I’m working on the final congregational arrangement for my third volume of piano congregational arrangements!

This volume is geared to the church pianist at the early advanced level. Check out Piano Congregational Arrangements Volumes One & Two.

This collection will be published on July 20, 2023 at a special rate of  $13 (sales price good for July 20th (3pm EST)  through July 22nd (10pm EST)  After this time, the regular price of $16 will apply.

One of my readers asked me how I keep my music organized for services.

I just came up with a more reasonable way this past Sunday.

I created two sticky tabs to use in the hymnal for our two congregationals per service. The third sticky tab marked with a “C” stands for choir special.

Our choir typically sings a song from the hymnal for Sunday mornings because we don’t have everyone with us until Sunday night service.  Quite a few of our choir members either work in our children’s ministry or work in the nursery.

That’s just part of having a small church 🙂

My son, the choir director, has a notebook full of our 8.5 x 11 sheet music for the choir.  I have the same type notebook.

I think we’re going to create a hanging file for each of our notebooks because the notebooks are getting full!

We already have all of our choir music in hanging file folders in alphabetical order.

I also carry around a two pocket folder that houses my AM & PM sheet music for upcoming vocal & offertory specials.  Works great for me!

It’s also been helpful to have a hanging file folder for each person who sings on a regular basis.  They can always fall back on a song they’ve done before  in case they’re filling in at the last minute.

Here’s how my pianist hymnal would look like on a typical Sunday morning.

I included a pic of our “order of service” which the Pastor provides for us.

I’m sharing a brief list (below) of some of the ideas I walked away with after my annual meeting with my piano friend Meryt Wilson.

Hopefully they are a benefit to you as well.

Before I forget, one of the sacred piano books I recommended to Meryt was “Sacred Reflections” by Virginia Halberg.

This book has my favorite arrangement of “Great is Thy Faithfulness”  Suggestion:  I delete measures 45-50 and I end earlier at measure #91. (see image below)

I ended earlier because I didn’t feel the need to continue any further with the extra triplet note section. (personal opinion)

A piano friend of mine requested a create a video of me just playing like I would for prelude at my church.

This is a sampling of what I would do.  See if you can spot some of my chord substitutions during this short prelude excerpt.

Or…try out the stepping octave fillers!  They are fun to play!

I typically play at least six to eight minutes before each service.

Thinking about Dad a lot lately. He’s been in heaven a little over a year now. (June 2)

I will always remember how Dad sang with gusto not only in his vocal solos but also while leading the congregational singing.
He truly felt the music.

The following tip is for church pianists who accompany vocal or instrumental solos. This pertains to soloists who are comfortable “taking the lead”.

It’s helpful to slow down prior to a fermata or slower section for emphasis.  Also, I try to keep the music moving forward during a held word to keep the music alive.  Basically,  FEEL the music with the soloist to give he or she the best “behind the scenes” support.  Remember to constantly monitor your accompaniment volume so as not to drown out the singer or instrumentalist. Have someone sit out toward the back of the auditorium during practice… to check volume between pianist and soloist.

Here’s Dad directing the congregational singing at the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools 50th Teacher Convention in 2017. The second video is me accompanying Dad.

For those who purchased my advanced piano arrangement for “One Day”.

Here are several tips that may help as you practice this piece for Easter.

Here’s a free arrangement of Christ Arose for the early intermediate church pianist.

Most hymnals offer this  Easter hymn in the key of C Major.  I’ve provided this arrangement in a lower key…B flat major.

This early intermediate piano arrangement was written for one of my students who is the church pianist for her church.

Just click the following link to print this arrangement:

CHRIST AROSE (early intermediate congregational arrangement)

Please play the following video to hear the update on the advanced piano solo for “One Day”.

Just thought I would show you a peek of Allissa, one of my piano students, who I’m training to be a church pianist.

She is doing very well!  I write the songs for her to play at her level so she can already be getting “hands on” experience before she’s even playing out the hymnal. She has been doing some reading from the church hymnal.

In the following raw video…Allissa is practicing with a young girl’s group while the choir loft is being decorated for this Wednesday night’s annual Christmas play by the kids of our church.  Looking forward to the program!  Our youth Pastor’s wife writes a play for each year!  She is very talented!

February 28, 2024  Update:

I am working on a “FREEBIE” for “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”  congregational style.  (Not intended for piano solo since it’s accompaniment style) Download it HERE

Our church LOVES to sing What a Friend We Have in Jesus!  As I was playing for them to sing last night, I thought, “I could just download and capture that part of our service and use it as a teaching tool.

So…You’ll have to listen to the two clips below and notice the instructions embedded in the clips.   These fill-in tips are only meant to be suggestions.

I know each church pianist has their own version of fillers but I thought I’d share a couple for you all to grab by ear.  Of course not every church pianist plays by ear so….I can create up to several of these fillers in written form once I hear from you all.  Please leave your fill-in requests below in the comment section so I can start creating a few in print for you!  🙂

Ah!  I’m hearing you all now!  I will see what I can do about sharing some of these fill-ins for “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

I’m assuming most of you play this song in F Major…..right?