If you’re a beginning church pianist and learning to play from the hymnal…this lesson is for you 🙂

There are always exceptions to the rules as we’ll see in this lesson dealing with five part playing style from the church hymnal.

The thumb cannot always comfortably plug the tenor note into the right hand as we’ll see in the last video below.

Watch this video first if you need a more involved description of the five part playing style and then proceed to the latest video below which describes the exception to the five part playing style.

A BIG thanks to all of you! I came in second place for the Sheet Music Plus Holiday arranging contest 🙂

Being a winner also gives me more exposure on Sheet Music Plus which in turn draws more people to my website where I can share my music with a growing audience of church pianists/readers.

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas! Looking forward to sharing more church pianist tips and piano arrangements in the upcoming year!

Here’s a very festive sounding two piano Christmas arrangement which I wrote last year.   I already published it on Sheet Music Plus last year and just now remembering to plug it into my online store.  I thoroughly enjoyed playing this duo with a friend on facebook live a year ago. I’ve included  a video of myself playing with my keyboard recording 🙂

Gesu Bambino

Advanced two piano Christmas arrangement by Jenifer Cook 10 pages, Approx. length: 4:00 Great piece for offertory or recital! A very festive sounding selection with lots of contrast! The performers will appreciate the balanced interchange between parts.

Price: $5.50

Just to make my readers aware of our piano book sale going on now through December 19, 2018

Click on either picture below to view all of the available piano books on sale.

My annual student’s Christmas recital is today at 6:30pm EST.  You’re welcome to listen in! Four of my piano students will be playing at least a couple numbers each… in addition to a couple impromptu Christmas solos from myself.

Feel free to leave comments while watching the recital. My students would love to see the feedback 🙂

https://www.facebook.com/jeniferyandle.cook

Our music store is up and running! There is a slight chance that some of the songs won’t download. IF that happens…please email me immediately.

I check my email several times a day and will be glad to email your purchased music.

Spending the morning browsing Lorenz’ Fall Piano 2018 Piano Solo Books for Christmas and beyond 🙂

Lorenz Publishing has a youtube channel dedicated to providing church pianists with visual and audio samples from most of their sacred piano books.  It’s a great resource!

Some of my favorites so far… from the Fall piano 2018 series are: Click on each image for details. (See video below)

Enjoy browsing below to find your favorite piano books!

Does your hymn playing sound cloudy or too choppy and you just can’t figure out how to fix these issues?

I’ll share several tips that will hopefully help the beginning church pianist to  sound smoother.

Prep list for correct pedaling:

1.  Sit on the front half of the bench
2.  Knees barely under the keyboard
3.  Right leg will be at an angle (heel remains on the floor when pressing pedal)

When to pedal? Pedal once  per chord change

To avoid choppy sound in playing: NEVER lift pedal and hands at the same time during a hymn that needs to sound smooth.

Lift the pedal while the hand is going down on the new chord

I’m preparing a video tutorial on pedal suggestions for the church pianist who would appreciate some helpful tips on how to sound smooth when playing hymns.

Get ready with these prep tips!

1. Sit elbow length from the keys (knees should be slightly under keyboard.)
2.  Sit on front half of bench

More pedaling tips coming soon!

Just received my complimentary copies of “My Redeemer and Friend… in the mail yesterday! 🙂

I like the book cover…very tastefully done!

Want four FREE arrangements? Check out the promotional offer  when purchasing this book:  HERE