Just to alert my beginner church pianists…I published two beginner sacred piano solos this week.

The titles: Near the Cross and No Not One.    I wrote these pieces for my students.  My younger students have really enjoyed playing No Not One.  The older beginner students like Near the Cross.

Both pieces contain suggested fingering for the beginner to late beginner student.

Near the Cross

Late beginner sacred piano solo, 3 pgs. Consist of one verse & two choruses A great offertory for the beginner student!

Price: $2.00

No Not One

Beginner sacred piano solo (Middle C & C Position) One verse and chorus. My beginner students LOVE this easy piece! It has become their favorite.

Price: $1.75

It’s true…there is no friend like Jesus 🙂  The words to “No Not One” are a blessing to me but I like to dress up the accompaniment to bring the text to life.

I’m sharing another simple congregational  accompaniment for “No Not One” (verse only).  I like to alter the melody for variety and sometimes I’ll chord in place of the melody to avoid a “ploddy” tone or maybe for easier hand movement.

Click here to download: No Not One Example #2

Measure #1

Right hand: beat two and three (altered melody) Just played a stepwise movement contrary to the melody…adding a nice contrast in sound.  Beat four: played a G inverted quarter note chord in place of two eight notes for the words “is so”.  Why? Easier hand movement leading into the next chord of measure #2

Measure #2:

Right hand: beat one and two (played half note chord in place of two quarter notes for word: “lowly”.  The melody notes for this word belong in the C chord so the C chord fit nicely.

Measure $3:

I transferred the improvised (eighth note idea) from the right hand to the left hand for this second verse. To see verse one example, click on the link at the bottom of this page.

Measure #8:

Where’s the melody?!  🙂   It’s ok to wander away from the melody here and there to add  extra spice!  How do I come up with this idea? Well,  first off…I know my chord structure for that measure which is…G chord, D7chord and back to a G chord for words: “No, not one!”  I basically used a stepwise movement that included stepping tones within a G chord to a D chord and ended on a G chord. Now…for a challenge…try to apply this same improvising idea to another song.

Hmmm….I need to create another article to illustrate HOW to apply this last improvising idea to other hymns with similar structure.  Once you apply an idea to several hymns…you will find yourself feeling more confident and you’ll begin to  implement this idea into your own hymnplaying 🙂

 Click here to see Example #1 for “No Not One” simple congregational accompaniment

As promised…I’m sharing hymn improvising ideas for “No Not One”.   I love the words to this hymn but it could use some dress-up by the church pianist to give it that extra zest!  In example #1, I’ve shared a simple accompaniment for verse one.  In upcoming articles, I’ll give more examples for this particular hymn.  As I think up improvising ideas for this hymn, I consider the text and try to enrich the message by adding appropriate accompaniment.

Click here to print “No Not One” Example #1

(refer to the printed copy as you view the following notes)

Editor notes for “No Not One” Example:

I only altered a chord on measure #5 by adding G minor 7 (F natural) in left hand on word “heal”.  This particular chord (G minor 7) provides a nice “leading into” sound as it moves into a C chord on the word “soul’s”.  Adding  minor 7ths to chords always adds a warmer sound.

Ever notice how the rhythm on words “Jesus” and dis “eases” feels awkward to your hands? The hands don’t seem to go together well on these spots.  You’re right!  Take note of how I played left hand during these areas.  I basically maintained a steady beat in the left hand while the right hand played the tricky rhythm.

Click here to hear audio of: “No Not One” example #1