The contest I entered on SMP Press begins tomorrow…March 1, 2017!   I entered “Were You There” very advanced arrangement and “He”  early advanced arrangement.

Audio sample for “He”  HERE

Both songs are available on SMP Press right now but please wait if you can… to purchase starting tomorrow. The contest selling period ends on April 11, 2017.

IMPORTANT REMINDER:

Special deal for those who purchase either or both contest songs from Sheet Music Plus during the contest selling period…

You can choose one free arrangement from our music store for each contest song you purchase. (Maximum: two free arrangements) *Doesn’t include offsite arrangements.

Just email us your receipt from Sheet Music Plus and your choice(s) of arrangements from our music store.

The contest selling period ends April 11, 2017 and you have until April 20th to email your receipt for your free arrangement(s).

Click on the song titles in the first paragraph to view on Sheet Music Plus (the location of the contest).

Here’s a video of the very advanced version of Were You There.

Clarification: The early advanced version…the 2nd video below….is not part of the contest and it’s available in our music store now

For those of you who play early advanced level…this arrangement of Were You There is for you 🙂 (available HERE or below)

Special note: The early advanced arrangement of Were You There is not a part of the contest mentioned below.

For those of you who don’t know…I’ve entered  the 2017 Sacred Piano Music Contest hosted by SMPress (aka Sheet Music Plus).

I’ve  just submitted a VERY advanced version of “Were You There” and early advanced version of “He” to SMPress.

I’ve actually entered two categories this time.  1. Public domain hymn 2. Pre-approved Copyrighted Hymn

The selling period for the contest runs March 1st through April 11, 2017. The composer who generates the most profit during the selling period wins $300 per category and a badge is applied to their composer page giving them more credibility and exposure. See my SMPress composer page here. 

Those of you who can wait to purchase the VERY advanced “Were You There”  and/or “He”….during the contest selling period (March 1st through April 11th) can receive up to two free arrangements of your choice from our online music store *One free arrangement per song purchased. (Doesn’t include offsite arrangements)

All you need to do is…forward us the email receipt from Sheet Music Plus (SMPress) along with your free arrangement(s) request(s).  We will then email your free arrangement(s) the same day or the following morning.

Special note: I will provide the links to the competition arrangements once they are available.

Were You There? (Early advanced)

Early advanced sacred piano solo, 4 pgs. This intense arrangement paints a vivid picture of the death and resurrection of Christ. Your congregation will be greatly moved by this rendition of Were You There.

Price: $4.95

For those of you who don’t know…I’m entering the sacred piano writing contest hosted by SMPress (aka “Sheet Music Plus“)

I’ll be entering two categories with REAL advanced arrangements:

1. Public Domain Category: “Were You There”

2. Copyrighted Hymn: “He”

Both of these arrangements will first be available on Sheet Music Plus… the duration of the contest selling period which is March 1st through April 11th, 2017.  After April 11th…it will also be available on our site.

Basically, whichever contestant sells the most copies of their arrangements during March 1st through April 11th …wins!

But wait! There’s a catch. You will see these arrangements on SMPress’ site as early as February 21st but please wait to purchase March 1st through April 11th… IF you don’t mind helping me win the contest. My website gains more exposure if I win.  Thanks to you and many others…I won first place last spring with  “God Bless America” arrangement… seen HERE.  (only available on Sheet Music Plus due to copyright laws).

Chance to receive two free piano arrangements from our music store! How?

For those of you can wait to purchase during the contest selling period of March 1st through April 11th…will  receive up to two free piano arrangements (if buying both songs). Just email your receipt of purchase from Sheet Music Plus to receive two free piano arrangements of your choice! Or…buy one of the contest songs and received one free piano arrangement of your choice from our music store 🙂

I will post the Sheet Music Plus link to both of these songs by February 28th 🙂

Special note: The early advanced version of “Were You There” (not being entered in contest) will be available on our site beginning February 21st.

Audio sample for “He”

Audio excerpt for “He”

Special note as of February 7, 2017… Thanks to all who voted for the best ending.  Ending #2 is the winner! 🙂

I need your help!  🙂  Which ending sounds best for “Were You There?”

I’ll be publishing this Easter advanced piano solo very soon but need to settle on which ending to use.

Thanks for your input!  I will be asking for input from my Facebook readers as well.

