I want to create a series of booklets on hymn improvising ideas for the church pianist.

The first booklet is going to deal with left hand patterns for devotional style hymns. (I’m working on it now)

The most challenging part for me is presenting everything in a well ordered approach.

I want to keep these books practical, short and concise.  Each booklet will deal with one topic.

Another booklet  will deal with right hand fill-ins and so on. Hopefully the church pianist can grasp the concept(s)  from each booklet in order to make application on their own.

Each booklet will provide a sufficient amount of examples for ample reinforcement.

The booklets will be geared to the intermediate and beyond church pianist.

The church pianist will need to know their scales, chords and chord inversions.  A prior knowledge of interval reading would also be helpful.

For the first booklet, the concepts and examples will be presented in the keys of C , F, and G Major for ease of application.

I’m considering naming the booklet series “Making Hymns Expressive”.

During choir practice yesterday afternoon…our choir was practicing “Faith is the Victory” in unison.

I noticed it was just SO awkward trying to grab all the melody notes…especially during the verse!

Each sentence of the verse starts on a fast note (eighth note) making it almost impossible to keep up with the melody. I thought, “The choir KNOWS the melody…why not delete the first word of each sentence to alleviate the awkwardness!?!  (Exception: I’ll play the first word of the song to allow for secure entry) 🙂

My mind devised a plan to ease up my old moving hands 😉  Time to have some fun!  Just stay within the vicinity of the melody and you won’t get AS lost 😉

Let the singers do the work!

The result: (Download the free pdf version of “Faith is the Victory” below)

Faith is the Victory

I’m preparing a video tutorial on pedal suggestions for the church pianist who would appreciate some helpful tips on how to sound smooth when playing hymns.

Get ready with these prep tips!

1. Sit elbow length from the keys (knees should be slightly under keyboard.)
2.  Sit on front half of bench

More pedaling tips coming soon!

Over time…I plan to publish a series of booklets dealing with various “Fill-ins for the Church Pianist.”

Here is a sample page demonstrating a five-note span fill-in. Written instructions will be added…suggesting how to use this particular fill-in.

Scenario for this fill-in: When a half note + quarter note have same melody note…followed by an ascending 3rd.

Special note: Start fill-in a 3rd below starting note.

#1 is the hymnal version and #2 is the improvised version showing the fill-in  (Same for “It is Well” below)

Example #1:  E is the starting note for the word “that” …start the fill-in a 3rd below E which is C as shown in example #2

Further application:  Try finding the same scenario in the following hymns and add this five-note span fill-in:

1. Just As I Am (more spots not covered below in the example)
2. I Love to Tell the Story (one spot in chorus)
3. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (one spot in chorus)

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

Ever have a hard time trying to figure out what to use for an interlude between verses when accompanying a vocalist or other small ensemble?

Here’s just one interlude method I use to help the soloist find his way back to the next verse…

Click HERE to access the free two page handout for today’s video session. (July 6, 2018)

Here’s the answer key below…

Page one

Page two

Easy Six Beat Note Fill In!

Sharing one of my favorite fill ins for pianists!

Use this fill in for hymns in 3/4, 9/4, 6/8, 9/8 and 12/8

Where to use? On a melody note lasting 6 beats.

How to use? Determine what chord is being used during the six count note.

Left hand plays single bass note in lower register of keyboard on 1st beat and plays a chord on fourth beat.

Right hand enters on beats two through beat six.

Tip: To prevent disorientation….notice the melody note you’re heading to after the fill-in.

Apply to hymns of like nature using the time signatures listed above.

Below…is a video demonstrating the four examples from video above.

I’m feverishly trying to finish my early intermediate  sacred piano solo book for Lorenz. It’s due June 1st. I’m working on the ninth one now.  The book will contain a total of ten piano solos.

Here are some of the song titles:  What a Friend We Have in Jesus, His Eye is on the Sparrow, Jesus What a Friend for Sinners, All the Way My Savior Leads Me and Crown Him with Many Crowns.

I’m also currently working on my next website video tutorial to present a certain fill-in that I LOVE to use!

In my spare time….I need to unveil a nice patriotic vocal solo by my Dad….hope to publish asap!

Need your help! Just need names of at least two hymns that use a 12/8 time signature. Thanks!

Need piano offertory ideas for When I Survey? I just shared a few tips with a skype student yesterday that may be helpful for other church pianists.

Keep in mind this lesson is geared to the early intermediate student but the tips are applicable to all levels of church pianists.