Add a sparkle to your hymn playing with this simple right hand run!

I picked up this four note run idea from my piano teacher, Judy Andrews years ago!

It’s a neat sounding idea that adds sparkle to a hymn.

I’m working on the final congregational arrangement for my third volume of piano congregational arrangements!

This volume is geared to the church pianist at the early advanced level. Check out Piano Congregational Arrangements Volumes One & Two.

This collection will be published on July 20, 2023 at a special rate of  $13 (sales price good for July 20th (3pm EST)  through July 22nd (10pm EST)  After this time, the regular price of $16 will apply.

Several years ago, I shared a post about The Role of the Church Pianist.

I thought I would add a few extra thoughts on our role as church pianists.

I need to remember I am a servant of the Lord no matter what ministry I do.

Paid or unpaid…we are servants of the Lord.

Suggested tips for coaching vocalists:

1.  Build a trusting relationship with someone before dishing out advice.  Careful to admonish in a constructive manner. For example,  “You have a wonderful voice but this particular song (though a great song) is outside your vocal range.  Would you mind trying another song that better suits your voice? You will be so much more effective when you’re not having to struggle to reach real high or low notes.”   * Sometimes high notes can be altered to make a song within means.
2.   One thing I like to do when rehearsing with a vocalist is to call out question phrases ahead of each phrase being sung…forcing the singer to focus on the message of the song…thus making it more meaningful to them.  * I do this more with ensembles.

One of my readers asked me how I keep my music organized for services.

I just came up with a more reasonable way this past Sunday.

I created two sticky tabs to use in the hymnal for our two congregationals per service. The third sticky tab marked with a “C” stands for choir special.

Our choir typically sings a song from the hymnal for Sunday mornings because we don’t have everyone with us until Sunday night service.  Quite a few of our choir members either work in our children’s ministry or work in the nursery.

That’s just part of having a small church 🙂

My son, the choir director, has a notebook full of our 8.5 x 11 sheet music for the choir.  I have the same type notebook.

I think we’re going to create a hanging file for each of our notebooks because the notebooks are getting full!

We already have all of our choir music in hanging file folders in alphabetical order.

I also carry around a two pocket folder that houses my AM & PM sheet music for upcoming vocal & offertory specials.  Works great for me!

It’s also been helpful to have a hanging file folder for each person who sings on a regular basis.  They can always fall back on a song they’ve done before  in case they’re filling in at the last minute.

Here’s how my pianist hymnal would look like on a typical Sunday morning.

I included a pic of our “order of service” which the Pastor provides for us.

Thinking about Dad a lot lately. He’s been in heaven a little over a year now. (June 2)

I will always remember how Dad sang with gusto not only in his vocal solos but also while leading the congregational singing.
He truly felt the music.

The following tip is for church pianists who accompany vocal or instrumental solos. This pertains to soloists who are comfortable “taking the lead”.

It’s helpful to slow down prior to a fermata or slower section for emphasis.  Also, I try to keep the music moving forward during a held word to keep the music alive.  Basically,  FEEL the music with the soloist to give he or she the best “behind the scenes” support.  Remember to constantly monitor your accompaniment volume so as not to drown out the singer or instrumentalist. Have someone sit out toward the back of the auditorium during practice… to check volume between pianist and soloist.

Here’s Dad directing the congregational singing at the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools 50th Teacher Convention in 2017. The second video is me accompanying Dad.

Just thought I would show you a peek of Allissa, one of my piano students, who I’m training to be a church pianist.

She is doing very well!  I write the songs for her to play at her level so she can already be getting “hands on” experience before she’s even playing out the hymnal. She has been doing some reading from the church hymnal.

In the following raw video…Allissa is practicing with a young girl’s group while the choir loft is being decorated for this Wednesday night’s annual Christmas play by the kids of our church.  Looking forward to the program!  Our youth Pastor’s wife writes a play for each year!  She is very talented!

Here’s a song that one of my piano students wrote two years ago that would make a great Thanksgiving special!

He’s a Wondrous Glorious God.  The sheet music can be found at the following link

https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/he-s-a-wondrous-glorious-god-digital-sheet-music/21881166

“When I Looked up to the Cross”  is one of my most favorite songs written by my Dad, Reece Yandle.

This particular vocal solo is perfect for Easter.  I love the phrase, “When I looked up to the cross and gaze on His face. That’s when I thank Him for His love and His grace.”  It’s such a powerful song about the death and resurrection of Jesus. Click HERE to see Dad singing this piece.

Dad has another Easter type song entitled “Nevertheless Thy Will be Done” that’s also a great selection around Easter time.  I arranged both of these songs of Dad’s. However, this second piece is only available through Lorenz who is now under GIA Publications. The lyrics to this reflective song… opens with a scene of Jesus kneeling in the garden of Gethsemane and his heart-rending prayer…”Let this cup pass from me…nevertheless Thy will be done.”  The final phrase is “Thus cried the Savior God’s own Son, nevertheless Thy will be done.”

Also note, “Nevertheless Thy Will be Done”, is in a vocal book from various authors.

I do have another vocal arrangement in the same book written by one of my youth directors, Rusty Dillard, and it’s also a great song about the story of Joseph.

Click on the following song links for more information:

When I Looked Up to the Cross 

Nevertheless Thy Will be Done (offsite product) The name of this book is called “No Greater Love”.

Here’s the picture of the vocal song book for “No Greater Love”

Finished!  I’ve had this arrangement of “The Cleansing Wave” on the burner for quite some time.

I would like to thank Abby Phillips Lockaby for adding the violin accompaniment. She made it sound SOOOO pretty!

I didn’t do justice to her part but tried my best.

The Cleansing Wave (two to three part mixed)

Two Part Mixed Choir Arrangement (piano and vocal score included. Optional Violin also included. Violin part is geared to the more Advanced Violinist. Listen to the audio which includes piano vocal and violin score. *Special note: SAB on the last page. Piano & vocal score arranged by Jenifer Cook Price covers as many copies as needed for your ministry. Violin accompaniment by Abby Phillips Lockaby

Price: $8.00