Nothing but the Blood of Jesus…a hymn with a great message and simple chording. I decided to spice up this hymn by adding different chords and came up with the elementary level piano arrangement below.
My student, Noah, really enjoyed playing this arrangement of Nothing but the Blood of Jesus for offertory. Of course I had fun making up a second piano part to accompany him. I hope to publish the teacher’s part for “free” when I get a chance to write it out.
An arpeggio is a broken chord. I like to use fast arpeggios in my hymn arrangements. So…how do I determine where to place a fast broken arpeggio? Anywhere a word can be stretched (broadened) or held if you were singing the hymn.
One of my free piano hymn arrangements entitled “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” contains a fast arpeggio on the second page. (Shown below)
This fast arpeggio consists of 12 notes. If you look closely, you’ll notice that I played 3 groups of one-octave arpeggios within the 12 note passage. Each group has four notes beginning and ending with note “G”.
I’m basically using a g minor one-octave arpeggio made up of the notes: G-Bflat-D-G
How to finger this? Use right hand thumb (of course) to start each group. For each group use the following fingering: 1 2 3 5
To properly blend this run into the arrangement…emphasize the right thumb at the beginning of the first group only; allowing the hand to relax and glide across the fast arpeggios in an even rhythmic flow. How to do this? Practice s-l-o-w 🙂
Careful not to play SO fast that it sounds “thrown in” …causing an interruption in the flow of thought.
Slow Motion Demo
Now…for the complete arrangement at regular tempo…
One of my church pianist readers recently asked me for some help on measures 29 and 30 of the free piano arrangement for “The Old Rugged Cross”.
In measure #29…The right hand has to reposition on the second beat in order to compensate for the upcoming busy movement. I created a quickie video demonstrating a suggested fingering to make this area feel more comfortable to the hand.
Feel free to ask for any guidance or tips on this piece or any other arrangements I’ve written.
Several months ago, I offered a free piano solo arrangement of “The Old Rugged Cross”; written in loving memory of one of my students who has gone home to heaven.
This free piano solo arrangement of The Old Rugged Cross can be downloaded at the following link: More Free Hymn Arrangements!
Church pianists find it an extra challenge when accompanying vocalists singing wordy hymns. Hymns such as: In the Garden, Wonderful Peace, Fill My Cup Lord,God Leads Us Along and No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus.
These wordy hymns are most effective when sung or played in a more conversational tone to avoid a mechanical reading style often heard in young ones when they are first learning to read. How to achieve a more conversational sound?
In 4/4 time…beats one and three are naturally stressed. Emphasizing these particular beats results in a more shapely tone…making the message flow in a more conversational tone.
Listen to the two accompaniment style excerpts in the video below to determine which style sounds more conversational.
“No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus”
*Editor notes:
Accompaniment pattern #1: I basically played every word of the song.
Accompaniment style #2: I used quarter note chords here and there to break up the repeated eighth note patterns..allowing the singer more ebb and flow of rhythm.
Special note: I sang the excerpt(s) in A Major on the video (due to my vocal range but the free pdf is a half step higher in B flat Major.
I would have loved to share the entire song…but this particular hymn is copyrighted. The “fair use” law allows me to share a small portion of a copyrighted song for educational purposes only.
(I think of a descant as a melody within a melody).
The descant is most effective when used only on the final verse of a hymn…creating an exciting climax! Usually a soprano or several sopranos sing the descant. If you don’t have the voices to support the descant, a solo instrument such as a flute or trumpet can play the descant part. Sometimes the piano can carry the descant part as well.
What’s really neat is when the whole choir sings a descant part on the final verse of a congregational hymn.
The video below contains a violin solo accompanied by the piano. Listen for the piano playing a descant part on the first and second chorus.
Free printable descant links below:
(the following links may contain music not in accordance with this site but still includes appropriate music for worship)
One of my students, Hannah Myers, has just published her first sacred piano arrangement of “Be Thou My Vision”. (late intermediate level) Hannah will be a freshman in junior high this fall.
She has had some wonderful piano teachers. I only started teaching her this past school year. God has richly blessed her!
Below, is a video of Hannah playing her arrangement of “Be Thou My Vision”.
You can view a sample page and purchase this arrangement by clicking on the following title:
One of my church pianist readers recently requested that I provide some helpful tips on how to play glissandos.
One of the trickiest technical moves in my How Great Thou Art piano arrangement is the glissando found on page four. (Shown below)
Glissando Tips
1. Notice the three tenuto (line marks) under the left hand in measure 29. These marks are pointing out the melody for the words “…then sings my…”. Emphasize the melody and keep the glissando volume in the background (little softer than left hand).
2. The right hand begins the glissando with the index finger immediately after the left hand plays the G octave with the first tenuto (line) mark. (It happens to be the same G as the left thumb just finished playing in the G octave).
3. Start the glissando with your right hand index finger…flipping the right hand over after the index finger starts. The index finger and 3rd finger will glide across the keys in an upside down, horizontal position. Once the index finger begins…the third finger will carry the brunt of the notes as you glide upward. The index finger will act more as a support and guide for the third finger. Just remember….the third finger is longer so it naturally has better contact of the keys.
4. Word of caution to church pianists: Glide across keys in a lightweight; relaxed fashion to avoid sore fingers 🙂
Visual Tips for the Glissando in How Great Thou Art
I’m always looking for easy arrangements for men’s ensemble or choir. Our choir has short practices due to many members travelling long distance to church. Therefore, we try to use two to three part arrangements…depending on who’s available to sing.
Several of our young men recently formed a singing group. They learned an easy two part arrangement of “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”. I think they practiced only three times due to time and distance factors. I thought they did real well for a first time together!
I’m sharing a youtube video of the men’s ensemble so you can hear how the arrangement turned out.
This two part men’s arrangement is available for purchase at the following link:
After publishing a video of me playing “How Great Thou Art” in a nursing home…I began receiving requests on youtube and my website for a copy of this arrangement. The funny thing about this arrangement…it was spontaneous.
After at least two years in the make (on and off–during this time frame)…I am about to put the finishing touches on this arrangement. It will be available by March 15th !
Keep in mind…the arrangement of “How Great Thou Art” won’t be exact note for note as played but…will be VERY close 🙂 It took me about 20 minutes to re-create about 3 measures at a time. I would watch my youtube video by the piano and pause ALOT to write what I heard.
Thanks to all who encouraged me to write this arrangement of “How Great Thou Art”.
