| The Church Pianist |
| A help ministry for church pianists all over the world! |
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)
Wow! I already have a list of at least twelve different left hand patterns for hymns with busy melodies in 4/4 time!
Can’t wait to complete this first booklet of ideas!
It’s a challenge for me to focus on just one aspect while preparing instructive material because I come across so many other ideas closely related but don’t want to give you all info overload!
I’m jotting my random ideas down and saving them for another time.
I think the greatest challenge during the prep time is coming up with a simple, concise way to present the concept.
Here’s an example of how I may display the left hand patterns on the master content list. (There will be PLENTY of visual examples to accompany these ideas)
As of now….I plan to number the visual examples with the number that corresponds to the numbered list of patterns on the master content list.
There are SO many variables to this topic. I will have to discuss right hand activity as well since the left hand is affected by what the right hand plays.
For example: It’s easier on the pianist (truly!) to omit notes here and there during a busy melody and focus more on the main beats. The singers can fill in the missing notes 😉 The key is… omitting melody in places that don’t throw off the singers.
Simple: Start by playing melody at the beginning of the song and then omit a note here and there once you get them going 😉
More on that topic in my first booklet.
One of my readers recently asked for ideas on left hand octave chord patterns. This is just one of many patterns possible!
I started with a fairly easy one and will share another pattern when able. Sorry for this quick-thrown-together video due to time restraints.
I’m preparing to help out my Mom after she has same day surgery on her knee. Much going on but I will try to at least share quick tips or such for at least the next month…then maybe the dust will settle by then ;).
I want to create a series of booklets on hymn improvising ideas for the church pianist.
The first booklet is going to deal with left hand patterns for devotional style hymns. (I’m working on it now)
The most challenging part for me is presenting everything in a well ordered approach.
I want to keep these books practical, short and concise. Each booklet will deal with one topic.
Another booklet will deal with right hand fill-ins and so on. Hopefully the church pianist can grasp the concept(s) from each booklet in order to make application on their own.
Each booklet will provide a sufficient amount of examples for ample reinforcement.
The booklets will be geared to the intermediate and beyond church pianist.
The church pianist will need to know their scales, chords and chord inversions. A prior knowledge of interval reading would also be helpful.
For the first booklet, the concepts and examples will be presented in the keys of C , F, and G Major for ease of application.
I’m considering naming the booklet series “Making Hymns Expressive”.
During choir practice yesterday afternoon…our choir was practicing “Faith is the Victory” in unison.
I noticed it was just SO awkward trying to grab all the melody notes…especially during the verse!
Each sentence of the verse starts on a fast note (eighth note) making it almost impossible to keep up with the melody. I thought, “The choir KNOWS the melody…why not delete the first word of each sentence to alleviate the awkwardness!?! (Exception: I’ll play the first word of the song to allow for secure entry) 🙂
My mind devised a plan to ease up my old moving hands 😉 Time to have some fun! Just stay within the vicinity of the melody and you won’t get AS lost 😉
Let the singers do the work!
The result: (Download the free pdf version of “Faith is the Victory” below)
Over time…I plan to publish a series of booklets dealing with various “Fill-ins for the Church Pianist.”
Here is a sample page demonstrating a five-note span fill-in. Written instructions will be added…suggesting how to use this particular fill-in.
Scenario for this fill-in: When a half note + quarter note have same melody note…followed by an ascending 3rd.
Special note: Start fill-in a 3rd below starting note.
#1 is the hymnal version and #2 is the improvised version showing the fill-in (Same for “It is Well” below)
Example #1: E is the starting note for the word “that” …start the fill-in a 3rd below E which is C as shown in example #2
Further application: Try finding the same scenario in the following hymns and add this five-note span fill-in:
Busy times here lately so just barely time for a quick video tutorial on In the Sweet By and By.
One of my readers recently requested piano solo ideas for In the Sweet By and By and here’s what I had time to share.
Editor notes for first half of verse:
Left hand (eighth note movement to produce a flowing affect)
Right hand used one four note fast passage (16th notes) for dressup….see if you notice where it occurred 🙂
Editor notes for second half of verse:
Left hand pattern changed for variety (Eighth note…quarter note…eighth note…..etc.) *See above picture for illustration of rhythmic pattern.
Right hand: I added alto note for more fullness
Chorus:
Less movement for variety
Occasional rhythmic dress-ups in right hand