I’ve entered the Holiday Arranging Contest once again with Sheet Music Plus.  My arrangement submission is “Manger Medley”…a moderately advanced piece.The contest selling period is October 30th through December 14th, 2018. The arranger who sells the most copies during October 30th through December 14th…receives $300 and advertisement exposure. When I won first place with my last entry…I used the money to attend the Atlanta Composer’s Symposium where I go each year for composer’s rejuvenation 🙂   (My book with Lorenz was a direct result from attending this Symposium) Thanks to my readers who made that possible!  🙂

Now to offer a special promotional offer for this new piece! Details below:

Those who purchase the sheet music for this piece from Sheet Music Plus during October 30 thru December 14, 2018….will receive two free piano solo arrangements of your choice from my online website store.

Anyone purchasing this arrangement on Sheet Music Plus site AFTER the above promotional period…can choose one free piano solo arrangement from my site up through December 30, 2018

*Must provide proof of purchase & email it to jenifer@thechurchpianist.com

Click on following link to visit my online store: Piano solo arrangements

click on following title to purchase “Manger Medley”

*Reminder: Promotional period is Oct 30th thru December 14th, 2018

*Special note: I  have two different promotionals going on soon. 1st promotional is for this Christmas arrangement of “Manger Medley” and the second one is for my Lorenz book “My Redeemer & Friend” Click HERE to see book promotional details.

LOL!  Funniest thing happened this past Sunday morning during choir rehearsal.

This past week was a very challenging week and I wasn’t in a stable frame of mind evidently.

My son, who is our choir leader, had the choir practice “Till the Storm” from the church hymnal.   We rehearsed the middle verse…ladies would sing first half and men would join on last half of verse.  It was time for the men to join in and all singing stopped.  Something wasn’t right.  All eyes on me. Oh no!  One of the ladies looked at me with a smirk on her face and said, “You’re playing Little is Much!”  I was SO embarrassed but couldn’t resist joining in the laughter of the whole choir….including my son.

How in the world does “Little is Much” work for the melody of “Till the Storm”!?   I made it happen! 😉  Why “Little is Much”?  It was my offertory that morning and I guess the melody was on my mind. 😉

Over time…I plan to publish a series of booklets dealing with various “Fill-ins for the Church Pianist.”

Here is a sample page demonstrating a five-note span fill-in. Written instructions will be added…suggesting how to use this particular fill-in.

Scenario for this fill-in: When a half note + quarter note have same melody note…followed by an ascending 3rd.

Special note: Start fill-in a 3rd below starting note.

#1 is the hymnal version and #2 is the improvised version showing the fill-in  (Same for “It is Well” below)

Example #1:  E is the starting note for the word “that” …start the fill-in a 3rd below E which is C as shown in example #2

Further application:  Try finding the same scenario in the following hymns and add this five-note span fill-in:

1. Just As I Am (more spots not covered below in the example)
2. I Love to Tell the Story (one spot in chorus)
3. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (one spot in chorus)

I truly am alive but just super busy writing! Entering a Christmas piano solo writing contest with SMPress in addition to other writing for my piano students.

I just need to find time to publish what I’m writing!  🙂

My Lorenz book is still on track for publication this November 2018.

Hope to publish a practical article soon on fill-ins. I’m also trying to finish my first booklet on Fill-ins to be published on my site asap!

The improvising material I have been developing is on the early intermediate to intermediate level.

I’ll show you a sample asap.

Generally on Sunday nights…Pastor has the church sing two choruses or hymns from the hymnal right before his sermon. (We don’t have a special every Sunday night).

This particular Sunday night he started talking about something else and so I thought maybe he wasn’t going to do the extra songs.

So…I began to prep my orchestra for a last minute offertory because the person lined up for offertory wasn’t able to play. (I had forgotten to check my texts or I would have seen the offertory cancellation. I had told the person they could just text me yes or no and I would fill-in if needed)

The orchestra sits right beside me so it was easy to be discreet.

All of a sudden it grew quiet…I looked up to see all eyes looking my way. “Uh oh,” I humbly replied. “What song?”

I had missed hearing Pastor call out the song for the church to sing and they were waiting on an introduction.

Needless to say, everyone laughed! How embarrassing!  My husband who does the sound…thought it was hilarious!

He later told me, “Oh well…maybe everyone needed a good laugh!”

I’ll try to do better! 😉 I’m sure other church pianists have humorous stories to tell!  Please feel free to share your stories below!

I have fifteen copies of the Christmas cantata “Herald the News” in fair condition as described below:

Covers and pages are in great shape! CLICK ON IMAGE TO PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE

Most books have a minimal amount of pen or pencil markings

Three of the books have name in pen on front cover (small writing)

One copy has a blemish with small amount of a scratch in cover

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We also have eleven more copies of this cantata but most books either have worn binding; two have no covers

These eleven copies are well-used but in readable condition

Price for the fifteen in fair but good condition: $15 plus $5 shipping

Price for the eleven in well-used condition: $10 plus $4 shipping

Price for both sets: $30 (includes shipping)

I enjoy writing  easy three-part arrangements for our Men’s ensemble.  “Are Ye Able” was one of my favorite hymns when growing up in church.

The stirring message of this hymn makes it suitable for a men’s group.  The main emphasis of this hymn speaks of loyalty to Christ…a great reminder for us all.

Our men’s ensemble really enjoyed singing this hymn as you will notice 🙂    Sheet music for “Are Ye Able” is  available below the video:

Are Ye Able Said the Master

Easy three part arrangement for men's ensemble. 4 pages Price covers one copy for pianist and one copy for each member of the group.

Price: $8.00

I enjoy playing through this nice sacred piano book “Lost in Wonder, Love, and Praise” by Mary McDonald and published by Lorenz.

My most favorite one in the book is Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy. It’s just…..beautiful!  I always have a soft spot for minor key songs.

Listen to several excerpts from the book below.

Just thought I’d share what I’m currently writing. I have been sick since Sunday and itching to get back to writing.  We were out of town all last week on a family visit…so looking forward to getting back to work…writing music!

Over the past several years I have been transcribing arrangements from my “Simply Christmas” CD.  I’m almost done with the handwritten version of “Manger Medley” as played on my Christmas CD.  I would consider this arrangement to be early advanced.

I recently arranged an easy men’s three part arrangement of  the old hymn “Are Ye Able,” Said the Master  The text of this hymn challenges us to live our lives fully for Christ…remembering how He sacrificed all to lay down His life for us. I’ll be publishing a video of one of our men’s group singing this arrangement and the sheet music will be availalble in our online music store at:

Oh how I love hymns with such rich meaning!  May we all focus more on what we’re singing. It’s SO easy to just get caught up on a melody.  (I needed that reminder)  😉

Hey! Just played a medley for offertory tonight that I REALLY enjoyed (homespun of course;)

Oh How He Loves You & Me (followed by…..)
O How I Love Jesus (chorus only)
Tag: the last line of Oh How He Love You & Me