For the past several months, I have been training one of my students to be a church pianist.  Letha will get her first opportunity to play for congregational singing this Sunday.  (Our church has two pianos in the auditorium.)

I’m excited for her!  I thought I would share us practicing one of the congregational piano arrangements entitled “Higher Ground“.

1. Emphasize melody throughout

2. De-emphasize anything that’s not melody
to avoid a sluggish tempo or mechanical tone.

3. In 3/4 time….heaviest accent is on the first
beat of each measure. (for a more shapely tone)

4. Measure #10: Careful to keep inner voice move-
ment notes on beat one (eighth notes only)
of right hand softer than melody.

I’ll discuss inner voice movement in a future article.

Try some of these left hand accompaniment ideas out on a simliar hymn…such as…..Jesus Saves.