Just thought I’d share an incident that happened last night at church…

I’m surprised my church hasn’t fired me from being one of their pianists!   😉
I’m SO forgetful! ….like playing the wrong song intro for choir opener….and then my son, David, (who happens to be the choir director) looks at me with a big smirky smile and says for all to hear….”that’s the choir special.”
“Oh yeah…” I say.

Oh well…at least we could laugh about it… (including the whole congregation)   🙂

                            Anybody else have a similar experience?

*CD Giveaway!  Enter below to get a chance to win this CD!

I love finding resources for church pianists!  One of my music composer friends, Mary Lynn Van Gelderen, recently published a  CD of  devotional piano music entitled “I’d Rather Have Jesus“.  Several of the selections are beautifully orchestrated by composer Samuel Joshua.

Hear samples of “I’d Rather Have Jesus CD” HERE

See Mary Lynn Van Gelderen play “Life Again!, ” featured on the CD…written by Mary Lynn and her husband John R. Van Gelderen. Click HERE

Here is a list of each piano solo arrangement (Special note:  Three of the selections are available as choral arrangements only) *All of the printed piano arrangements can be purchased through Gentle Praise.

Life Again!  (choral or free pdf of hymnal version)

I’d Rather Have Jesus (pdf instant download)

No Not One (pdf instant download)

Were You There? (pdf instant download)

Jesus Paid it All (available in the future)

Help Me Win the Lost (choral)

It Is Well (pdf instant download)

The Old Fashioned Way/Whiter Than Snow Medley (coming soon as a free download)

Pentecostal Power (available in the book  “Have Thine Own Way” by Mary Lynn Van Gelderen)

Great is Thy Faithfulness (not available at this time)

Little is Much (pdf instant download)

Have Thine Own Way (available in the book “Have Thine Own Way” by Mary Lynn Van Gelderen)

Knowing Christ (choral)

My Country Tis of Thee (available soon in a new collection by Mary Lynn Van Gelderen and Samuel Joshua)

How to enter contest drawing for FREE CD of I’d Rather Have Jesus:

Copy and paste the link to this article to facebook, twitter (or other social media)… and copy and paste your link with your comment here to validate your posting.

Your name will then be automatically entered in the drawing for a FREE copy of I’d Rather Have Jesus CD. (Please note: comments are moderated but will be posted as soon as I see them throughout the day)

This CD giveaway contest will expire on November 28, 2014 at 8pm EST.  The winner will be contacted via email that same evening and announced in this article.

 **Only available for residents within the continental US

Gentle Praise is an excellent resource for the church pianist!

I’m looking forward to sharing a resource for church pianists this coming week!

This will involve a drawing for a CD giveaway as well!

My latest music writing activities:

Beginning a new advanced Christmas piano solo….not telling the name of the song just yet until I know it’s going to work out 🙂

Also working on several songs by Mina Olgesby that have never been in print.  Excited about this opportunity!

And in my spare time….trying to finish my first congregational arrangement booklet (it will contain ten songs)!

Downloadable Link Below

I was going to share a free sampling of left hand improvising ideas for Revive Us Again but I wound up writing a full verse and chorus of this challenging hymn.  It’s not a hard hymn to play but difficult to dress up for congregational singing.

The first line of the hymn is basically the same chord!  Most church pianists realize that they have to adhere to the chord structure in the hymnal when playing for congregational singing IF their congregation sings parts…to prevent chord clashes.  I can’t help but add chord substitutions on this hymn!  Our congregation doesn’t sing parts so I can have fun!  🙂

I’m sharing several improvising ideas for Revive Us Again (congregational style).  I tried to liven up the 1st line of music by creating broken chord tones and alternating bass notes within the same chord. A broken chord tone pattern already exists in the hymnal version but offered a little different one and added a little more variety than the hymnal version.

Revive-Us-Again-congregational-or-prelude

Just wanted to explain the lack of activity on my site…

I’m working on the final editing for my first set of ten congregationals (late intermediate to early advanced level).

I’m editing the fifth one this evening.  Keep in mind…I already have the first ten entered in Finale but re-hashing them to be as user friendly as possible!

Looking forward to publishing this first set!  I won’t give a deadline date but pushing myself to finish this project as soon as possible.

I will list the first five that I’ve edited:

All Hail the Power (with modulation!)

Blessed Assurance

I Love to Tell the Story

Praise Him! Praise Him!

Sweet By and By

I was looking for sacred trumpet solo arrangements for our Pastor to play during the offering. I found the following books on one of my favorite sites: Sheet Music Plus.  I was able to “SAVE THEM FOR LATER” purchase on their site….LOVE that feature!

Top Choice: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/the-sunday-instrumentalist-sheet-music/19932162

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/come-thou-fount-sheet-music/18421146?ac=1

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/instruments-of-glory-vol-2-sheet-music/18421458?ac=1

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/give-me-jesus-sheet-music/19642406?ac=1

I enjoy hearing our Pastor play his trumpet for offertory and glad to find books we would reasonably utilize!

With Thanksgiving right around the corner…I thought I’d share a free advanced piano prelude arrangement of “Showers of Blessing”.

Notice the tempo marking at the beginning.  The rate of speed makes the difference in this piece!  I didn’t realize how much activity there was in my prelude playing until penning this particular one to paper. Wow!  No wonder I’m tired after preludes!  😉

*You can download the pdf version and hear complete audio  at the bottom of this article.

*Click on title to download pdf version of this free piano arrangement:

You need to have the Audio Player Plugin installed to use this shortcode

I’m trying to decide whether or not to  periodically stray from the melody in the congregational accompaniments I’m working on for publication.   I can’t help myself!  It’s more fun to stray from the melody as in the following free congregational accompaniment (excerpt) of Saved, Saved!

This is more of how I would play for congregational singing for Saved, Saved.  (The written music below is the same as the recording)  🙂

Click here to download your free copy of “Saved, Saved!” congregational accompaniment verse excerpt!

I just wanted to let my readers be aware of the latest products published in our online music store.  The following arrangements are also available in the Funeral Hymn Collection that was published earlier this summer.

Does Jesus Care

Early advanced sacred piano solo, 2 & 1/2 pgs. *Also available in the Funeral Hymn Collection

Price: $2.50

Rock of Ages

Advanced sacred piano solo, 2 pgs.Approx. 1:28 Excellent for short offertory or funeral prelude. Very flowing piece. *Also available in the Funeral Collection.

Price: $2.50

Trusting Jesus Medley

An early advanced piano solo of two well-known hymns: "Simply Trusting with Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus". Use for offertory or funeral prelude. 5 pgs. *Also available in the Funeral Hymn Collection.

Price: $3.95

Even though I’m not a small handed pianist…I sometimes experience the feeling of having small hands due to challenging passages in music.  While in high school I would always roll a 10th in the left hand.  However…after playing a 10th with a gentle “rolled” movement over time….I found that I had stretched my left hand span and soon began playing solid 10ths!

While researching pianists with small hands, I came across the following inspiring article and video!

Click here to read how this small handed pianist overcame his limitation before hearing him in the video below: