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:

Men’s Two Part Arrangement of Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

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”.

Sometimes it’s refreshing to hear a simple offertory.  I like to be able to distinguish the melody when hearing an instrumental special. My son, and another gentleman in our church were suppose to play a guitar/harmonica offertory this past Sunday night. Unfortunately, they hadn’t had much time to practice.

They asked if I would play along on the piano with them for support. They wouldn’t be able to practice until Sunday evening before church during the time I had to practice with the vocal special for that night. So…I quickly wrote a simple piano accompaniment that Sunday afternoon and had my daughter-in-law practice with them that evening.  They did great for a last minute ensemble!

Here’s the video of them playing “In the Sweet By and By”.

Click here for free copy of the piano arrangement for this simple offertory  (including melody score for an instrument)

Tip: The accompaniment may also be used to accompany a vocal solo

As I viewed part two of Christmas at Home highlights…these thoughts came to mind:

The drama and music tips found in the back of the cantata book were very helpful. For example:  Possible seating and microphone arrangement for stage.  Another great tip: “Whenever the readers are seated, their heads should be bowed. This signifies that they are “out of scene”.  (My thoughts: this also keeps the readers from being a distraction while the choir sings).

I almost forgot to mention…we chose not to  sing two of the songs in the cantata because they were more suited for a larger choir.

Notice how transitional/background music can be effective (around 8:20 on this video) * This transitional music is not in the cantata book.  I just made it up to cover a spot while the singing quartet returned to the choir.

One last reminder…this video contains only highlights of the  cantata.  The video presents a portion of the songs and drama to give you an overall  taste of this “down-to-earth” drama packed with a strong salvation message.  There wasn’t a dry eye in the auditorium when we finished this heart-gripping story.   A special thanks to Majesty Music for allowing us to share these highlights of Christmas at Home.

We look forward to learning and improving as we seek to share God’s message through music. The more prepared we can be…the more effective our music ministry will be for God’s glory.

Our church choir thoroughly enjoyed putting on this production of Christmas at Home by Majesty Music.  

Majesty Music has granted us special permission to post these highlights on youtube.

About two-thirds of our choir do not read music.  Also, several of us have about a 40 minute commute to church making for shorter rehearsals. Therefore, we simplified the music to two parts or unison.  Initially, I was to coach the speaking cast… but our other pianist’s husband had to have serious surgery…making it necessary for me to play piano in the beginning rehearsals.  I thought the speaking cast did a superb job in spite of the circumstances.

I’ll share one of our stage secrets…one of our playcast members wrote their lines on a card and stuck them to a stage prop for security.  It worked great 🙂

Enjoy watching part one of Christmas at Home (highlights)…

Our church just performed Christmas at Home last night. The Lord really blessed through this heart-rending story packed with a powerful salvation message.

This particular cantata was done in Reader’s Theatre style…actors face audience as they speak.  (Our actors tried to warm up the play by interacting more than the normal reader’s theatre style.)  They did a great job for starting a short while before the play. We plan to have our actors memorize their parts for any further programs.  Memorizing parts will give them more opportunity to focus  on expression and interaction/reaction.  So important!

I’m hoping to see them do this one again in full-acting style!

I’ll share a quick story about this particular cantata.  Years ago, when my son was around 4 years old…our church in Charleston (Northside Baptist Church)  did this play.  There’s a scene where the doctor amputates the drummer boy’s leg with a saw. (not literally of course).  My son thought it was real.  He wouldn’t talk to our friend (the doctor) for the longest time because of this scene.  We finally convinced him that the doctor was only pretending 🙂

I received permission from Majesty Music to post the cantata on youtube.  Since I’m still in the editing process of the tape…I’m posting several drama highlights from the cantata. You can view them below. The final video presentation will share highlights from the entire cantata.

Another nice Christmas cantata from Majesty Music is Born to Die.  I hope to use it for our church within the next several years.

Have a very merry Christmas!  I’ll post again sometime next week.

I shared this free arrangement of “Silent Night” last year on my site on the “Free Christmas Piano Arrangements” page.  Since I’m rather busy this week getting ready for my annual Christmas recital to be held on Thursday…I will share a video recording of this free arrangement of “Silent Night”.

Now…looking ahead to my next article…I need my reader’s help! What Christmas carol do you find to be  the most awkward to play from the hymnal?   Leave a comment below…giving me the name of a Christmas carol fitting this description. I will create an article on the “most mentioned” Christmas carol.  I will give everyone until Friday to leave a comment.  Thanks for your help!

“Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” was the most mentioned Christmas carol in the comments below. So…I’m working on it right now and will post an article soon! Thanks for your feedback.

 Just sharing a video of my dad’s recent solo during my visit this past weekend. I feel most free at the piano when accompanying my dad.

*I believe this particular arrangement is out of print but I found it at rejoicemusic.net As of right now…they only have 13 copies left at $1 each.  Click here to see if any copies are still available.

Here’s a video of my most recently published advanced sacred piano solo of Abide With Me.

The words to this hymn were written from a dying minister, who awakened to the fact that to know Christ was everything…and life was only for a moment.

Abide with me fast falls the evening tide! The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide;

When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy Word before my closing eyes. Shine thru the gloom and point me to the skies;

Heav’n’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee, In life, and death, O Lord, abide with me.