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Modulating during any type of prelude (church, funeral, wedding or other occasion)…creates a smooth transition between songs. Without a smooth transition between different keys, the music will sound interrupted or very abrupt. The articles associated with this lesson and future lessons will deal with modulating to a higher key. Modulating to a lower key can also be effective but such a topic belongs in a different set of lessons.
The modulation chord formula that works for most any key change uses the ii7 to V7 chords of the new key.
(I personally like to use the V7 sus instead of a plain V7…but will will illustrate at the appropriate time).
*Part two will provide a FREE pdf with several examples of modulating up a fifth. (C Major to G Major)
Keyboard visuals of the ii7 & V7 chords in the key of G Major are shown below. (The upcoming examples will cover C to G, G to D and F to C using this chord formula)
ii7 of G Major
V7 of G Major
Working on the examples now and hope to share this week!
Do modulation and transposition mean the same thing? They ARE closely related but describe two different actions.
Modulation is the transition process (the key change itself)… that takes the pianist to the new key.
Transposition is playing a song in a different key than what’s written.
Next post will share a modulation chord that is commonly used for modulating from one key to another.
This post is in reference to yesterday’s article about Ready-Made-Hymns.
How do you like this look? The “x” marks indicate original notes to help the church pianist see what note changes were made.
Is this beneficial to you? Feedback would be appreciated! Thanks for all the comments yesterday! Very helpful! 🙂
Just click on the following image to enlarge for easier viewing.
*Special note: THANKS for the feedback! After reading the comments here and on facebook….I will be putting these type of easy-to-play congregationals into print instead of by hand. I will do away with the original notes from the hymnbook and ONLY type in my (hopefully) easy-to-play congregational/piano solo arrangement. Thanks again for your helpful comments!
For the past couple of months…I’ve been creating “ready-made’ hymn arrangements for some of my church pianist students who are need of improvised hymns for congregational singing. (Can also be used as piano solo)
These hymn arrangements are nothing more than a copy of a hymn from the hymnal with my added improvised notes in red.
Just curious, would this meet the need for others as well? I’m considering adding them to our online music store if there’s enough interest.
The cost would be less than my regular “printed arrangements”.
Here’s a FREE copy of one of these ready-made hymn arrangements. (Also trying to decide what to call them….any suggestions?)
*Also…are you all ok with it being handwritten just as it appears in free arrangement below?
*Special note: THANKS for the feedback! After reading the comments here and on facebook….I will be putting these type of easy-to-play congregationals into print instead of by hand. I will do away with the original notes from the hymnbook and ONLY type in my (hopefully) easy-to-play congregational/piano solo arrangement. Thanks again for your helpful comments! I do have (more involved ) congregational piano arrangements for sale HERE.
Ready-Made Hymns for the Church Pianist
Thoroughly enjoyed my week at the Composer’s Symposium in Atlanta!
Here’s a video clip of my Master Class piece with excellent critique! And…I didn’t even get ambushed by Robert Sterling! Woo-hoo! 😉 (inside joke)
Please excuse the raw video…lacking my video editor on laptop.
Judging panel from left to right:
Robert Sterling, Marty Parks, Brad Hix, John Parker and Joseph Martin
Just arrived in Atlanta today for the annual Composer’s Symposium.
I’ve learned SO much already!
The afternoon sessions were given by well known writers: Joseph Martin, John Parker and Lloyd Larson followed by an open forum by all the writers…including James Barnard, music editor for Growing in Grace curriculum.
Just pray my sore throat doesn’t continue which just started today. I recently got over an infection and hope it’s not coming back.
Lord-willing I plan to attend the rest of the symposium which lasts through Thursday evening.
SO much to share with you all soon!
Photo by Jackie Cook
Sorry for the low profile lately. I’ve been recouping from being sick since returning from vacation a week and half ago.
My daughter-in-law requested a violin solo arrangement of Nearer My God to Thee. I finally finished tweaking it! 😉
I enjoyed weaving the melody back and forth from piano to violin. Nearer My God to Thee is a very comforting hymn; making if a nice solo piece for any occasion but especially a funeral.
