Archive for the ‘Improvising hymns’ Category

Jenifer Cook Plays Comforting Hymns

Monday, July 12th, 2021

Jenifer’s recent “Comforting Hymns” on youtube

(Aired on July 25, 2021)

 

 

 

 

Piano Fill-in Ideas for “Dwelling in Beulah Land” (Coming soon!)

Tuesday, May 18th, 2021

Some hymns seem more demanding than others when it comes to playing piano for congregational singing.

The congregation sang a couple of those type hymns this past Sunday! What a workout!!

I must have burned 100 calories! 😉

I’ll share fill-in ideas for one of those hymns today on my website and on facebook.

Abrupt Chord Change in a Hymn

Thursday, August 27th, 2020

This video gives suggestions on how to ease through an abrupt chord change in a hymn.  The hymn in this lesson is entitled “Where Jesus Is, ‘Tis Heaven”.

I had NEVER heard of this hymn until one of my readers recently shared it with me. Thanks Karen!

Download the two pages below before viewing the video. (For ease of reference)

Where Jesus Is, ‘Tis Heaven (original version)

Where Jesus Is, ‘Tis Heaven (improvised version)

 

 

 

Clarification Tutorial: What Chord is That!?

Saturday, June 6th, 2020

This is a clarification for those who have purchased the “Diatonic Chord Substitution Lesson One” tutorial.  But…anyone can glean from this post!

I recently received an email with this question…

“You said if there are four different notes…then it is a 7 chord.” (She’s referring to analyzing chords from the hymnal.)

She goes on to say, “…however, on your example of “It is Well” (page four of the handout)…on the word “like”, there are four different notes and I don’t think it’s a C7 chord. It looks more like a G¹¹ chord or something…but you say to play a C chord for that whole measure.” Click on image for enlarged view.

 

Excellent question!

So…here’s the answer…

When coming across this situation where the chord can’t be placed in consecutive thirds…you are more than likely dealing with “passing tones”.  The passing tones are found in the right hand part for this particular example.

Passing tones are secondary notes you have to pass through to move from one note to the next.  Passing tones are not meant to be factored in… to the underlying chordal structure of a measure.

So…look at the word “like” in the picture above.  The right hand notes are “D & F”

Now…step back and look at the overall note ingredients within that measure. The majority of the notes favor what chord? Yes! The C chord.  That’s why I played within a C chord frame for that measure as you’ll see in the next picture below. (I should have made the left hand note “E” a half note.)

 

Passing tones to music are like joints to the human body. Our joints support movement as the passing tones do to music.  Passing tones are like the accessories/dress-up to the overall melody of a song.

Thanks to one of my readers for a great question!

Update: Diatonic Chord Substitution Lesson One

Monday, May 18th, 2020

 

 

 

Just published my first tutorial on Diatonic Chord Substitution Lesson One!

Wow!   WHAT a time I had creating this tutorial!

I focused on making it as easy to understand as possible!

The seventeen minute companion video is loaded with visuals!

Diatonic Chord Substitution Lesson One
Diatonic Chord Substitution....one of the easiest to learn! Enjoy this short; concise easy-to-learn chord substitution lesson! Materials include: Seven page PDF (downloadable) handout; Seven page answer key, companion video chock full of visuals and explanations! *Special note: Buyer receives a private video link via email... within two days after purchase. *Jenifer will email the video link to the buyer's email address used at time of purchase. On sale now through May 25, 2020
Price: $12.00

 

 

 

Improvising Hymns Mini- Lessons : Your Thoughts

Saturday, April 18th, 2020

videoComingSoon

Over the past year, I’ve had a good many of you ask for “improvising hymns” lessons. I wish I had time to teach all of you!

But wait….there may be a solution!

How many of you would be interested in mini-course lessons?
My husband and I started talking it over today.

I could try doing my first mini-lesson on Zoom. The lesson would cover just one specific topic.

I’m thinking a half hour per session at a cost of $10 per session with a

minimumof 5 applicants.

What are your thoughts? What specific topic would you like to see covered?

The “most mentioned” topic will be our first mini-lesson! I’m rooting for “chord substitutions” to be the first one 

I’ve also posted this on facebook and have a lot of  feedback/topics. So far…chord substitutions is the “most mentioned” topic.

Virtual Hymn Playing Class with Shelly Hamilton

Thursday, April 9th, 2020

I grew up in the Greenville SC area and always enjoyed hearing Shelly Hamilton play the piano.  She had a positive impact on my hymn playing style.  I enjoy using her Hymnproviser Workbook series (three books total) as reference material for my hymn playing teaching.

Click on this link to view Hymnproviser Workbook One.

For the next four Mondays, beginning April 13th at 2pm EST…Shelly Hamilton will teach fill-in ideas for one hymn per live-stream session. (30 minutes per session) She’s also planning on a question/answer time as well!  You will enjoy her teaching style as she shares how to make a hymn sound more full.

The live-stream sessions are geared to the intermediate church pianist.  Shelly is offering a quarantine special on this four session event!  I’m looking forward to tuning in for Shelly’s Virtual Hymn Playing Class starting this Monday at 2pm EST!

For more information, click on the following link: 

Virtual Hymn Playing with Shelly Hamilton

UPDATE: Left Hand Pattern One Booklet Now Available!

Thursday, February 6th, 2020

Finally! The Left Hand Pattern One Booklet is available for sale!  Many hurdles took place to prepare this long awaited project!

The buyer receives a FREE video link up to two days from time of purchase. The video adds helpful explanations about the written material… in addition to  extra tips not covered in this booklet.

The booklet is for the intermediate pianist who can play from the hymnal and has a working knowledge of scales and chords in the Key of: C, G, F and B flat.

Ample examples and applications are included in this thirteen page tutorial booklet.  The application examples are done by the student 🙂

(Answer key included for the application examples)

Jenifer’s main objective was to present a practical pattern that the church pianist could add to their congregational or prelude style of playing.

Left Hand Booklet One (Downloadable only)
Jenifer's first tutorial PDF (downloadable) booklet presents a left hand pattern which adds fullness and movement to hymns from the hymnal. Great for congregational or prelude style of playing. (see video promo link below) Geared to the intermediate pianist who can play from the hymnal and has a working knowledge of the scales and chords in the keys of: C, G, F and B flat. *Special note: Buyer receives a FREE video link via email... within two days after purchase. This FREE video highlights the contents of the Left Hand Pattern One Booklet. *Jenifer will email the video link to the buyer's email address used at time of purchase.
Price: $10.00

 

Update: Left Hand Pattern One (Booklet One) SAMPLER

Wednesday, January 15th, 2020

I’ve been busy creating the video clips to support each page in the Left Hand Pattern Booklet One!

Here’s a sampling of the video clip for page one:

More About Jesus (congregational style tutorial)

Monday, November 11th, 2019

One of my piano students recently requested improvising ideas for More About Jesus.

Specs I consider before improvising a hymn:

  1. Key signature
  2. Time signature
  3. Chord structure
  4. Tempo  (the faster the tempo = less notes, the slower the tempo= more notes

In this tutorial, I added improvised notes for a moderate tempo.

Click HERE for free printable version of “More About Jesus” (verse only)