I grew up in the Greenville SC area and always enjoyed hearing Shelly Hamilton play the piano.  She had a positive impact on my hymn playing style.  I enjoy using her Hymnproviser Workbook series (three books total) as reference material for my hymn playing teaching.

Click on this link to view Hymnproviser Workbook One.

For the next four Mondays, beginning April 13th at 2pm EST…Shelly Hamilton will teach fill-in ideas for one hymn per live-stream session. (30 minutes per session) She’s also planning on a question/answer time as well!  You will enjoy her teaching style as she shares how to make a hymn sound more full.

The live-stream sessions are geared to the intermediate church pianist.  Shelly is offering a quarantine special on this four session event!  I’m looking forward to tuning in for Shelly’s Virtual Hymn Playing Class starting this Monday at 2pm EST!

For more information, click on the following link: 

Virtual Hymn Playing with Shelly Hamilton

Due to a VERY busy week with Mission’s Revival and moving our son and family…

I will try to publish the “Modulation Up a Whole Step” video by this Saturday.

My script,visuals and your free handout are ready!   Now…to create the video!

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

Finally! The Left Hand Pattern One Booklet is available for sale!  Many hurdles took place to prepare this long awaited project!

The buyer receives a FREE video link up to two days from time of purchase. The video adds helpful explanations about the written material… in addition to  extra tips not covered in this booklet.

The booklet is for the intermediate pianist who can play from the hymnal and has a working knowledge of scales and chords in the Key of: C, G, F and B flat.

Ample examples and applications are included in this thirteen page tutorial booklet.  The application examples are done by the student 🙂

(Answer key included for the application examples)

Jenifer’s main objective was to present a practical pattern that the church pianist could add to their congregational or prelude style of playing.

Left Hand Booklet One (Downloadable only)

Jenifer's first tutorial PDF (downloadable) booklet presents a left hand pattern which adds fullness and movement to hymns from the hymnal. Great for congregational or prelude style of playing. (see video promo link below) Geared to the intermediate pianist who can play from the hymnal and has a working knowledge of the scales and chords in the keys of: C, G, F and B flat. *Special note: Buyer receives a FREE video link via email... within two days after purchase. This FREE video highlights the contents of the Left Hand Pattern One Booklet. *Jenifer will email the video link to the buyer's email address used at time of purchase.

Price: $10.00

I’ve been busy creating the video clips to support each page in the Left Hand Pattern Booklet One!

Here’s a sampling of the video clip for page one:

One of my piano students recently requested improvising ideas for More About Jesus.

Specs I consider before improvising a hymn:

1. Key signature
2. Time signature
3. Chord structure
4. Tempo  (the faster the tempo = less notes, the slower the tempo= more notes

In this tutorial, I added improvised notes for a moderate tempo.

Click HERE for free printable version of “More About Jesus” (verse only)

Just to bring my readers up to date!  I’m trying to finish my first left hand pattern booklet. The written copy is near completion.

Contents for Left Hand Pattern One (Booklet One)

Four measure music examples in addition to ample application for reinforcement! (Keys covered: C , F and G and B flat)

Video content:  Teaching session of entire booklet with extra info not  shown in booklet, this includes me playing all hymn examples in the booklet.

Now to create the video that will be included with the PDF booklet!

I’m sharing the Foreword page plus one page  of the booklet.

The following article discusses the limitations that come with the intermediate level church pianist.  A reminder, they are doing the best they can do for the moment. But with a little extra practice…they can blossom into a fuller sound of playing by expanding their right hand horizon; opening up space for more left hand creativity!  The following article is meant to encourage the intermediate level church pianist.

Most intermediate level church pianists play basically in the middle area of the keyboard when accompanying congregational singing or other vocal specials.

(See the picture of their range below)

The bass part in the hymnal doesn’t normally go below the second G under Middle C and the right hand probably doesn’t go as high as the second F above Middle C unless the intermediate pianist takes quick ventures into the upper register 😉

When the right hand stays within this boundary…the left hand playing space is limited.  Taking the right hand an octave higher for an occasional spin…opens up more room for the left hand. This does not mean the pianist must stay an octave higher throughout the entire hymn.  It’s actually better to use a combination of both the middle or upper register for variety in sound.

When to change registers for the right hand?  In my early days of training, I was taught to change right hand registers at the end of a line which equates to at least two sentences.  It’s nice to gradually work your way up or down by playing extra chords or notes leading into whatever register you’re heading for.

See example below in the hymn excerpt “Like a River Glorious” (click on image to enlarge)

Click HERE to download free pdf copy of this image without comments in red

Wow! I already have a list of at least twelve different left hand patterns for hymns with busy melodies in 4/4 time!

Can’t wait to complete this first booklet of ideas!

It’s a challenge for me to focus on just one aspect while preparing instructive material because I come across so many other ideas closely related but don’t want to give you all info overload!

I’m  jotting my random ideas down and saving them for another time.

I think the greatest challenge during the prep time is coming up with a simple, concise way to present the concept.

Here’s an example of how I may display the left hand patterns on the master content list. (There will be PLENTY of visual examples to accompany these ideas)

1. octave-chord-octave-chord (all quarter notes)
2. octave-chord-octave-octave (all quarter notes)
3. octave-chord-octave-quarter-rest  (three quarter notes plus one quarter rest)

As of now….I plan to number the visual examples with the number that corresponds to the numbered list of patterns on the master content list.

There are SO many variables to this topic. I will have to discuss right hand activity as well since the left hand is affected by what the right hand plays.

For example: It’s easier on the pianist (truly!) to omit notes here and there during a busy melody  and focus more on the main beats. The singers can fill in the missing notes 😉  The key is… omitting melody in places that don’t throw off the singers.

Simple:  Start by playing melody at the beginning of the song and then omit a note here and there once you get them going 😉

More on that topic in my first booklet.

One of my readers recently asked for ideas on left hand octave chord patterns. This is just one of many patterns possible!

I started with a fairly easy one and will share another pattern when able.  Sorry for this quick-thrown-together video due to time restraints.

I’m preparing to help out my Mom after she has same day surgery on her knee.  Much going on but I will try to at least share quick tips or such for at least the next month…then maybe the dust will settle by then ;).