Archive for the ‘Practicing’ Category
The Church Pianist: The Importance of Scales
Thursday, April 1st, 2010How can the church pianist possibly benefit from playing scales?!
Do hymns even utilize scales?
In the next article… I will share why I think it’s important for every church pianist to master the scales. While I’m at it…I’ll share ways to make scale playing more enjoyable.
Looking forward to this next article!
The Church Pianist: Do You Practice Enough?
Thursday, December 24th, 2009If someone were to ask me if I practiced piano like I should…I would have to say, “Unfortunately…no.”
The older I get…the less motivated I am to practice. Anyone else have this problem or would admit to it? “smile”
I hear this confession quite often from other composers. We spend so much time writing that we don’t take time to just sit and play.
What really motivates me…is getting with other piano friends and playing duets and duos.
I find myself wanting to sharpen my sightreading and technique skills.
A piano friend of mine and I are planning to meet once a month starting in January. We plan to do alot of sightreading.
I’m also planning to play a concert in the spring with another one of my piano friends to keep me on my toes.
Playing for a smaller church requires shorter offertories. The majority of the challenging arrangements I’ve learned through the years are too long for our offerings. I find myself just playing something from the hymnal most of the time.
Playing simple offertories from the hymnal is fine but I need a challenge every now and then… so occasionally, I’ll play a longer arrangement.
Click each song title below to see the short offertories available on this site…
Let the Lower Lights Be Burning
My Saviour First of All (I Shall Know Him)
Feel free to share some of your own motivating practice tips by clicking on “comments” below.
Sincerely,
Jenifer
The Church Pianist: Need More Practice Time?
Monday, February 23rd, 2009Anybody need more practice time besides myself?
Our pastor had an excellent idea that has provided more practice time for our church pianists.
If you’re like most pianists, you’re usually practicing with someone before the service starts.
Our pastor had the sound man record offertories from our previous services on to one CD.
This CD is played before our services, giving us opportunity to practice or take care of lining up
future music during this time.
Approximately two minutes prior to the service, the CD fades out and I finish playing the prelude, which
acts as a good alarm clock for the choir, songleader and pastor to get in their places.
Need more practice time? Try this out. It has worked wonders for us. I find myself much more relaxed having
this extra time available.
The Church Pianist: Classical Music Benefits Church Pianists?
Thursday, February 19th, 2009Classical Music….a help or hindrance to the church pianist?
A good question!
The answer is “Yes”…..classical music greatly benefits the church pianist!
How?
Advantages of being exposed to classical music:
*Conditions the ear for well-structured melodies and rhythm.
*Strengthens the fingers
*Demands a need for structured fingering which carries over into proper fingering for hymn arrangements.
*Introduces the pianist to scales and other rhythmic patterns in music that can be incorporated into the
hymns as well.
*Last but not least….classical music demands disciplinein the areas of technique and interpretation for the
best results.
Although classical music is vital to all pianists, the church pianist needs a balance of both: classical and hymn training.
I’m thankful for the teachers God provided for me in my early years of training.
I learned alot of improvising by just listening to the different teachers over the years. They also taught me ‘one on one’ how
to add runs and fill-ins. Most importantly, they taught me the theory to back up their training.
The Church Pianist: No Time to Practice!
Thursday, January 29th, 2009When my kids were little, I found it hard to come
early or stay after services to practice with people.
My husband said, “Why not let them come to the
house during the week?”
Oh! (The most obvious) I’d never thought of that.
Practicing at our house turned out to be the best
experience for me and the singer or instrumentalist.
We were able to practice without interruptions; giving
us a chance to really focus on the music.
It was also easier to give helpful tips to the person in
a more private setting.
The person or persons felt more at ease in the less
crowded surroundings.
(My husband or family member of the person (s)
practicing would sit with my kids upstairs.
Time is precious. We just have to be creative about
finding more convenient niches of time to practice.
More Practice Time Please!
Tuesday, September 9th, 2008Not every church is blessed with a dozen pianists. Our church has two pianists. The great challenge is finding time to practice with those preparing for offertories and vocal numbers.
To save precious time, I make a cassette recording of the song for the singer or instrumentalist to take home and practice. This works great if they have a cassette recorder and actually practice the song.
At least one week before they sing, we get together in real time and practice. Depending on the difficulty of the song….we may have to get together sooner. What a difference it makes! Practice time is minimal!
Some of our people have purchased their own cassette recorder because they have seen how it has benefited others.