So…I admit…I’m a church pianist in a rut! What to do? Time to surround myself with different arrangers’ music….which means….sightread!
Do you have a collection of books that you use mainly for sightreading purposes? I do. Most of the arrangements in these books are too long for our offertory time. I could shorten some of them but that’s not always the best option since the arrangement usually builds in intensity and I don’t want to interfere with a well-rounded presentation of an arrangement.
It seems like the longer offertories are a lot of times the more challenging ones. I NEED that extra challenge to keep my fingers limber.
Occasionally, I’ll play a longer arrangement because I REALLY like the arrangement and want to share it.
Have you heard of Abiding Radio? I’m listening to it (online)… for musical inspiration 🙂
I’m curious….what do other church pianists or pianists in general do to get out of a rut? Would love to hear your ideas!
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.
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.
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.
Just re-published “Then Sings My Soul” formerly known as “How Great Thou Art”.
I was asked by the music company that owns the lyrics to the words of “How Great Thou Art” to rename this arrangement or otherwise pay royalties for the use of the phrase “How Great Thou Art”.
I personally don’t feel they can universally own the phrase “How Great Thou Art” but sincerely want to stay above board on this issue. (It’s been and is still a very controversial issue with others besides myself).
The reason for my delay was trying to locate the original file to rename the arrangement. I just found the file this morning while rummaging through old files that I had searched before numerous times. (I was thinking the file had been lost a couple years ago when I accidentally deleted alot of my music files)
I’ve had MANY requests for this arrangement since taking it offline for awhile during the re-naming process.
Thanks for your interest! I truly enjoy writing for you all!
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.
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.
Many church pianists have already been practicing for their church’s Christmas program.
In many cases, the church pianist IS the choir leader and has the task of deciding what to do for a Christmas program.
My son is our choir director. He works at least 50 hours a week and the father of three small children. Needless to say, I help out by coming up with a simple program to fit our 40 minutes per week choir practice time. (this accounts for starting roughly two months in advance; which may vary from church to church depending on your choir’s ability)
My son and I have about a 40 minute commute to church so we’re very time conscious!
Our most-involved Christmas program back in 2011 was entitled “Christmas at Home” by Ron Hamilton. We used the “readers theatre” version due to limited time. The main actors were acting their first play ever. (Part Two sampler of our Christmas at Home)
In recent years, we have experienced a much more pleasant, relaxing time through having easier Christmas programs.
I have written two VERY easy Christmas programs…one of which is FREE HERE. I’m still editing the second FREE Christmas program.
Now…ideas for enhancing your Christmas Program…
Lyrics taken from cantata books make for great narration when coordinating a chronological list of songs together for a short choir concert. (That’s what we’re doing this year)
Include congregation by having them sing a song in the program. ( the choir could sing a descant taken from a hymnal while the congregation sings the melody) Another neat idea…have Pastor lead congregation in reciting Luke 2:14 at the appropriate time during the program. Very effective! (Tip: Include Luke 2:14 in the Christmas program bulletin)
The congregation could also stand and sing a song following their verse (Luke 2:14) Song suggestions: Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Joy to the World (include lyrics in the program bulletin)
Easy Christmas Program Suggestion:
Several different adults recite the Christmas story(Luke 2:1-19) in microphone off stage while children in appropriate costume act out the narration.
Stage setup: Only two scenes: Manger scene center stage, shepherd scene on left or right of manger scene. (props for shepherd scene not necessary).
Songs can be inserted appropriately throughout the narration.
Extra tip:Remind children that they must listen to what’s being read so they can act accordingly…to avoid appearing mechanical
Also a good idea to remind narrators to read with conviction! It brings the story to life!!
Hopefully this will help church pianists or choir leaders trying to find last-minute ideas for an easy Christmas program.
Please feel free to leave comments or ideas below.
A reminder: I do have over a dozen FREE piano and vocal Christmas arrangements available HERE.
Sharing a few links that may give you an idea as well (don’t fully endorse all the ideas at these links… but you can sift out what you like)
I absolutely LOVE the words to this Christmas carol, Who is He in Yonder Stall? The last verse into the chorus is my favorite part as seen below.
A big thanks to Mary Lynn Van Gelderen, one of my special piano friends, who helped me with the editing process. Mary Lynn said the arrangement fit her hands perfectly 🙂
I visualized the lyrics of the first and last verse when creating this arrangement.
Verse One:
Who is He in yonder stall
At Whose feet the shepherds fall?
Who is He in deep distress,
Fasting in the wilderness?
Last verse:
Who is He that from the grave
Comes to heal and help and save?
Who is He that from His throne
Rules through all the world alone?
Refrain:
’Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!
’Tis the Lord! the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall,
Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!
Moderately advanced Christmas piano solo, 3&1/2 pgs. Approx. 2:22 length
Nice arrangement for offertory or other special event.
The key change in the middle of the second verse soars into a joyful ending!
One of my readers shared this video with me this week…of her son playing my free piano arrangement ofJesus Paid it All. I also enjoyed hearing the cello play along with it too! ( I liked how she changed registers for variety)
What a blessing to hear my music can reach as far as Romania and beyond. 🙂
So thankful God can use me through the ministry of music.
