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)
octave-chord-octave-chord (all quarter notes)
octave-chord-octave-octave (all quarter notes)
octave-chord-octave-quarter-rest (three quarter notes plus one quarter rest)
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 😉
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)
10 Late intermediate to early advanced piano congregational arrangements. 37 pages
Songs include: And Can it Be, At the Cross, Come Thou Fount, Heaven Came Down, Higher Ground, I Shall Know Him (My Saviour First of All), It's Just Like His Great Love, My Faith Has Found a Resting Place, Near the Cross, What a Friend We Have in Jesus)
*Special note: The arrangements in this booklet do not support the four-part singing found in most hymnals. *Other suggested uses: vocal solos, violin specials, unison choir specials. **Another special note: These arrangements can not stand alone as piano solos since some of the melody is absent during the piano accompaniment.
Price: $16.00
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Congregational piano accompaniment, late intermediate to early advanced, 4pgs Contains two verses and two choruses.
*Supports unison or soprano and tenor voice parts. Not intended for four part singing.
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.
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!
Sit elbow length from the keys (knees should be slightly under keyboard.)
How to play with a conversational style on wordy hymns…a topic that’s been on my mind lately.
A good example of a wordy hymn is “My Savior First of All”. I’ll share tips on how church pianists can play this particular hymn with a natural/conversational tone…making for a more meaningful delivery even when playing for congregational singing.
Coming soon….next week 🙂 Hmm…next week has come and gone due to unavoidable circumstances 🙁 I will do this asap!
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus uses only two chords through the entire song! (The I and V)
This hymn is crying out for “dress-ups” from the church pianist.
Here’s several ideas I use to dress up the verse of “Nothing but the Blood”.
Notice the melody of the verse contains a lot of repeated notes. A great time to add some spice! 🙂 You can even hold a right chord through repeated notes here and there. You’ll notice I kept the left hand moving during the right hand chords to maintain forward motion/rhythmic drive. The following example can be used for an entire verse if repeated.
For church pianists in the early intermediate level….here’s a piano congregational of “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” that I barely squeezed in for this Christmas.
Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne
Early intermediate Christmas piano congregational, 1 & 1/4 pgs. Key of C
One verse and chorus with 1st & 2nd ending.
*Compatible for mostly unison singing
For church pianists in the early intermediate level….here’s a piano congregational of “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” that I barely squeezed in for this Christmas.
