Allissa, one of our Pastor’s daughters, is one of my early intermediate students.  My grandson, Michael, is about to catch up to her!

I’m having a blast training them for the role of church pianist!

Allissa will play for another vocal special this coming Sunday, November 4, 2024

Here’s a pic of her practicing with two guys from our church.  I sat behind the scenes giving her tips as needed.  She soaks it up!

A fruitful practice! During the rehearsal…Allissa learned a few tips from following points….

1. How to figure out an interlude
2. How to simplify awkward accidental note passages.
3. How to recover from a blunder
4. How to…above all else…follow the vocalists!

I’m so thankful our young people who are involved with the music ministry!

They play for several different areas of music ministry such as:  offertory, prelude music and congregational singing.

Extra info:  Allissa is playing a vocal arrangement of “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be.” I plan to publish this arrangement ASAP!

Please feel free to remind me if you’re interested in the arrangement 🙂

Let me know if you would like me to expound on the above points.

I shared an arrangement for the verse of Love Lifted Me several days ago.

Just barely sliding into home base to complete this before my house is full of grand kids this evening for the rest of this week!

This arrangement can accompany congregational singing, vocal ensemble or instrumental solo/ensemble.

How does this key work for you all?  (B flat Major)

Click the song title to download your free copy of Love Lifted Me

The verse is available at this link:  VERSE ONLY

Does your song leader direct Love Lifted Me in fast mode?

Our song leader sure does!  It’s my son 😉

This particular arrangement barely fits within my son’s speed…quarter note = 120

Remember…the faster the tempo….the less you play!

If I had to play this any faster…I would adapt by playing more dotted quarter note chords  because it would be harder to grab the busy details the faster it goes!

Hope you enjoy this “fun to play”  style.

Click here to download your free copy of the verse for Love Lifted Me (congregational style). Tip:  You can use this arrangement to accompany a flute solo!

LOVE LIFTED ME  (verse only)

Chorus coming soon!

I just created a congregational arrangement of Love Lifted Me.

The verse will be available tomorrow!  I will write the chorus asap!

I wanted to give church pianists fill-in ideas for a peppy 6/8 hymn 🙂

Did you know that an octave stretch on Chopin’s piano was equivalent to a 7th on our piano?

He didn’t have to stretch as far as us!

Chopin also taught three lessons a week to each student!

Just finished watching this very educational video on “tone color”

I shared a post a couple of years ago of me playing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” excerpt from my congregational playing at my church.

A good handful of you have expressed interest in that arrangement.  I tried to duplicate the arrangement into written form.

This particular arrangement is accompaniment style only… not compatible as a piano solo.

Click on the following title to download this free piano congregational arrangement.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Last year, I wrote out the following arrangements for my late elementary to early intermediate student who covered for me while I was out of town on a Sunday.

I created arrangements that would be easy for my student to learn in time to play. The student I’m speaking about is our Pastor’s daughter.  She is now a true early intermediate and enjoys taking part in our music ministry.   I’m excited with her progress!   Would love to share what all she’s been doing  but will save that for her interview after Thanksgiving.

Each of these arrangements include an introduction.  The songs are also in a lower key for the benefit of our congregation.  Our congregation sings out SO much more when we lower the hymns. These arrangements can be used for piano solos or congregational singing!

Click on image to view sample pages

Easy-Piano-Christmas Congregationals-Late-Elementary

Five Late elementary Christmas congregational arrangements. Each arrangement includes an introduction. These arrangements can be used as piano solos or congregational singing. Song list: Away in a Manger, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, O Come All Ye Faithful, Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne, What Child is This?

Price: $8.00

Meet Maddie the church pianist who loves learning to play!

Maddie started out in Level 1A (Faber books) and reached level 5 in two years!

Watch this video to hear Maddie share her journey thus far… Please feel free to share by copying this link to your social platform  Maddie the Church Pianist

Awhile ago, one of my readers asked if I had a congregational arrangement for “A Might Fortress is Our God.”

I didn’t at the time but decided to tackle it this week.  This particular arrangement is for the late intermediate church pianist.

What a challenge to stay within the written chords from the hymnal! Maybe I need to come up with a piano solo for this hymn too.

Important Notice!

This arrangement was created for congregational style only.  If  you insert the melody in measures #16 and #20…it can be used for a piano solo.

Print your own copy for free and then listen to the audio while you’re holding the music!

A Mighty Fortress is Our God (FREE PDF)

 A Mighty Fortress is Our God (audio)