| The Church Pianist |
| A help ministry for church pianists all over the world! |
We’ve had two of our grandkids this week while their Mom had to fly out to attend her Grandmother’s funeral. 
It’s been a great week but I realized rather quickly…I’m not the young one I use to be 😉
I closed out this week by playing some of their favorite hymns for their bedtime.
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)
Answer key for D flat major version (below)
I know it’s not the Christmas season but had to share a video of my FREE piano arrangement…”In the Bleak Midwinter” played by Fred, better known as…The African Pianist. Thanks Fred for your dedication to the keyboard as well as your contagious inspiration!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85rg5yJ9Nq4&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR1plGALMabI54Of495Lxj2GzWUyw2VuajUubILDOEpw8w5SYnXqzI1BedU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yG-z3-zGO0
Can the church pianist modulate up a half step from verse to chorus during congregational singing? The answer is…yes! 🙂
(Of course….with the song leader’s permission) 😉
Jenifer gives several modulating tips in the following video tutorial.
Click below the video to download the FREE printable that provides several modulation examples for modulating a half step from the verse to the chorus during congregational singing.
I just wrote this arrangement of Silent Night for Ady, one of my late beginner students.
She needed something that wouldn’t take long to learn.
Ady loves it!
I will offer this Christmas piano solo for FREE until December 5, 2019.
Just click on the link below this video to download your FREE copy.
One of my piano students recently requested improvising ideas for More About Jesus.
Specs I consider before improvising a hymn:
In this tutorial, I added improvised notes for a moderate tempo.
Click HERE for free printable version of “More About Jesus” (verse only)
The following article discusses the limitations that come with the intermediate level church pianist. A reminder, they are doing the best they can do for the moment. But with a little extra practice…they can blossom into a fuller sound of playing by expanding their right hand horizon; opening up space for more left hand creativity! The following article is meant to encourage the intermediate level church pianist.
Most intermediate level church pianists play basically in the middle area of the keyboard when accompanying congregational singing or other vocal specials.
(See the picture of their range below)
The bass part in the hymnal doesn’t normally go below the second G under Middle C and the right hand probably doesn’t go as high as the second F above Middle C unless the intermediate pianist takes quick ventures into the upper register 😉
When the right hand stays within this boundary…the left hand playing space is limited. Taking the right hand an octave higher for an occasional spin…opens up more room for the left hand. This does not mean the pianist must stay an octave higher throughout the entire hymn. It’s actually better to use a combination of both the middle or upper register for variety in sound.
When to change registers for the right hand? In my early days of training, I was taught to change right hand registers at the end of a line which equates to at least two sentences. It’s nice to gradually work your way up or down by playing extra chords or notes leading into whatever register you’re heading for.
See example below in the hymn excerpt “Like a River Glorious” (click on image to enlarge)
