I’m re-organizing my music at home and came across a simple unison choir arrangement of “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”.

I wrote it for one of our pianists to play for choir while I was out of town a good while ago.  This particular pianist was probably an early intermediate at the time and needed something basic to accompany the choir for this particular hymn.

I hope to share this free arrangement with you tomorrow..IF we still have power…in the middle of a snowstorm!  (You can also use this free choir arrangement as a vocal solo too).

Here’s the video of me playing my (free) piano hymn arrangement of “The Old Rugged Cross” for the recent Hymnplaying Master Class held at The Wilds Music Conference. (December 2013)

I received helpful critique!  Thanks to Faye Lopez and Duane Ream for their constructive advice.  I look forward to improving my hymn arranging through any learning opportunities I can find!  (The harmonic structure tips were things I knew to do but just hadn’t noticed them in the piece.)

I couldn’t believe I left a melody note out  in the original arrangement on measure #18 (meas. #16 in revised version)…I”m a stickler for following the words as I play but my mind must have been on another verse….so embarrassing to have such an error 🙁  Duane  made SURE I saw that error 😉  Seriously,  I appreciated the emphasis he made on keeping the melody CLEAR..after all….it’s the message we try to convey as church pianists…right?

I’m posting the (graded/corrected) copy of the arrangement below  the video for ease of reference.  The red squares throughout the arrangement  notate the changes.  Most of the changes were from the suggestions made on the video.  (My personal note changes are in measures: 20, 24, 38, 40 and 48.)

You can download the new pdf  of “The Old Rugged Cross” (minus the grading marks)…at the bottom of this article.

Click here to print:  The Old Rugged Cross (revised)

The next post will be a video of me being critiqued in Hymn Playing Master Class at the recent Wild’s Music Conference.

Just don’t feel sorry for me 😉   We all need a work over at times!

I played my free piano arrangement of “The Old Rugged Cross” for this class. So…you may want to have a copy of it handy during the video for reference.

Before you click to download your free copy of  The Old Rugged Cross, you may want to wait until I provide the edited version based on the critique I received in this Hymn Playing Master Class. It’s all up to you.

Click here to print your free copy of “The Old Rugged Cross”. (original version)

I wasn’t brave enough to play the first day of Hymn playing Critique Class but…thanks to Mike Haynes, a sophomore in high school, who played his arrangement of “Count Your Blessings” for critique…providing a platform of learning for all of us!

I thought Faye Lopez and Duane Ream gave some excellent suggestions to Mike.

Enjoy the video below.  (I apologize for my amateur recording but felt the content worthy of sharing regardless of the quality).

This will be one of several videos I’ll share from my recent trip to the annual Wilds Music Conference. I had not planned on videoing the sessions…thinking they were being done by someone professionally.  So…you will have to put up with my amateur recordings 🙂 The first part of Hymnplaying Master Class on Tuesday consisted of an open discussion on the benefits of piano duets…even with a few composer tips from Faye and Duane on writing quality piano duets. I’ll start with the benefits of playing piano duets: *Allows time to focus on basic techniques with easier playing passages…such as phrasing, pedaling, dynamic balance between two players, etc. *Prepares pianist to think and play like an accompanist.  For example, both pianists have to keep melody dominant throughout.  The pianist without melody part must remain in the background (so to speak)…allowing the melody to be heard. *Playing piano duets can improve the pianist’s sense of rhythm.  Teaches them to play different rhythms against the other player.  Such as: one pianist may play triplets while the other is playing straight eighths. (fun! fun!) The pianists are forced to play the correct rhythm if they are to stay together. *Encourages teamwork!

Now…on to several composer tips in writing piano duets:

*Stack duet parts on one page so both pianists are aware of the full picture. *Try the duet with another pianist to check for hand collisions (I speak from experience on this one)    😉 *Avoid writing in excessive extreme registers (real low or high).  Too high gives the primo a “tinty” or “empty” sound.  Writing primo section more near the middle of the piano gives the piece a more balanced, pleasing tone.  Playing too low will give the duet a “cloudy/muddled” tone.

Piano duets on this video:

O Come All Ye Faithful from: “O Come All Ye Faithful” by Nathan Arnold

I Need Thee Every Hour from: “Standing on the Promises” by Nathan Arnold

Saved! Saved! from:  “Like a River Glorious” by Rebecca Bonam

Dwelling Beulah Land from: ?  (I think it was a Rebecca Bonam duet…not sure)

Other Piano Duet Book List:

Immortal Invisible  by Dan Forest

Crown Him Lord of All by Dan Forest

Joy to the World by Rebecca Bonam (piano solo book with three duets!)

Tip:  Don’t forget those duets in the back of your piano solo books you may have 🙂

*The above book titles are clickable links that carry you to BJU Press.  However, these books are no longer available through BJU Press.  Go to Lorenz  to purchase them. (or try Ebay or Amazon)

Just uploaded my free advanced Christmas piano solo of “In the Bleak Midwinter” on my youtube channel.

  Clickable link to  free arrangement of “In the Bleak Midwinter”

Niki Lott and Alicia Reagan…sisters and authors of the website, Christian Compositions, have a wonderful selection of vocal music!

Right now they are running a very special offer on a ladies’ trio/ensemble vocal book entitled “The Reason I Sing”.  Once you click on the link below in Niki’s note, just find their” listening room” and listen to the samples for “The Reason I Sing” CD.  It will be the same songs in the book.

Please read Niki’s email below that she sent out to their current customers just today:

“I recently ordered a new shipment of my book, “The Reason I Sing”.  I updated the format in order to make it consistent with our other books. Because of an oversight on my part, the covers were not printed in color with the design we intended, but were instead printed as a very basic black and white.

There is nothing wrong with the music inside the book. However, this is not what I want the books to be.  I am going to sell these books at a 50% discount so I can re-order as quickly as possible.

If you have been wanting to purchase this book, now would be a great time! Also, if you are interested in purchasing them for a trio or ensemble, this is a better discount than our bookstore rate.

No coupon code is needed. Simply follow this link: Christian Compositions: “The Reason I Sing” and be sure to select “physical” in the drop-down menu, and order the quantity you wish. The discount will show up in the shopping cart.”

Sincerely,

Niki Lott

I’ve already bought my copies!  This book is excellent for ladies’ solos, trios or ensembles!  One of my favorite songs is “The Reason I Sing”…same as the book title 🙂  Take advantage of this offer while supplies last!

Finished it!  Hope you enjoy this free Christmas piano arrangement of “In the Bleak Midwinter”.  The arrangement is written at an advanced level.

Click on the title to download free arrangement:

In the Bleak Midwinter

(image below is  for viewing purposes only)

Click here to hear youtube video of this free piano arrangement of  “In the Bleak Midwinter”

“We Plow the Fields and Scatter” may not be a familiar hymn to some circles but this is a great song for Thanksgiving or anytime of year!

One of my readers requested piano accompaniment of  this song for a trumpet solo… back in July of this year and I finally finished it.

I had a lot of fun with this one!  Thanks for this song suggestion Cherie!

We Plow the Fields and Scatter

Trumpet solo with piano accompaniment, 5 pgs. Great for Thanksgiving or anytime of year! Price covers two copies.

Price: $5.00

Just to let everyone know….working on a FREE advanced Christmas piano solo of “In the Bleak Mid Winter”.

Hope to publish it by no later than Wednesday of this coming week…just started it yesterday.

I have two ideas for the introduction but can’t decide which one to use.  I like them both!

Looking forward to sharing this free piano arrangement with you!