As promised, here’s the verse of Dwelling in Beulah Land like I might play for congregational singing at my church. (link contains verse and chorus)

Editor notes:

1.  This arrangement was written to be handled at about quarter note = 120 tempo
2.  I ironed out the excessive wrinkles (dotted quarter note + eighth note) and played  more even rhythms to make it easier on the hands of the pianist…as in measures: 1,3,5,6 etc.
3.  I also inserted 6 quarter note rests during the verse to break up the right hand movement and for interesting rhythm!
4.  The quarter note + half note rhythm in the left hand created more rhythmic drive.
5.   I have more freedom with this song because our congregation knows it very well.  You would need to add more melody if your congregation is not as     familiar with this song. Notice: I used just enough melody to prevent me from being disorientated and to provide some melody stability for the singers 😉
6.  My goal is to make the congregational style accompaniment support the singers and to make it enjoyable/comfortable for the pianist to play

Click here to download your free copy of verse & chorus.

Dwelling-in-Beulah-Land-piano-congregational

I’m sharing the rest of “The Call for Reapers” as promised last weekend.

Tips for the complete arrangement:

1. For those who don’t like playing sharp keys…just easily transpose to E flat major. The notes are the same….just think three flats instead of four sharps!
2. Try applying the accompaniment pattern of the chorus to hymns of like nature and chordal structure such as:
3. Measures 25 – 27 would go well for the words “softly and tenderly Jesus is” for the hymn “Softly and Tenderly.”
4. Read the note at the bottom of the sheet music that you’re about to download…

Click here to download the chorus of “The Call for Reapers”

Part One can be found by clicking this line… “The Call for Reapers”

Part One:  The Call for Reapers 

This past Sunday I had to play in E Major (four sharps) for a male vocal solo and survived! He was singing “The Call for Reapers” out of the hymnal. The hymnal version was in the key of A flat major.

In his first practice I discovered E Major was the most suitable  key for his baritone range.  I decided I would brave the sea of black notes and make it work!

Usually I would have had the vocalist go to another nearby key that I could reasonable transpose to.

As I’ve mentioned before….E major is NOT my most comfortable key to play in.  Some of my readers are sharp key lovers but I’m quite the opposite!

A simple sketch of  “The Call for Reapers” was all I needed to keep me on track.  It worked wonders!  I was able to follow the piece fairly easy. The gentleman sang two verses and choruses but I just wrote out one verse and chorus as more of a guide.

Most hymns in the church hymnal don’t go beyond three sharps or five flats.  That explains why I don’t feel as comfy beyond the hymnal key range.

Maybe there are other church pianists who could benefit from this  simple sketched out arrangement of “The Call for Reapers”.

This particular hymn makes a great choice for Mission’s Conference or other mission related meeting.

I’m sharing the verse in this post and will publish the chorus by hopefully next weekend.

Click on following title to download your FREE copy of the verse

Part Two (chorus) by next weekend.  (March 8 – 10, 2021)

The Call for Reapers

Several weeks ago I sat down at the piano to create a congregational arrangement for one of my intermediate level students.

I lacked two measures finishing the hand-written copy when my student walked in for her lesson.

Instead of holding off to share…I assigned her to finish the last two measures on her own for that week.

I reminded her to stay true to the texture of the arrangement which she did very well!

Here’s the finished product that we thought we’d share with other church pianists that may need a quick offertory or as a congregational arrangement.

Click on hymn title for free download.   I’ve also posted Allie playing the arrangement below.

Come Ye Thankful People Come

Last Sunday I had to play for our church’s guest missionary couple. I had never heard of the song and there were at least five page turns.

I had one of our flute players turn pages for me.  Another quick tip helped a bunch!  I simply wrote the approaching chord on the last measure of each page so it would sound like I knew what I was doing at the turn of each page.  😉  Seriously,  this tip helped me stay in the right chord frame for each page turn.

The Choreo Keeper would have been a life saver that morning  but I left it at home where I use it the most.

This video gives suggestions on how to ease through an abrupt chord change in a hymn.  The hymn in this lesson is entitled “Where Jesus Is, ‘Tis Heaven”.

I had NEVER heard of this hymn until one of my readers recently shared it with me. Thanks Karen!

Download the two pages below before viewing the video. (For ease of reference)

Where Jesus Is, ‘Tis Heaven (original version)

Where Jesus Is, ‘Tis Heaven (improvised version)

Time for me to update/revise our church special music schedule!

I want to better utilize my progressing piano students during the service.

Here’s a picture of the updated schedule.

Students will be playing during prelude & offertories to keep in shape!

For those who haven’t heard…I write hymns for my piano students to play for congregational singing or to use as a piano solo for offertory.

Having them play during prelude provides that extra opportunity to keep them well-versed in their hymn playing.

My piano students tell me they are not as nervous when playing for prelude. (Another benefit of using them for prelude music)

Our church family loves seeing the young ones so involved in the music ministry!

Just this afternoon I had one of my intermediate students ask me, “What could I play during the echo section in the chorus of “It is Well?”

She enjoyed learning the left hand patterns I entered as a suggested route.  I told her if she would learn to recognize her chords in the hymnal…it would open up a whole realm of  improvising choices!

Click on the title below to download your copy of the chorus ideas for “It is Well.”

It is Well D Flat Major

Answer key for D flat major version (below)

Over the past year, I’ve had a good many of you ask for “improvising hymns” lessons. I wish I had time to teach all of you!

But wait….there may be a solution!

How many of you would be interested in mini-course lessons?
My husband and I started talking it over today.

I could try doing my first mini-lesson on Zoom. The lesson would cover just one specific topic.

I’m thinking a half hour per session at a cost of $10 per session with a

minimumof 5 applicants.

What are your thoughts? What specific topic would you like to see covered?

The “most mentioned” topic will be our first mini-lesson! I’m rooting for “chord substitutions” to be the first one 

I’ve also posted this on facebook and have a lot of  feedback/topics. So far…chord substitutions is the “most mentioned” topic.