Listen to this video clip for some helpful pointers on the topic of “Playing Within Your Level”

Jenifer & Lauren aired live on facebook tonight with the following video…

Several weeks ago I sat down at the piano to create a congregational arrangement for one of my intermediate level students.

I lacked two measures finishing the hand-written copy when my student walked in for her lesson.

Instead of holding off to share…I assigned her to finish the last two measures on her own for that week.

I reminded her to stay true to the texture of the arrangement which she did very well!

Here’s the finished product that we thought we’d share with other church pianists that may need a quick offertory or as a congregational arrangement.

Click on hymn title for free download.   I’ve also posted Allie playing the arrangement below.

Come Ye Thankful People Come

We’ve had two of our grandkids this week while their Mom had to fly out to attend her Grandmother’s funeral.   

It’s been a great week but I realized rather quickly…I’m not the young one I use to be 😉

I closed out this week by playing some of their favorite hymns for their bedtime.

Bedtime Hymns 

Here is an early advanced arrangement of “Crown Him with Many Crowns”.

I consider this one of my home-spun arrangements straight from the heart.

This is the style I like writing the best!

I will probably play this piece for Thanksgiving service at our church.

Just in time for Thanksgiving!  One of my piano students wrote a song, “He’s a Wondrous Glorious God” a good while ago.

Her song is now available as a vocal solo with piano score at:  Sheet Music Plus

The words & melody are Ady’s.  I just arranged/provided the piano score for the vocal solo.

Ady is SO ecstatic about having her song published!

Listen to Ady share her excitement in the first video below.  The second video is of her singing the entire arrangement.

God has blessed you Ady 🙂  Always use your talents for Him.

Looking forward to having one of my students over this Thursday evening to share some music with you all via live facebook.

Ady LOVES playing the piano and singing!  She’s going to play and sing a song she composed not too long ago entitled “Wondrous, Glorious God”…a great selection for Thanksgiving!

She doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to present her with the complete arrangement (vocal and piano score) in Thursday night’s live facebook event.

Her song “Wondrous Glorious God” will be available on Sheet Music Plus by this Saturday. (She doesn’t know that either….LOVE surprising my students!)  😉

See you all soon!  This Thursday at 7pm on my facebook music page:  https://www.facebook.com/thechurchpianist

You do not need a facebook account to view this live event on Thursday evening at 7pm EST

Oh! I almost forgot!  I’m also publishing an early advanced piano arrangement of “Crown Him with Many Crowns”  by this Saturday as well.

The whole arrangement: verse chorus, chorus is in the key of C Major 🙂

As a church pianist…I’m extra grateful for my parent’s influence on my life by providing me with a rich heritage of godly music.

My Dad turned 84 today and still singing for God’s glory.

Just thought I’d share a family video of him singing a couple of years ago with a long time family friend, Jerry Baker. Jerry Baker and his wife Linda, were missionaries in Christian broadcasting for a number of years.

Just decided to share an evening of hymns with my listeners.  Thanks for your encouraging notes!

I enjoy winding down in the evenings with the great hymns of the faith.

Last Sunday I had to play for our church’s guest missionary couple. I had never heard of the song and there were at least five page turns.

I had one of our flute players turn pages for me.  Another quick tip helped a bunch!  I simply wrote the approaching chord on the last measure of each page so it would sound like I knew what I was doing at the turn of each page.  😉  Seriously,  this tip helped me stay in the right chord frame for each page turn.

The Choreo Keeper would have been a life saver that morning  but I left it at home where I use it the most.