| The Church Pianist |
| A help ministry for church pianists all over the world! |
Just thought I’d share what I’m currently writing. I have been sick since Sunday and itching to get back to writing. We were out of town all last week on a family visit…so looking forward to getting back to work…writing music!
Over the past several years I have been transcribing arrangements from my “Simply Christmas” CD. I’m almost done with the handwritten version of “Manger Medley” as played on my Christmas CD. I would consider this arrangement to be early advanced.
I recently arranged an easy men’s three part arrangement of the old hymn “Are Ye Able,” Said the Master The text of this hymn challenges us to live our lives fully for Christ…remembering how He sacrificed all to lay down His life for us. I’ll be publishing a video of one of our men’s group singing this arrangement and the sheet music will be availalble in our online music store at:
Oh how I love hymns with such rich meaning! May we all focus more on what we’re singing. It’s SO easy to just get caught up on a melody. (I needed that reminder) 😉
Hey! Just played a medley for offertory tonight that I REALLY enjoyed (homespun of course;)
Oh How He Loves You & Me (followed by…..)
O How I Love Jesus (chorus only)
Tag: the last line of Oh How He Love You & Me
Lyrics seem to flow in this order. I liked ending with the last line of “Oh How He Loves You & Me” for emphasis.
Oh how I WISH that “Oh How He Loves You & Me” were public domain but still under copyright.
Busy times here lately so just barely time for a quick video tutorial on In the Sweet By and By.
One of my readers recently requested piano solo ideas for In the Sweet By and By and here’s what I had time to share.
Editor notes for first half of verse:
Left hand (eighth note movement to produce a flowing affect)
Right hand used one four note fast passage (16th notes) for dressup….see if you notice where it occurred 🙂
Editor notes for second half of verse:
Left hand pattern changed for variety (Eighth note…quarter note…eighth note…..etc.) *See above picture for illustration of rhythmic pattern.
Right hand: I added alto note for more fullness
Chorus:
Less movement for variety
Occasional rhythmic dress-ups in right hand
I truly appreciate all the kind words of encouragement that I’ve received over the years from my readers.
Just thought I would share a recent note and video from a couple of my readers. Loren & Louise are a husband and wife team who volunteer of their time to minister through music to various churches in their area as needed for Sunday services, weddings and funerals.
I would love to meet Loren & Louise in person just as I would those of you I’ve corresponded with through the years. (We can meet for sure in Heaven) 🙂
Thanks again for all of you encouragers! That’s what keeps me writing 🙂
Loren and Louise are playing my arrangement of “Draw Me Nearer & Close to Thee” …available HERE
*Loren and Louise apologized for the organ and piano being somewhat out of tune but I could easily overlook that as I heard them play from their hearts 🙂
Just published “Jesus Loves Even Me” as a piano duet (4 hands) and two pianos (4 hands).
Not everyone has two pianos in their auditorium so hopefully this is helpful for both situations.
I wrote the teacher part for our Pastor’s Mom to play with one of her grand daughters for the first time ever 🙂
It definitely was a special moment as you’ll see below 🙂 *Minimal changes were made to the one piano version.
I arranged “Jesus Loves Even Me” with a teacher/student scenario in mind which worked well for this Grandma & grand daughter team. This was their first time to play together. Exciting! (To be published hopefully by this weekend…August 4, 2018)
Pastor’s Mom and youngest daughter, Debra Bixler and Allissa Bixler played for the offertory this past Sunday morning.
It’s a joy to see family take part in the music ministry of the church!
