Easy-to-Learn Christmas Piano Arrangements
Sunday, September 15th, 2019
| The Church Pianist |
| A help ministry for church pianists all over the world! |
I enjoy creating pieces with a certain student in mind. This particular piece goes to one of my older female students who enjoys playing songs in a minor key.
The idea for the introduction hit me as I laid down to sleep this past Wednesday. I had to get up and write it down or the idea would have been history!
Even though I’m an advanced level pianist, I still enjoy playing this early intermediate arrangement of “O Come O Come Emmanuel”.
I just finished writing three Christmas piano arrangements today for several of my students!
I’ll publish them asap…hopefully by this weekend. The titles and levels are as follows:
O Little Town of Bethlehem (Late beginner)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (late elementary)
O Come O Come Emmanuel (Early intermediate)
Also in the process of writing the teacher piano parts for two piano ensemble numbers for Christmas recital.
Piano ensemble numbers are getting popular with my bunch of students. They absolutely LOVE playing in a group setting!
They like it so much that now they have one group lesson rehearsal once a month now until Christmas recital! The titles are: “Jingle Bells” with bell ringing in couple places 🙂 Also..O Come All Ye Faithful (our grand finale number)
I’m REALLY in the writing mood here lately. Hopefully you’ll see the results soon!
Just thought I’d share a couple links to patriotic songs.
My Dad, Reece Yandle, wrote this vocal solo years ago and it remains one of my favorite vocal patriotic songs.
The song is entitled, “In God We Trust”. It has been used as the theme song for a teacher’s convention and sung by dad at different meetings. People were always asking for a copy of the song so I wrote it out and published it a while back.
Dad has written many songs! I need to publish more of them. Presently, Dad has at least six songs of his available in digital format (pdf sheet music) on Sheet Music Plus’ site found by clicking HERE.
Dad’s song of “In God We Trust” can also be purchased by clicking the “Buy Now” button below which will direct you to Sheet Music Plus’ site.
The final selection is a patriotic piano solo (early advanced) of “God Bless America” that I wrote several years ago.
I entered this patriotic piano arrangement in a contest sponsored by Sheet Music Plus and was surprised to hear I won first place in the sacred piano solo contest.
“God Bless America” is still under copyright so I’m unable to create a video recording of the arrangement. I received special permission to create the written arrangement.
If you’re wanting to purchase this arrangement…be aware that it’s only for sale on Sheet Music Plus due to the copyright agreement.
When you click on the “buy now” button…you’ll be re-directed to Sheet Music Plus’ site where you’re able to purchase the piece.
I’m making another one of my sacred piano arrangements, “He Hideth My Soul” from the “Funeral Collection” available as a single arrangement.
At least several of my sacred piano solos from my “Funeral Collection” are sold separately.
Recently while on vacation, I recorded four more songs from my Funeral Collection: He Hideth My Soul, Sweet by and by Medley, Trusting Jesus Medley and Wonderful Peace.
Here’e the recording of “He Hideth My Soul”
Enjoyed recording this new wedding song “Hearts Forever Joined” during our vacation this past weekend.
Suggested use: during the prelude to a wedding or after the recessional.
I guess you could say this is my first non-lyric tune to write. Words may come at a later date but wanted to make
it available as prelude or postlude music for a wedding.
We tried our best to create the right balance of (background sound with piano but the river was too overbearing) 😉
Last year’s recording was a little easier because the water wasn’t as busy as this place. I still enjoyed the backdrop!
I loved writing this arrangement because I wrote how I felt like expressing it at the time. When I try to structure my pieces…it sometimes stifles my creativity.
But….structure is also good because it makes the piece more playable…without awkward leaps and such.
I have SO many favorite hymns and “There is a Fountain” is on that list!
I tried to depict an overflowing fountain in the beginning and ended with a different twist…still sounding as a fountain.
This piece is geared to the early to moderately advanced church pianist. The entire arrangement stays in the key of C but contains a lot of full chords.