How many church pianists have ever heard of the hymn “Ready”?  One of my readers recently  requested an offertory arrangement for this hymn.(actually just yesterday) Thanks Nancy!

I googled the hymn because I didn’t recognize the title right away.  Once I saw the music score, I realized it was one I grew up with… but rarely heard.

One main idea comes to my mind after skimming through the words of each verse…Total Commitment to Christ No Matter What. How convicting when I insert the words “Am I…” before each phrase.

After reading the words to each verse I thought, “This is a hymn worth reviving!”   The writer of this hymn, Charles Tillman, was the son of an evangelist. He painted houses and was also a traveling salesman for a music company out of Raleigha, NC in the late 1800’s.  Charles began his career as a singing evangelist in 1887. He died at the age of 82 in 1943.

Lyrics to “Ready”

Ready to suffer grief or pain,
Ready to stand the test,
Ready to stay at home and send
Others if He sees best.

Ready to go, ready to bear,
Ready to watch and pray,
Ready to stand aside and give,
Till He shall clear the way.

Ready to speak, ready to think,
Ready with heart and mind,
Ready to stand where He sees fit,
Ready His will to find.

Ready to speak, ready to warn,
Ready o’er souls to yearn,
Ready in life or ready in death,
Ready for His return.

Refrain:

Ready to go, ready to stay,
Ready my place to fill,
Ready for service, lowly or great,
Ready to do His will.

I hope other church pianists can use this old but wonderful hymn to enrich their music ministry at church.

Ready

Sacred early advanced piano solo, 2 & 1/2 pgs. Approx. length: 1:16 Complete audio below (youtube link)

Price: $2.95

Just published a new sacred vocal solo by Mina Oglesby that’s never been recorded until now..called “Rest Will Come in the Morning”.

I first discovered this piece in a songbook collection by Mina called “I Would See Jesus” published in the 1980’s.  After playing through the piece, I immediately called Mina and said, “This song needs to be shared! It’s beautiful!”  She allowed me to create an arrangement of this comforting song.  I can’t wait to look through her books and share more of her wonderful songs filled with her love for Christ.

Appropriate song for any time of the year and would also make a nice funeral vocal solo too.

Thanks to Casie Schmidt for the wonderful recording of Mina’s song. I played in E flat for the recording. In case that’s too low for some people…I also included the arrangement in F Major but didn’t charge extra for having both arrangements.

Rest Will Come in the Morning

Sacred vocal solo by Mina Oglesby (4 pages) *Price covers two copies. Key of E flat Major

Price: $4.50

The “Assurance Medley” has been one of my favorite sacred piano arrangements to play.  I arranged this after asking the Lord to be my Savior at the age of 29.

The order of the hymns in this medley were meant to portray the feeling I had when accepting Christ as my Savior.

I hope this arrangement is an encouragement to you as it has been to me.

Assurance Medley

Very advanced sacred piano solo, 4 pgs. Video below of entire arrangement!

Price: $3.95

Just came across this video on “The Importance of Playing Without the Pedal” when practicing.

I wholeheartedly agree with Robert at livingpianos.com and virtualsheetmusic.com.

My piano teachers always stressed…not using the pedal as a crutch but to demand more out of my fingers by using a smoother touch as though crawling through the keys like a spider; creating a smooth touch even before adding the pedal.

Now to Robert’s clear presentation on playing the piano without the pedal…

Some friends of ours just published their first sacred vocal CD this past summer entitled “His Name is Wonderful”.  I absolutely love it!

Thanks to Faith Music Missions for doing an outstanding  job on this CD! You can hear samples HERE (offsite link)

You may contact me at jenifer@thechurchpianist.com to order the CD. (I do have a limited number of these CDs for $12 each plus postage.)

I was suppose to accompany them for the recording but distance prevented me from doing so but their pianist, David Chamberlain, did a wonderful job!

Hunter and Morgan commuted to our church for at least four years while attending Bible college.  They served in several areas of ministry while there.

We miss them!  (Hunter was the inspiration behind the congregational booklets I’ve been publishing.)

Hunter now serves in a church located in New York City while Morgan is serving in a church out in Kansas.

Back to the CD…The songs are fresh! (some haven’t been published yet)

I plan to publish at least 6 out of the 10 from this  sacred vocal CD.  (“God Can” by Lynndale Hardeman) is already available in our online music store HERE.

Here is a sample of  one of their songs “His Name is Wonderful” written by Reece Yandle (my Dad 🙂

(Information for CD drawing is below the video)

To enter this sacred vocal cd giveaway: (a max of 2 comments per person…details below)

1.  First comment (like it, nice cd, etc.)

2.  Second comment: Share this article link on facebook, twitter, or other social media and leave a 2nd comment providing your social media link.

3.   Winner will be notified via email from jenifer@thechurchpianist.com

4.   Drawing ends on March 10th 2016 at 8pm EST

Several years ago, I published a piano solo (elementary level) of “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus“.   Later on, I came up with a simple accompaniment on a second piano while my student played the solo arrangement on another piano.  We played it in church and I shared the video on my youtube channel.

Since that time, several church pianists have asked for the teacher accompaniment part which was in my head until now 😉

The teacher’s part may not sound identical to the youtube version…. but it’s close!

Hope you enjoy using this free accompaniment version for “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus.” (elementary piano solo)

“Nothing But the Blood of Jesus” FREE piano accompaniment

I’m on Greg Howlett’s email list and just received an email from him offering his piano arrangement of “O Sacred Head Now Wounded” for FREE at the following link:

Free Arrangements

As stated by Greg: “You might recognize this arrangement because it is an adaption of a longer version I recorded of this song on Quiet Place. I hear from people often who want arrangements from that album and this is the most requested song.”

Here is Greg playing it on youtube:

Just thought I’d share a video clip of the sacred piano duet “Come Thou Fount” performed by myself and my student, Hannah Myers.

We played it this past Wednesday for offertory before heading out to the MusiCollege 2015 event.

We thoroughly enjoyed playing this peppy arrangement on a cloudy day 🙂

Looking forward to publishing “We Have a Saviour Who Cares” by Mina Oglesby.

I’m working on the written arrangement of this duet.

Here’s a video clip of myself with a friend singing it at our church this past Sunday.  (The alto part will have a higher harmony in several spots for the final written version; just had to keep a low harmony throughout for my limited vocal range)

Just published a very advanced piano solo of “Holy, Holy, Holy” today!

Thanks to several of my piano friends for test driving the piece before publication!

Just sharing youtube recording of the arrangement:

(Buy sheet music listed below the video)

Holy Holy Holy (VERY ADV.)

Very advanced sacred piano solo, 3 & 1/2 pgs. A very moving rendition of a well-known hymn. Jenifer's fresh stylings bring this hymn to life as it communicates the thought of God's holiness.

Price: $3.95