I just published a volume of ten Early elementary level sacred piano solos originally written for my students to play for congregational singing.

I have up to three students playing along with me in church now whenever they can!  We use these arrangements for offertories and preludes too!

Keep in mind….these arrangements can only work for congregational singing IF the student’s keyboard or piano can be transposed to match the key of the lead pianist.

My students are LOVING playing in church in a group setting. They’re actually progressing much faster!

Click on video below to hear all the arrangements in this volume.

Listen to this video clip for some helpful pointers on the topic of “Playing Within Your Level”

Jenifer & Lauren aired live on facebook tonight with the following video…

Several weeks ago I sat down at the piano to create a congregational arrangement for one of my intermediate level students.

I lacked two measures finishing the hand-written copy when my student walked in for her lesson.

Instead of holding off to share…I assigned her to finish the last two measures on her own for that week.

I reminded her to stay true to the texture of the arrangement which she did very well!

Here’s the finished product that we thought we’d share with other church pianists that may need a quick offertory or as a congregational arrangement.

Click on hymn title for free download.   I’ve also posted Allie playing the arrangement below.

Come Ye Thankful People Come

Here is an early advanced arrangement of “Crown Him with Many Crowns”.

I consider this one of my home-spun arrangements straight from the heart.

This is the style I like writing the best!

I will probably play this piece for Thanksgiving service at our church.

Just decided to share an evening of hymns with my listeners.  Thanks for your encouraging notes!

I enjoy winding down in the evenings with the great hymns of the faith.

Last Sunday I had to play for our church’s guest missionary couple. I had never heard of the song and there were at least five page turns.

I had one of our flute players turn pages for me.  Another quick tip helped a bunch!  I simply wrote the approaching chord on the last measure of each page so it would sound like I knew what I was doing at the turn of each page.  😉  Seriously,  this tip helped me stay in the right chord frame for each page turn.

The Choreo Keeper would have been a life saver that morning  but I left it at home where I use it the most.

I just finished publishing “His Eye is on the Sparrow” very advanced piano arrangement!

This arrangement is another one of my homespun piano arrangements 🙂

I tried to capture the notes flowing out of my fingers as I felt them from my heart.

NOT an easy task! Definitely for the advanced church pianist, in my opinion. (even if it is in the key of C Major)

I’m almost finished with the handwritten version of “His Eye is on the Sparrow”

Warning:  For the advanced church pianist, LOTS of runs!  🙂

I wrote this arrangement for “Will Jesus Find Us Watching” several weeks ago after someone requested I play it for one of my recent facebook lives.

This particular hymn has a lot of life to it!  The melody and words go hand in hand.  The level of this arrangement looks to be about late intermediate to early advanced level.

I enjoyed creating this simple; straight forward arrangement requiring minimal practice for the early advanced church pianist. The arrangement begins in the key of F Major and ends in G Major. (two verses and choruses)

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!