Please pray for my son and daughter-in-law as they just had their second miscarriage in the past three months.

The picture above was taken of them this past Christmas with their precious son… whom I’m watching this week.

My next article will probably be next week.

Appreciate the prayers.

After wanting to go to the Wilds Music Conference for at least the past ten years….I finally got to go!  My schedule just didn’t allow it in years past since the conference was scheduled at the end of December and into New Year’s Day.  ( I believe the Wilds is changing the music conference to a later date next year….to sometime in January.)

Please understand that this conference is a general music conference.  Since it’s only about a 2 & 1/2 hour drive…I felt it was worth attending.  Read the conference description below as stated on The Wilds website:

“Join us for the mixture of general preaching sessions, biblical philosophy and practical “how to” workshops, and choral reading sessions which will make you more effective in your ministry of music in your local church. Both trained musicians and laymen alike will benefit from the blessing and refreshment of fellowship around Christ-honoring music at this conference.”

Here’s what I did at the conference:

* Hymnplaying master class (once a day for three days) great practical ideas for pianists in general!

* Attended at least eight Choral reading sessions (free pack of music per session)

* Rubbed shoulders with musician friends (always pick up ideas from fellow musicians!)

* Went to Sacred concert by Matt & Christy Taylor on Wednesday evening

I do plan on sharing my gleanings in future posts.  The highlight of my week was playing in the Hymnplaying master class for critique.  What constructive advice I received!  (will share in video soon!)

Been enjoying family & guests over the holidays.  Now it’s time to gear up for the new year!

I’m currently working on several chord substitution examples to share with you.

These examples are in relation to the final lesson on chord substitutions.

You may have to review the previous chord substitution lesson in preparation for these examples.  Plan to post the examples tomorrow!

Just finished the Christmas piano solo of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” this morning!

One of my readers requested that I arrange an intermediate level of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”.  This piano arrangement may appear to be late intermediate level but the technical side of it may qualify for an early advanced level piano solo.

Regardless of the outcome, I hope you enjoy this piece as much as I had writing it!

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Late intermediate to early advanced Christmas piano solo, 2 pgs. Approx. 1:33

Price: $3.00

Working on an early advanced arrangement of “God Bless Ye Merry Gentlemen”.

This one has been more challenging than “In the Bleak of Midwinter” as far as coming up with ideas for the arrangement.  Some of my Spanish classical influence will appear in this piece.

Hope to complete it soon!

I’m on track to publish “In the Bleak Midwinter” by tonight after church.

For those just tuning in… I’m publishing a free advanced Christmas piano solo of “In the Bleak Midwinter”.

The melody and text of this song fit so well together!  I thoroughly enjoyed trying to depict the setting of a calm winter’s night as a backdrop to this hymn.

Sorry for not posting last week.  We had to leave unexpectedly out of town for our daughter-in-law who had a miscarriage with a couple complications as well.

We have witnessed God’s amazing grace  through it all.  I should be back to a normal schedule this coming week.

Just wanted to explain my temporary absence…recovering from surgery.

Not able to sit for more than few minutes at computer.  That will change in time 🙂

The doctor gave me a four to six week recovery.

The surgery was successful with several setbacks during recovery but now on the mend 🙂

Thanks SO much for your prayers! I can’t wait to start writing again!

“Simply trusting every day…trusting Jesus that is all.” 

Just want to apologize to my readers for getting the major & minor chord descriptions backwards.  At least I was consistent!  🙂

No….seriously, I just shouldn’t have been working on it so late at night.  To ease your minds….I do know the following:

4 half steps = Major 3rd

3 half steps = minor 3rd

Thanks to a reader that brought the mistake to my attention 🙂  I do appreciate that.  Now everyone can read the correct information in the following lesson:

I just want everyone squared away and ready for the grand finale lesson in this series of “How to Add Chord Substitutions”

*Please keep us in your prayers as my husband will be having surgery this month as well as myself, plus a grandson being born…all within one week of each other.

My posting may be less frequent during my recovery time but am trying to build up a few articles that will post automatically during my recovery time.

I thoroughly enjoy writing music and sharing ideas with you all!  God has truly blessed me with some wonderful readers!

Just so you know…I’m feverishly working on a huge project that I want to finish as SOON as possible!

Here’s what I’m working on…

1. Finishing up “God Can” SAB choir arrangement

2. Congregational Hymnal for Church Pianists (HUGE project!)

I’m very excited about both of these projects but it takes turning off the world around me and staying in my gopher hole until I complete them!