All piano books are on sale right now until September 6th at Bible Truth Music.

One of my favorite books from Bible Truth is Wonderful Grace of Jesus (piano duos). Two of these books are being sold for only $16.95!  Two copies are necessary to play two pianos unless you have two pianos side by side plus a pianist with super eyesight

I also discovered another neat site where you can purchase individual piano arrangements. I’ll have to share this information soon!

I announced earlier about the soon coming release of my book entitled: Showers of Blessing. This piano arrangement book is now available through Soundforth. Soundforth did an excellent job putting the book together!

The book contains eight early intermediate sacred arrangements. The final arrangement is a peppy piano duet of Stepping in the Light.

Here are sample audios for each arrangement…

America the Beautiful

A Shelter in the Time of Storm

Come Thou Fount

It is Well with My Soul

Onward Christian Soldiers

Showers of Blessing

Stepping in the Light  (duet)

What Child is This

I’m excited about the upcoming release of my first piano arrangement book being published by Soundforth.  The piano book entitled, Showers of Blessing,  contains seven early intermediate arrangements (six solos and one piano duet).

The arrangements will work well for pianists with small hands.

Audio samples will be provided very soon.  Stay tuned for publication notice.

 It always excites me to have young people wanting to get involved in the music ministry.  Our church family is so supportive of their  young people’s endeavors to serve the Lord.

Hannah and her family have recently joined our church and they are a blessing.  Hannah hasn’t had lessons in a little while and is a level one student.  She is anxious to begin lessons this fall and is ready to  serve in the area of music.  Amen!

I recently gave her one of my beginner arrangements of “Nothing But the Blood“ along with an audio to help her out.  To my surprise, she had it down in a short time.  (It’s always encouraging to work with self-motivated young people) 

As a church pianist, I try to encourage our youth to get involved in the music minstry.  I’m thankful that our young people are interested in doing so. The younger they start, the easier it becomes as they gain experience and much practice.   I usually schedule the younger ones for a Wednesday or Sunday evening until they feel more comfortable.  (Sunday mornings require longer offertories due to a larger attendance.)

Here is a video of her playing the offertory at our church this past Sunday night. (Notice the encouraging responses at the end)

I’m also providing this arrangement free…with this article.  I plan to offer more of the beginning student hymn arrangements as time allows…in the music store.

“Jesus is All the World to Me” is another favorite hymn of mine.  I arranged this piano duo for Sunshine and I to play for offertory. (Sunshine is the other pianist at our church). It’s so nice to have two of us working together.  This piano duo arrangement could be considered late intermediate to early advanced.

Once again, I had one of my piano friends, Beth Fox, record it with me during a recent visit.

 I enjoyed arranging this piano duo arrangement of “Since I Have Been Redeemed“.   We have about a 40 minute commute to church.   The distance limits practice time. Therefore, I’m creating piano arrangements requiring minimal practice time for Sunshine (one of our church pianists)  and myself.

This particular arrangement has been a favorite at our church. One of my out ot town piano friends, Beth Fox, was visiting the other day, and I put her to work sightreading a couple of arrangements.  She was kind enough to do a recording of  ”Since I Have Been Redeemed” .

The balance of the pianos is not the best but the recording still provides audio aid to those who have this arrangement.

Piano duos are beneficial in many ways.  I’ll have to share more on this topic at a later date

 I always enjoy finding more piano arrangements for offertories!  The following audio samples are taken from the book entitled: Playing Piano Praises Volume One by Glenn & Jan Christianson.  The arrangements from this book are available in downloadable pdf format.  Another neat feature is…you can purchase the arrangements individually or as a whole book!

Come Christians Join to Sing

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Rock of Ages

In the Garden (one of my favorites!)

Medley: Hallelujah for the Cross! with At the Cross (sounds militant enough for a patriotic offertory)  

Hope you enjoy sampling the audios of these  piano arrangements.  Click here to view the actual music…Playing Piano Piano Praises  Volume One.

An advanced sacred piano arrangement of “There’s Within My Heart a Melody” is now available in the music store.

The story behind the creation of  this particular hymn deeply touched my heart as I hope it will yours. 

This joyful hymn was birthed from a very tragic accident.  The author, Luther Bridgers, was known for his energetic and sincere preaching.  At the age of 26 in 1910…Luther lost his wife and three young children to a housefire while visiting his in-laws.

Luther felt overwhelmed with sorrow but remembered the Lord promised he would never leave or forsake him. 

In the midst of his grieving, Luther was still able to penn these words:

“There’s within my heart a melody, Jesus whispers sweet and low.

Fear not, I am with thee, peace be still. In all of life’s ebb and flow.”

Sample Page of “There’s Within My Heart a Melody” Advanced Piano Arrangement

Sample Audio

I’m adding a new website to my blogroll list!  Bible Truth Music contains a nice selection of resources  that will benefit the church pianist.

I recently purchased one of their new piano duo books entitled Wonderful Grace of Jesus.  The arrangements are fairly easy to learn but sound wonderful! The piano arrangements can also be purchased individually from this book in downloadable pdf format!  Sunshine and I are playing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”  for July 4th Sunday. I will provide sample audios of this book in an upcoming article.

Here’s a list of audio excerpts from several of their piano books:

Audio Excerpts:

Playing Piano Praises   (early advanced) arranged by Glenn & Jan Christianson

In the Garden 

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Joyful Melodies Three   (early intermediate)  arranged by Jennifer Hall

Crown Him With Many Crowns

Power in the Blood

Songs of Invitation  (early advanced) arranged by Harold DeCou

Almost Persuaded

Just as I Am

More sample audios and book titles will appear in the next few articles.  Bible Truth Music plans to have all of their piano books available in pdf format very soon!  Hop on over and see what they have as of now.  I plan to purchase several of their books very soon to add to my offertory repertoire.

Church pianists of all levels will benefit from this website! 

Busy times…but still here    I’d like to share a free patriotic  piano arrangement with my church pianist readers.  My Country Tis of Thee is a very old hymn. The author of the melody is unknown but the words were written by Samuel Francis Smith.  

My Country Tis of Thee (Audio of free piano arrangement)