If you’re a beginning church pianist and learning to play from the hymnal…this lesson is for you 🙂

There are always exceptions to the rules as we’ll see in this lesson dealing with five part playing style from the church hymnal.

The thumb cannot always comfortably plug the tenor note into the right hand as we’ll see in the last video below.

Watch this video first if you need a more involved description of the five part playing style and then proceed to the latest video below which describes the exception to the five part playing style.

Here’s a very festive sounding two piano Christmas arrangement which I wrote last year.   I already published it on Sheet Music Plus last year and just now remembering to plug it into my online store.  I thoroughly enjoyed playing this duo with a friend on facebook live a year ago. I’ve included  a video of myself playing with my keyboard recording 🙂

Gesu Bambino

Advanced two piano Christmas arrangement by Jenifer Cook 10 pages, Approx. length: 4:00 Great piece for offertory or recital! A very festive sounding selection with lots of contrast! The performers will appreciate the balanced interchange between parts.

Price: $5.50

Spending the morning browsing Lorenz’ Fall Piano 2018 Piano Solo Books for Christmas and beyond 🙂

Lorenz Publishing has a youtube channel dedicated to providing church pianists with visual and audio samples from most of their sacred piano books.  It’s a great resource!

Some of my favorites so far… from the Fall piano 2018 series are: Click on each image for details. (See video below)

Enjoy browsing below to find your favorite piano books!

Does your hymn playing sound cloudy or too choppy and you just can’t figure out how to fix these issues?

I’ll share several tips that will hopefully help the beginning church pianist to  sound smoother.

Prep list for correct pedaling:

1.  Sit on the front half of the bench
2.  Knees barely under the keyboard
3.  Right leg will be at an angle (heel remains on the floor when pressing pedal)

When to pedal? Pedal once  per chord change

To avoid choppy sound in playing: NEVER lift pedal and hands at the same time during a hymn that needs to sound smooth.

Lift the pedal while the hand is going down on the new chord

I’ve entered the Holiday Arranging Contest once again with Sheet Music Plus.  My arrangement submission is “Manger Medley”…a moderately advanced piece.The contest selling period is October 30th through December 14th, 2018. The arranger who sells the most copies during October 30th through December 14th…receives $300 and advertisement exposure. When I won first place with my last entry…I used the money to attend the Atlanta Composer’s Symposium where I go each year for composer’s rejuvenation 🙂   (My book with Lorenz was a direct result from attending this Symposium) Thanks to my readers who made that possible!  🙂

Now to offer a special promotional offer for this new piece! Details below:

Those who purchase the sheet music for this piece from Sheet Music Plus during October 30 thru December 14, 2018….will receive two free piano solo arrangements of your choice from my online website store.

Anyone purchasing this arrangement on Sheet Music Plus site AFTER the above promotional period…can choose one free piano solo arrangement from my site up through December 30, 2018

*Must provide proof of purchase & email it to jenifer@thechurchpianist.com

Click on following link to visit my online store: Piano solo arrangements

click on following title to purchase “Manger Medley”

*Reminder: Promotional period is Oct 30th thru December 14th, 2018

*Special note: I  have two different promotionals going on soon. 1st promotional is for this Christmas arrangement of “Manger Medley” and the second one is for my Lorenz book “My Redeemer & Friend” Click HERE to see book promotional details.

I have fifteen copies of the Christmas cantata “Herald the News” in fair condition as described below:

Covers and pages are in great shape! CLICK ON IMAGE TO PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE

Most books have a minimal amount of pen or pencil markings

Three of the books have name in pen on front cover (small writing)

One copy has a blemish with small amount of a scratch in cover

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We also have eleven more copies of this cantata but most books either have worn binding; two have no covers

These eleven copies are well-used but in readable condition

Price for the fifteen in fair but good condition: $15 plus $5 shipping

Price for the eleven in well-used condition: $10 plus $4 shipping

Price for both sets: $30 (includes shipping)

I enjoy writing  easy three-part arrangements for our Men’s ensemble.  “Are Ye Able” was one of my favorite hymns when growing up in church.

The stirring message of this hymn makes it suitable for a men’s group.  The main emphasis of this hymn speaks of loyalty to Christ…a great reminder for us all.

Our men’s ensemble really enjoyed singing this hymn as you will notice 🙂    Sheet music for “Are Ye Able” is  available below the video:

Are Ye Able Said the Master

Easy three part arrangement for men's ensemble. 4 pages Price covers one copy for pianist and one copy for each member of the group.

Price: $8.00

I enjoy playing through this nice sacred piano book “Lost in Wonder, Love, and Praise” by Mary McDonald and published by Lorenz.

My most favorite one in the book is Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy. It’s just…..beautiful!  I always have a soft spot for minor key songs.

Listen to several excerpts from the book below.

Just thought I’d share what I’m currently writing. I have been sick since Sunday and itching to get back to writing.  We were out of town all last week on a family visit…so looking forward to getting back to work…writing music!

Over the past several years I have been transcribing arrangements from my “Simply Christmas” CD.  I’m almost done with the handwritten version of “Manger Medley” as played on my Christmas CD.  I would consider this arrangement to be early advanced.

I recently arranged an easy men’s three part arrangement of  the old hymn “Are Ye Able,” Said the Master  The text of this hymn challenges us to live our lives fully for Christ…remembering how He sacrificed all to lay down His life for us. I’ll be publishing a video of one of our men’s group singing this arrangement and the sheet music will be availalble in our online music store at:

Oh how I love hymns with such rich meaning!  May we all focus more on what we’re singing. It’s SO easy to just get caught up on a melody.  (I needed that reminder)  😉

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