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.

I grew up in the Greenville SC area and always enjoyed hearing Shelly Hamilton play the piano.  She had a positive impact on my hymn playing style.  I enjoy using her Hymnproviser Workbook series (three books total) as reference material for my hymn playing teaching.

Click on this link to view Hymnproviser Workbook One.

For the next four Mondays, beginning April 13th at 2pm EST…Shelly Hamilton will teach fill-in ideas for one hymn per live-stream session. (30 minutes per session) She’s also planning on a question/answer time as well!  You will enjoy her teaching style as she shares how to make a hymn sound more full.

The live-stream sessions are geared to the intermediate church pianist.  Shelly is offering a quarantine special on this four session event!  I’m looking forward to tuning in for Shelly’s Virtual Hymn Playing Class starting this Monday at 2pm EST!

For more information, click on the following link: 

Virtual Hymn Playing with Shelly Hamilton

Lesson learned: Don’t schedule a vocal or instrumental ensemble during flu season!  Always have a standby on hand for vocal or offertory specials.

I have a nine voice mixed ensemble scheduled to sing this Sunday morning. Due to a lot of various sicknesses going around…I’ve secured a standby vocal solo for this Sunday morning.  I’ll let him know by Saturday afternoon whether or not he’ll need to sing.

I pray everyone who reads this is doing well!

Due to a VERY busy week with Mission’s Revival and moving our son and family…

I will try to publish the “Modulation Up a Whole Step” video by this Saturday.

My script,visuals and your free handout are ready!   Now…to create the video!

Can the church pianist modulate up a half step from verse to chorus during congregational singing? The answer is…yes!  🙂

(Of course….with the song leader’s permission)  😉

Jenifer gives  several modulating tips in the following video tutorial.

Click below the video to download the FREE printable that provides several modulation examples for modulating a half step from the verse to the chorus during congregational singing.

FREE MODULATION EXAMPLE SHEET

Part Two Modulation Up Whole Step

Finally! The Left Hand Pattern One Booklet is available for sale!  Many hurdles took place to prepare this long awaited project!

The buyer receives a FREE video link up to two days from time of purchase. The video adds helpful explanations about the written material… in addition to  extra tips not covered in this booklet.

The booklet is for the intermediate pianist who can play from the hymnal and has a working knowledge of scales and chords in the Key of: C, G, F and B flat.

Ample examples and applications are included in this thirteen page tutorial booklet.  The application examples are done by the student 🙂

(Answer key included for the application examples)

Jenifer’s main objective was to present a practical pattern that the church pianist could add to their congregational or prelude style of playing.

Left Hand Booklet One (Downloadable only)

Jenifer's first tutorial PDF (downloadable) booklet presents a left hand pattern which adds fullness and movement to hymns from the hymnal. Great for congregational or prelude style of playing. (see video promo link below) Geared to the intermediate pianist who can play from the hymnal and has a working knowledge of the scales and chords in the keys of: C, G, F and B flat. *Special note: Buyer receives a FREE video link via email... within two days after purchase. This FREE video highlights the contents of the Left Hand Pattern One Booklet. *Jenifer will email the video link to the buyer's email address used at time of purchase.

Price: $10.00

Last night was the first night to have my students playing for congregational singing.

They enjoyed it!  I plan to publish the beginner level congregational arrangements asap!  Alot of exciting things happening 🙂