I’m almost finished with a tutorial showing how to add sixteenth note runs to hymns.  (For the late intermediate pianist and beyond)

This particular tutorial will deal with adding runs to congregational accompaniment.

There will be five pages of examples for this particular run in various keys, time signatures and different hymn excerpts.

Each example will not only show the run application but will also share a graceful way to work out of the run.

This Sixteenth Note Run tutorial will be available in my online store asap.

I’ll publish a brief you tube commercial before publication.

For adequate preparation on my part….What questions do you have about playing runs in hymns or what difficulties do you face when playing runs etc.?   Thanks in advance for any feedback!

For those wanting more written examples… I’m sharing two more visuals of right hand runs using sixteenth notes.

Runs add a nice driving force to the music and creates energy if played correctly 🙂

Tip:

Emphasize the 1st note in each sixteenth note group for a more shapely sound.  Emphasizing every note can sound mechanical.

In my earlier days of being church pianist, I would often rush a run.  It’s so easy for our fingers to speed too much when viewing a sea of black notes  that need to occur in a brief moment!  I had to  make myself slowly practice the run and count the main beats as I conquered the sea of notes in front of me. In time the run sounded like it fit!  Just remember….not all runs mean “super fast!”

Click on the following title to download free pdf with two more examples of this right hand run:

 MORE RIGHT HAND RUNS

Do you want to add spice to your congregational playing  or playing for  the choir?

As promised…I will be sharing more right hand run examples tomorrow.

For those just stopping by….click on the following link to see the 1st examples of a right hand run using sixteenth notes.

Right Hand Run: Using Sixteenth Notes

Here’s a sampling of a right hand run idea for the hymn, “The Lily of the Valley” ,,,using sixteenth notes.

I’ll be glad to share a couple more examples using this run idea if you find this helpful.

Please comment below if you would like a few more examples.

See editor notes at the bottom of this image. Click on song title above for free printable of this music.

Ever had a person in your church pass an encouraging note to you… after you returned to your seat from playing for whatever?

I have two notes I’ve saved from many years ago during my early teen years. (see pic below)

Both of the encouraging notes seemed to come at the right time!  I guess there’s never a bad time for an encouraging note 😉

Which reminds me….maybe all of us could send encouragement via text, hand-written note, etc. to someone who played or sang in a recent service to encourage those involved in the music ministry.

Before I forget…I’m going to text one of my piano students who filled in at the last minute this morning for the offertory and a note to the gentleman who sang the special this morning before he went over to preach for children’s church.  We have such a great group of people who are faithful to sing or play for God’s glory.

Have any notes of encouragement you want to share from times past or recent?

Have you ever wondered what to play for a funeral or how loud or soft to play?  Watch this video for tips on playing for a funeral at your own church.

Funeral Hymn Suggestions (List of hymns)

Funeral Hymn Collection (sheet music)

Look who covered for me last night during prelude!
It’s so nice to have my students help out in our music ministry.
We had a few kinks (due to my oversight).

I had Allissa (the more advanced student) play the intros for the couple hymns they played together. They all played a review piece by themselves too. The prelude lasted about six minutes.

One of my viewers recently asked me what I use for a connector chord going from the end of a chorus back into another verse of a hymn.

I like to use the IV chord. (It usually is an inverted IV chord).  The IV chord spices up the sound a little bit too.

Hope the following examples are beneficial to you!

Click on the following title for free download: Add a Connector Chord!

I checked the most recent recording of our congregation singing Dwelling in Beulah Land and discovered they didn’t sing it as fast as I was thinking.

My son led this hymn in a more moderate tempo.  But…the arrangement is quite suitable for medium speed.

Some hymns just seem more demanding than others. This is one of those hymns!  Once you see the chorus…you may understand why I’m tired after playing just one verse and chorus!  😉

I get very emotionally involved in the text as you’ll notice in the chorus 😉

I’m sure  you all may have even better ideas for this particular hymn. Special note: I did add several corrections to this arrangement as of June 8th, 2021

Click here for verse and chorus

Question Concerning the Chorus:

Anybody know the purpose for the right hand quarter rests during the chorus?

Chorus Sampler for Beulah Land (piano congregational style) 

Part Two:  Chorus coming this Monday!

I LOVE adding zest to the old hymns.  Over the past several years…I have become more free with congregational accompaniment…meaning…I play less melody  IF the hymn is familiar to the congregation.)

The congregation REALLY gets in to this particular hymn. They sing it with much enthusiasm!

I will publish the chorus for Dwelling in Beulah Land this Monday.

Click here to get Part One” Dwelling in Beulah Land (VERSE ONLY)

Click on image below to enlarge…