Lesson learned: Don’t schedule a vocal or instrumental ensemble during flu season!  Always have a standby on hand for vocal or offertory specials.

I have a nine voice mixed ensemble scheduled to sing this Sunday morning. Due to a lot of various sicknesses going around…I’ve secured a standby vocal solo for this Sunday morning.  I’ll let him know by Saturday afternoon whether or not he’ll need to sing.

I pray everyone who reads this is doing well!

Can the church pianist modulate up a half step from verse to chorus during congregational singing? The answer is…yes!  🙂

(Of course….with the song leader’s permission)  😉

Jenifer gives  several modulating tips in the following video tutorial.

Click below the video to download the FREE printable that provides several modulation examples for modulating a half step from the verse to the chorus during congregational singing.

FREE MODULATION EXAMPLE SHEET

Part Two Modulation Up Whole Step

Jenifer shares some of her heart felt thoughts on the subject of special music in the church service.

Wednesday night services are a special treat at our church. Our Pastor studies hard to make Wednesday nights VERY practical.

We learn SO much and feel we can’t afford to miss a Wednesday night service!

But what about having special vocal music on a Wednesday night?

Beginning January 2019…I’m starting something new with my piano students who attend our church….three are beginners and one  late elementary student.

I will include them in playing for the congregational singing. (At least two at a time) One on digital…the other on portable keyboard. (Evening services only)  Why? Not as big of a crowd in the evening services 🙂

(I write the hymns at their level for this)  I already have ten hymn arrangements ready for the beginners (C position and Middle C position note range)  Preparing the late elementary level ones now.

Oh!  An added plus…the arrangements can stand alone as an offertory if needed or all of the students could play as a group offertory 🙂 My students LOVE to play group offertories!  (More info below this video)

So…I’m keeping written record of who knows what song and I plug them in when I know we’re singing a hymn they can play.

This gives my students more purpose in learning and they will progress very well with this opportunity in front of them 🙂

It’s amazing how well a student advances when given the opportunity!

Side note:

Each hymn arrangement will show a minus or plus number so the student can set the appropriate key on their keyboard.

Price List:

(from left to right)

1. Soloist Christmas (Low voice)  $10
2. Jeanine Yeager  $4
3. Piano Adventures Christmas Books Level 3A (same books)  $4 each (good condition with student & teacher markings)
4. Bach Around the Christmas Tree $5

Buyer pays shipping not included in price. Orders within US only please.  Paypal preferred payment.

Contact me at: jenifer@thechurchpianist.com… if interested.

I just wrote this arrangement of Silent Night for Ady, one of my late beginner students.

She needed something that wouldn’t take long to learn.

Ady  loves it!

I will offer this Christmas piano solo for FREE until December 5, 2019.

Just click on the link below this video to download your FREE copy.

Silent Night (late beginner piano arrangement)

I was up before the sun this morning trying to finish my Dad’s vocal number entitled “Sing to the Lord a New Song.”

This make a great Thanksgiving choir special and it’s not real hard to learn 🙂 Sorry for working on it so late but doing my best.

Dad (Reece Yandle), wrote this song years ago and we’ve been intending to publish it as a SATB choir arrangement.

The melody of this song is very catchy and stays with you throughout the day..reminding you to praise the Lord!

Working on getting a sample for you all to hear. In the meantime….see sample picture of music below.

One of my piano students, Ady Lowder, surprised me by singing her first song which she recently composed.

We’re planning on putting it to paper for publication when able.

Watch this video clip to hear a portion of Ady’s new song.

Great is Thy Faithfulness is one of my favorite hymns to this day!  I was SO excited when I found out it would be in the public domain as of January 2019!

Yes, it took awhile for me to create this sacred piano solo but finally settled on the arrangement.

Warning: This is a VERY advanced piano solo of Great is Thy Faithfulness.  I actually enjoy writing this level the most because I can pull out all the stops and not feel as restricted.

One challenge for me is recording myself at the piano. I get nervous!  So..I tried to play by the music 🙂  I hope this arrangement is a blessing to the advanced church pianist looking for an offertory.  (Hint: would make a nice selection for Thanksgiving Sunday)

Great is Thy Faithfulness (VERY ADVANCED)

Advanced sacred piano solo arranged by Jenifer Cook 6 pgs. Contains two verses and choruses. A beautiful setting of this well-loved hymn. Your listeners will be tempted to sing along with this heart-felt arrangement of Great is Thy Faithfulness.

Price: $4.75

PLEASE NOTE: THE AUDIO DOESN’T SEEM TO BE WORKING FOR EVERYONE.  

WE’RE WORKING ON A SOLUTION (HOPEFULLY)

In the meantime: Click HERE to hear sample on my facebook music page.

I’m working on what’s becoming a VERY advanced piano solo arrangement of “Great is Thy Faithfulness”.

When creating advanced piano arrangements…I constantly hear a lot of  notes that the soloist can’t reasonably cover on one instrument.

It would actually be easier for me to write a two piano arrangement to accommodate ALL the notes.

Just wanted to warn my readers that it’s very advanced…since I pulled out all the stops 😉

Here’s a sample audio “in the works”:  Great is Thy Faithfulness (key change section into second verse)

Clarification: The image to the right shows the beginning (not included in this sample audio)