I LOVE how my dad leads the congregation!  Guess I am partial.

He sings with gusto and conviction…adding enrichment to the meaning of the song.

This is Dad leading congregational singing at the recent 50th Anniversary SCACS Teacher’s Convention in Spartanburg, SC. (Hard to believe he is 80 years old!)

Yes, that’s me (off camera) in the background…just how I like it 😉

While playing Leaning on the Everlasting Arms for congregational this morning…the thought occurred to me to share one of my fill-in ideas I usually use for the last chorus. This particular hymn needs lots of dress-up to bring it to life!

Some of you pianists may not like “going off the grid” so the first line is for you. The second line is for those who like to venture out in space 😉

Hope all of you are having a wonderful Sunday worshiping the Lord with your church family.

The following example is taken from the first line of the chorus.

Enjoyed teaching you all last night! Sorry it lasted longer than expected.

I also appreciate the feedback to help improve my sessions. Thanks as well for your words of encouragement!

The following Answer Keys are in reference to our live facebook session from October 12, 2017

Click HERE to watch the archived video of this session on facebook.

Text Answer Key

Showers of Blessing Answer Key

I Will Sing of My Redeemer Answer Key

O How I Love Jesus Answer Key

Click Here to Watch Live Session Tomorrow at 8pm EST

Tune in at the link above tomorrow evening at 8pm EST… to be a part of a live facebook session for church pianists all over the world! (even as far as the Cayman Islands) 🙂

Click below to print free downloads for tomorrow’s session:

Showers-of-Blessing-example-6 8-student-version

I-Will-Sing-of-My-Redeemer-student-version

O How I Love Jesus

Modulating-Up-a-5th-Chord-Structure

Modulating-Up-a-5th

6-8-Timing-Sheet-Fill-in-Blanks

Special Note!

There may be one more sheet to download by tomorrow morning. Bring notebook paper to jot down the numerous tips you will hear sprinkled throughout this session! You’ll also want a pencil to use on the download sheets.

I never really noticed the time signature change in “Just When I Need Him Most” until today.

We sang this at our church last night for a congregational and the people REALLY enjoyed singing it.  The words are so comforting!

It’s just one of those seasons at our church where there’s a lot of physical needs and such a song reminds us of Jesus’ ever-present help 🙂

We sang this song in a prayerful mood with  a slow walking speed so I had time to add left hand flowing patterns similar to the following free pdf of “Just When I Need Him Most”.

Most importantly, notice the key change at the chorus….but the flow will still be pretty much the same 🙂  I actually changed to 6/8 timing one measure earlier than the hymnal shows… because it felt more natural to not hold as long before entering the chorus.

Maybe this will help a beginning church pianist to see what fill-ins could be used for a slow to medium hymn in 6/8 or 9/8 timing… such as my arrangement of “I Must Tell Jesus”.

Warning: This arrangement is NOT intended for piano solo use… due to missing melody notes at the beginning of the chorus…unless of course you know how to add them in 😉

Click on song title for free download: Just When I Need Him Most

Just published the Easy to Play Congregational Collection One today!  I will be out of town this upcoming week but will supply video or audio samples for this collection when I return.

Easy-to-Play Congregational Collection-One

Early intermediate to intermediate piano congregational arrangements, 16 pgs. Jenifer wrote these arrangements in an easy-to-learn fashion for the beginning church pianist. You'll find these arrangements to be fairly structured making for minimal practice. Song list: Amazing Grace, Day by Day, Grace Greater Than Our Sin, I Need Thee Every Hour, It is Well, Nothing but the Blood, Only a Sinner, O Worship the King, Satisfied, Trust and Obey. *Amazing Grace contains optional key change into Grace Greater Than Our Sin

Price: $14.00

Here’s a visual sampling of the Collection

Trying to finish this collection before being out of town all next week.  Not sure if I will but sure will come close!

Here’s a sampling.  This picture was taken when eight were ready. I now have nine 🙂  One more to go!

Modulating between hymns during a prelude or other background music event can create a seamless presentation.

The absence of this art makes for a disjointed sound when going from hymn to hymn. (unless of course the songs are in the same key)  🙂

Ah….but just because the songs are in identical keys doesn’t mean the songs will always sound seamless without some type of transition. (another lesson!)

Every church pianist should try and learn the art of modulation to the best of his or her ability…in small bits at at time. For starters, learn to modulate between songs with same time signature as I have provided below.  (The modulations will feel/flow a little different in 3/4 time versus 4/4 time.)

Below is a free pdf showing how to modulate up a fifth using the chord formula: ii7 to V7 of the new key.  I’ve also shared a list of these two chords in the keys found on the free pdf of modulations.

Key of C

ii7 = D-F-A-C

 V7 = G-B-D-F

Key of G  *see visual of these 2 chords HERE

ii7=A-C-E-G

V7= D-F sharp-A-C

Key of D

ii7= E-G-B-D

V7= A-C sharp-E-G

Modulating up a Fifth Free PDF

Introduction 

Modulating during any type of prelude (church, funeral, wedding or other occasion)…creates a smooth transition between songs. Without a smooth transition between different keys, the music will sound interrupted or very abrupt.  The articles associated with this lesson and future lessons will deal with modulating to a higher key.  Modulating to a lower key can also be effective but such a topic belongs in a different set of lessons.

The modulation chord formula that works for most any key change uses the  ii7 to V7 chords of the new key.

(I personally like to use the V7 sus instead of a plain V7…but will will illustrate  at the appropriate time).

*Part two will provide a FREE pdf with several examples of modulating up a fifth. (C Major to G Major)

Keyboard visuals of the ii7 & V7 chords in the key of G Major are shown below. (The upcoming examples will cover C to G, G to D and F to C using this chord formula)

ii7 of G Major

V7 of G Major

Working on the examples now and hope to share this week!

Thanks for the feedback on how to present Easy-2-Play Congregational Hymns!

How about this look for Easy-2-Play Congregational Hymns?