Archive for the ‘Vocal’ Category

New Ladies’ Two Part Arrangement

Monday, February 21st, 2022

I’ve been fine tuning two vocal arrangements to use around Easter time.

The first one is complete!  It’s a fairly easy two part ladies’ arrangement of “Jesus Paid it All” by John T. Grape.

I usually schedule at least 6 practices for this selection to make sure we have time to work on the expression once the notes are learned.

I’ll do my best to provide a video of this piece asap.

The second vocal arrangement of “The Cleansing Wave” is actually a two-part mixed choir piece with an optional beautiful violin accompaniment created by one of my music friends….(Abby Phillips) Lockaby.  She added just the right texture/sound to this flowing arrangement.  I’ll share an audio sample of the piano and violin score this week.

Jesus Paid it All
Sacred Two Part Ladies' Arrangement (for 2 or more vocalists) Price covers as many copies as you need. Great selection for the Easter season. Easy to learn! The most practice your ladies' group would need is maybe five rehearsals.
Price: $8.00

Jenifer Cook Plays Comforting Hymns

Monday, July 12th, 2021

Jenifer’s recent “Comforting Hymns” on youtube

(Aired on July 25, 2021)

 

 

 

 

Patriotic Vocal Solos by Reece Yandle

Thursday, July 1st, 2021

 

There seems to be a shortage of patriotic theme songs.

My Dad, Reece Yandle, wrote both of these soul-stirring patriotic solos that are easy-to-learn in a short time.

Both tunes are very singable.

This is America &  In God We Trust

 

 

The Call for Reapers (part two)

Saturday, March 6th, 2021

I’m sharing the rest of “The Call for Reapers” as promised last weekend.

Tips for the complete arrangement:

  1. For those who don’t like playing sharp keys…just easily transpose to E flat major. The notes are the same….just think three flats instead of four sharps!
  2. Try applying the accompaniment pattern of the chorus to hymns of like nature and chordal structure such as:
  3. Measures 25 – 27 would go well for the words “softly and tenderly Jesus is” for the hymn “Softly and Tenderly.”
  4. Read the note at the bottom of the sheet music that you’re about to download…

Click here to download the chorus of “The Call for Reapers”

Part One can be found by clicking this line… “The Call for Reapers”

 

Part One: The Call for Reapers: Free Arrangement! Awkward Key for Me!

Monday, March 1st, 2021

 

Part One:  The Call for Reapers 

This past Sunday I had to play in E Major (four sharps) for a male vocal solo and survived! He was singing “The Call for Reapers” out of the hymnal. The hymnal version was in the key of A flat major.

In his first practice I discovered E Major was the most suitable  key for his baritone range.  I decided I would brave the sea of black notes and make it work!

Usually I would have had the vocalist go to another nearby key that I could reasonable transpose to.

As I’ve mentioned before….E major is NOT my most comfortable key to play in.  Some of my readers are sharp key lovers but I’m quite the opposite!

A simple sketch of  “The Call for Reapers” was all I needed to keep me on track.  It worked wonders!  I was able to follow the piece fairly easy. The gentleman sang two verses and choruses but I just wrote out one verse and chorus as more of a guide.

Most hymns in the church hymnal don’t go beyond three sharps or five flats.  That explains why I don’t feel as comfy beyond the hymnal key range.

Maybe there are other church pianists who could benefit from this  simple sketched out arrangement of “The Call for Reapers”.

This particular hymn makes a great choice for Mission’s Conference or other mission related meeting.

I’m sharing the verse in this post and will publish the chorus by hopefully next weekend.

Click on following title to download your FREE copy of the verse

Part Two (chorus) by next weekend.  (March 8 – 10, 2021)

The Call for Reapers

 

 

Introducing Ten New Solo Arrangements for the Elementary Level Pianist!

Friday, November 20th, 2020

 

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!

Early Elementary Sacred Piano Volume One
Volume One: Nine Early Elementary Sacred Piano Solos plus one two piano arrangement. (10 songs total) I wrote these arrangements for my piano students to play for congregational singing but can be used for offertories too! Tip: Works great for piano ensemble playing too 🙂 * I usually have at least two students playing these arrangements for congregational singing or for offertory in addition to me playing along. Each arrangement includes suggested fingering & lyrics.
Price: $12.00

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

 

New Vocal Solo by Ady Lowder: He’s a Wondrous Glorious God!

Monday, October 19th, 2020

Just in time for Thanksgiving!  One of my piano students wrote a song, “He’s a Wondrous Glorious God” a good while ago.

Her song is now available as a vocal solo with piano score at:  Sheet Music Plus

The words & melody are Ady’s.  I just arranged/provided the piano score for the vocal solo.

Ady is SO ecstatic about having her song published!

Listen to Ady share her excitement in the first video below.  The second video is of her singing the entire arrangement.

God has blessed you Ady 🙂  Always use your talents for Him.

 

Coming soon: Christian Vocal Solo & Early Advanced Piano Solo

Tuesday, October 13th, 2020

Looking forward to having one of my students over this Thursday evening to share some music with you all via live facebook.

Ady LOVES playing the piano and singing!  She’s going to play and sing a song she composed not too long ago entitled “Wondrous, Glorious God”…a great selection for Thanksgiving!

She doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to present her with the complete arrangement (vocal and piano score) in Thursday night’s live facebook event.

Her song “Wondrous Glorious God” will be available on Sheet Music Plus by this Saturday. (She doesn’t know that either….LOVE surprising my students!)  😉

See you all soon!  This Thursday at 7pm on my facebook music page:  https://www.facebook.com/thechurchpianist

You do not need a facebook account to view this live event on Thursday evening at 7pm EST

Oh! I almost forgot!  I’m also publishing an early advanced piano arrangement of “Crown Him with Many Crowns”  by this Saturday as well.

The whole arrangement: verse chorus, chorus is in the key of C Major 🙂

 

Grateful Church Pianist

Saturday, October 10th, 2020

As a church pianist…I’m extra grateful for my parent’s influence on my life by providing me with a rich heritage of godly music.

My Dad turned 84 today and still singing for God’s glory.

Just thought I’d share a family video of him singing a couple of years ago with a long time family friend, Jerry Baker. Jerry Baker and his wife Linda, were missionaries in Christian broadcasting for a number of years.

Church Pianist Tip: Page Turn!

Thursday, October 1st, 2020

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.