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.

To me…a wordy hymn is just that…a hymn with a lot of words which also contains a  busy rhythm such as  eighth notes.

Watch the video below to learn a tip on how to make wordy hymns sound smooth instead of choppy.

Click on title to download FREE pdf for the verse of “My Savior First of All”

Do any of your special music people ask you to help them choose a special?  Over time…our special music people have learned that I ENJOY helping them choose a song.  Watch the video below to learn a suggested tip on how I help them choose their special. (There are other factors too but dealing with the main one first.)  🙂

What a touching story behind the writing of  “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”.   I had never heard it until today.

Wow! What a heart breaking story about the author…yet…his love for Christ grew stronger…watch to see what it took to bring “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” to pass…Click here for free piano arrangement of “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

My daughter-in-law, Jackie Cook and I finally got together to create this video of my sacred violin arrangement of “Nearer My God to Thee.”

Thank you Jackie for suggesting that I create a violin arrangement for “Nearer My God to Thee”.  It was also a blessing to hear you play this piece!

I am not a violinist by nature 😉 so….Jackie gave me several great pointers in order to maintain the intermediate level of this arrangement.

I hope this arrangement of “Nearer My God to Thee” is a blessing to you as well.  Sheet music available HERE

Side note:  Jackie’s next violin solo request “This is My Father’s World”.

Many of you have purchased my advanced or real advanced arrangement of “Abide With Me”

Someone recently requested I share fingering suggestions for measure #30. Another tip about this measure…I take it slow enough to handle the excessive movement in the left hand.

*See video below to hear measures #22 through #30  (time marker 1:01-1:26) It will give you a better idea of how this transitional section flows into the new key.

I actually wrote this intermediate version of “In the Bleak Midwinter” last year and had forgotten about it.

A year ago…one of my students had requested an intermediate version of my advanced version of “In the Bleak Midwinter”.

Here’s the result of that request….

In the Bleak Midwinter

Intermediate Christmas piano solo, 3 pgs. This is a more simplified arrangement of Jenifer's advanced edition of "In the Bleak Midwinter" Jenifer wrote this at the request of one of her intermediate level students.

Price: $3.00

Just to let my readers know I just posted a new Christmas piano arrangement at the advanced level.

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

Advanced Christmas piano solo, 3 pgs.

Price: $3.25

Just sharing a video I just found on youtube this evening… of a boy playing one of my arrangements of Amazing Grace.

He did a beautiful job!