Please comment below!  Thank you 🙂

Ending Choice #1

Ending Choice #2

The following excerpt was taken from my Easter arrangement “Were You There” (to be published sometime in Feb. 2017)

Many have asked how I play runs so fast and smooth.

My answer: fingering and body movement are important factors in creating a smooth and fast run.

Keep hands close to keys…wrist level with hands. Allow hands to follow shape of the note groups….turning thumb ahead of time to make smooth transition into next group of notes. (The thumb starts each group.) The body…waist up… should also follow the run….bend slightly at the waist to the right… and lean toward keys a little for full body support.

(Watch this video for demonstration of body support movement during similar runs) *Start about 1:10 on this video

Use fingering that follows the natural shape of the run…allowing for ease of movement throughout the run. ( suggested fingering for right hand run at measure 48… 1-2-3-5)

Notice the loose wrist and arm movement as I cross into each group. ( I prefer to play 4 groups of this run instead of 3 but trying to be reasonable 😉

The following video samples begin at measure 47  (first time…fast….second time…slow)

Fast Run

Slow Run

One of the many activities of a church pianist may include playing for weddings. I enjoy finding fresh new piano music that truly fits the occasion.

A couple of weeks ago while playing through  James Michael Stevens’ recently published collection entitled… “Dreams of Jewels”… I realized the songs would be perfect for a wedding! All of the pieces are lovely but I especially like “Opal Dreams” and “Aquamarine Dreams”. (I’ve always loved James’ style!)

“Dreams of Jewels” would make a nice piano collection for any church pianist needing prelude or reception music for a wedding.  The collection provides 15 pages of music.  James has other collections as well that would probably be very appropriate for a wedding.  His music can be found at the following link: SMPress

Samples of my favorite selections from “Dreams of Jewels”…

Opal Dreams

Aquamarine Dreams

Sick all last week so….

Been at my working station wee hours of morning into the afternoon working on:

“Jesus Paid it All” Ladies’ 2 part arrangement

“The Cleansing Wave” choir 2 part arrangement

“Were You There” advanced piano solo (VERY INTENSE due to nature of lyrics)

Gearing up for Easter music!  Planning ahead is the key! How many of you church pianists are involved in planning for your church’s Easter service?

I’m trying to decide on a nice Easter ensemble medley for maybe three to four pianos, flutes and clarinet for an offertory. Feeling the creative juices flowing too! I think I’ll adapt my trio piano version of “Power in the Blood Medley” for this group.

Concerning choir music…we usually don’t have a full-fledged program due to time limitations but try to learn new songs for these special occasions.

One of my favorite Easter cantatas is “The Bread of Life” by Lloyd Larson. All of the music is very well done!  I found a fairly decent recording of this very cantata on youtube.  It helps to hear a good representation of the music before tackling a new song…also provides the director with the interpretation ideas of the song such as word coloring (emphasizing certain words to elevate the meaning of the text)…. and also….what tempo is most effective.

At this point, the one song we’ll be learning from this cantata is “Taste and You’ll See” a nice upbeat piece on the Christian’s experience  of God’s salvation.

I’m sure I’ll be sharing other resources for Easter offertories and vocal specials along the way as we look towards an effective Easter service for God’s glory!

So…start getting ready now for your Easter service while you have ample time! 🙂   Not counting the last week of December….Easter is 15 weeks from now.

Sounds like a long time but not when you’re preparing new music or a cantata….even if it’s an easy program.  Have fun as you seek out Easter music!

I just published an early advanced piano arrangement of “O Come All Ye Faithful” and a beautiful rendition of “What Child is This” for violin solo w/ piano accompaniment.

“O Come All Ye Faithful” is written in more of a prelude style but can suffice as a Christmas offertory.  This particular arrangement was also one of my homespun pieces…featured on the Christmas CD entitled “Simply Christmas”.  I did make harmonic corrections here and there in the written version because I couldn’t help myself! 😉

We hope to create  youtube videos for both of these arrangements by the weekend.

O Come All Ye Faithful

Early advanced Christmas piano solo, 4 pages *Featured on the Simply Christmas CD

Price: $3.95

What Child is This?

Violin solo w/ piano accompaniment, 4 pgs. *Price covers two copies *Written for my daughter-in-law...Jackie, who likes the lower register of the violin for a more mellow sound.

Price: $4.50

Just had to share an audio sampler of my soon-to-publish “What Child is This?” …violin solo.

What Child is This?