out the following arrangements for my late elementary to early intermediate student who covered for me while I was out of town on a Sunday.

I created arrangements that would be easy for my student to learn in time to play. The student I’m speaking about is our Pastor’s daughter.  She is now a true early intermediate and enjoys taking part in our music ministry.   I’m excited with her progress!   Would love to share what all she’s been doing  but will save that for her interview after Thanksgiving.

Each of these arrangements include an introduction.  The songs are also in a lower key for the benefit of our congregation.  Our congregation sings out SO much more when we lower the hymns. These arrangements can be used for piano solos or congregational singing!

Click on image to view sample pages

Easy-Piano-Christmas Congregationals-Late-Elementary
Five Late elementary Christmas congregational arrangements. Each arrangement includes an introduction. These arrangements can be used as piano solos or congregational singing. Song list: Away in a Manger, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, O Come All Ye Faithful, Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne, What Child is This?
Price: $8.00

 

Meet Maddie the Church Pianist

Monday, November 13th, 2023

Meet Maddie the church pianist who loves learning to play!

Maddie started out in Level 1A (Faber books) and reached level 5 in two years!

Watch this video to hear Maddie share her journey thus far… Please feel free to share by copying this link to your social platform  Maddie the Church Pianist

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)

 

Free Sacred Congregational Piano Arrangement Coming Soon!

Saturday, October 7th, 2023

Be on the look out for a free sacred congregational piano arrangement!

I’ll give you a couple  hints:

1. I’ve NEVER arranged this hymn before.

2. It’s a very stately old hymn that speaks of God’s protection

 

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!

Piano Prelude Tips

Monday, August 28th, 2023

Jenifer…need help in determining what songs are appropriate to use for preludes. I like grand, powerful songs reflecting God’s greatness but not sure it would be necessary to always play these types of songs. Can you help? Thanks.   Nell

Excellent question!

I was always taught to play peppy and loud with an upbeat tempo!

However, I have changed somewhat.

You may think I’m weird, but for most preludes I play the prelude according to the spiritual temperature of any given service.

For example, on Sunday mornings, most of the congregation is already in their seats sitting quietly waiting for the service to begin.

We have a brief choir rehearsal right after Sunday School in a room behind the auditorium. We usually get to the auditorium when it’s about time to start!

So, I will play hymns around a medium level of volume  such as:  (Our grand piano easily overpowers our medium sized sanctuary)

O Worship the King

Blessed be the Name

Praise Him! Praise Him

Grace Greater Than Our Sin

Amazing Grace

There are some mornings that it feels more appropriate to play more subdued/prayerful hymns such as:  In the Garden, The Old Rugged Cross, I Must Tell Jesus, Jesus is the Sweetest Name I Know. (Especially for times when the congregation has been touched by a recent death(s) or other trials)

Our congregation seems more sociable before Sunday and Wednesday night services 🙂  So, I’ll play hymns like Victory in Jesus, When the Roll, Blessed Assurance, Love Lifted Me, etc.

I try to keep my volume under tow so as not to overpower those that are visiting before the service.

I think my piano preludes are starting to evolve into more of  a background type of music vs. the loud; intrusive style that can crowd out conversations or  meditative moods.  I have been on the receiving end of preludes many times at different churches over the years and always enjoyed the preludes that drew you into a worshipful mood without being too loud.  We were recently at a funeral of a relative and the organ was SO loud that it hurt our ears and drowned out the congregational singing.

On a side note…ever notice how the prelude is more like the alarm clock for everyone to get in place?   😉

Please understand these tips are coming from personal opinion. We all have our own styles and ideas. This is just what works for me.

 

 

Early Intermediate Congregationals Collection Two: Just Published!

Thursday, August 17th, 2023

Promo Sale!  The collection is on sale through August 21st, 2023 until 10pm.

I had a person contact me recently requesting another collection of early intermediate congregational arrangements.

One of my daughter-in-laws will also benefit from this collection.

I decided to add an introduction to each arrangement.  Also, most of the arrangements would make nice short piano solo offertories.

You could also use these arrangements for accompanying a soloist too!

Only two of the arrangements wouldn’t be able to stand alone as a piano solo…..”Are You Washed?” and “Sweet Hour of Prayer.” The reason why is because the melody is not supported throughout the entire arrangement.  Some church pianists may be comfortable adding the missing melody in the few places per arrangement.  Otherwise, these two arrangements are missing the melody notes here and there since it’s more of an accompaniment style.

Easy to Play Congregationals Collection TWO
Early intermediate congregational arrangements by Jenifer Cook. Ten hymns: All Hail thePower, Are You Washed?, Have Thine Own Way, Higher Ground, I Love to Tell the Story, Revive Us Again, Sweet Hour of Prayer, Tell it to Jesus, Tis So Sweet, Where He Leads. Most of these arrangements can stand alone as a piano solo with the exception of: Are You Washed and Sweet Hour of Prayer. View the first three hymn arrangements by clicking on the COVER PHOTO
Price: $14.00

 

New Early Intermediate Congregational Collection Book Two!

Wednesday, August 16th, 2023

I’ve been busy creating this collection of early intermediate piano congregational arrangements!

More details soon!

 

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