If you’re a beginning church pianist and learning to play from the hymnal…this lesson is for you 🙂

There are always exceptions to the rules as we’ll see in this lesson dealing with five part playing style from the church hymnal.

The thumb cannot always comfortably plug the tenor note into the right hand as we’ll see in the last video below.

Watch this video first if you need a more involved description of the five part playing style and then proceed to the latest video below which describes the exception to the five part playing style.

A BIG thanks to all of you! I came in second place for the Sheet Music Plus Holiday arranging contest 🙂

Being a winner also gives me more exposure on Sheet Music Plus which in turn draws more people to my website where I can share my music with a growing audience of church pianists/readers.

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas! Looking forward to sharing more church pianist tips and piano arrangements in the upcoming year!

My annual student’s Christmas recital is today at 6:30pm EST.  You’re welcome to listen in! Four of my piano students will be playing at least a couple numbers each… in addition to a couple impromptu Christmas solos from myself.

Feel free to leave comments while watching the recital. My students would love to see the feedback 🙂

https://www.facebook.com/jeniferyandle.cook

Our music store is up and running! There is a slight chance that some of the songs won’t download. IF that happens…please email me immediately.

I check my email several times a day and will be glad to email your purchased music.

Does your hymn playing sound cloudy or too choppy and you just can’t figure out how to fix these issues?

I’ll share several tips that will hopefully help the beginning church pianist to  sound smoother.

Prep list for correct pedaling:

1.  Sit on the front half of the bench
2.  Knees barely under the keyboard
3.  Right leg will be at an angle (heel remains on the floor when pressing pedal)

When to pedal? Pedal once  per chord change

To avoid choppy sound in playing: NEVER lift pedal and hands at the same time during a hymn that needs to sound smooth.

Lift the pedal while the hand is going down on the new chord

I’m preparing a video tutorial on pedal suggestions for the church pianist who would appreciate some helpful tips on how to sound smooth when playing hymns.

Get ready with these prep tips!

1. Sit elbow length from the keys (knees should be slightly under keyboard.)
2.  Sit on front half of bench

More pedaling tips coming soon!

My book with Lorenz entitled “My Redeemer and Friend” is now available. Click HERE to go to Lorenz’s site.

Below is a list of the ten arrangements slated for this book.  All of the arrangements are at the early intermediate level.

1. All the Way My Savior Leads Me
2. Close to Thee Medley
3.  Crown Him with Many Crowns
4. Fairest Lord Jesus
5. His Eye is on the Sparrow
6. Jesus is All the World to Me
7. Jesus What a Friend for Sinners
8. O the Deep Deep Love of Jesus
9. Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
10. What a Friend We Have in Jesus

*Special promotional offer!

Promotional period: October 29th through November 18th, 2018….

Anyone who buys “My Redeemer and Friend” book during this promotional period… will receive four free piano solo arrangements (of buyer’s choice)… from my online store.  *Special note: this offer excludes my “offsite” arrangements.  They’re marked “offsite” in the product description on my site.

*Two free piano solo arrangements after November 18th through Dec. 30th, 2018

Simply email your receipt (proof of purchase) to jenifer@thechurchpianist.com  along with your four requested songs.

My book should be available in digital format this week on Lorenz’ site!  (week of November 5th 2018)

*Special note: I have two different promotional offers going on….1st promotional is for my Christmas arrangement “Manger Medley” and the second one is for my book”My Redeemer and Friend”   Click HERE to see promotional for “Manger Medley”.

Here are a few sample pages from my book…

I truly am alive but just super busy writing! Entering a Christmas piano solo writing contest with SMPress in addition to other writing for my piano students.

I just need to find time to publish what I’m writing!  🙂

My Lorenz book is still on track for publication this November 2018.

Hope to publish a practical article soon on fill-ins. I’m also trying to finish my first booklet on Fill-ins to be published on my site asap!

The improvising material I have been developing is on the early intermediate to intermediate level.

I’ll show you a sample asap.

Getting excited!  Only two more songs to edit before turning the book into Lorenz Publishing. (Due to Lorenz by July 1, 2018)

The book title is “My Redeemer and Friend” (subject to change if necessary) Early intermediate sacred piano solo arrangements.

Here’ s the official song list for the book.

Having a blast at the annual Composer’s Symposium presented by The Martin Institute and Martin Creative Services.

I’m learning SO much about choral writing and music writing in general!

Meet our panel of wisdom! (The majority of this group will be critiquing me Thursday, June 13th, 2018 for Master Class)

Left to right: Joel Rainey, Joseph Martin, Brad Nix, David Schwoebel, Robert Sterling and Steve Bock.