Just uploaded my free advanced Christmas piano solo of “In the Bleak Midwinter” on my youtube channel.

  Clickable link to  free arrangement of “In the Bleak Midwinter”

Working on an early advanced arrangement of “God Bless Ye Merry Gentlemen”.

This one has been more challenging than “In the Bleak of Midwinter” as far as coming up with ideas for the arrangement.  Some of my Spanish classical influence will appear in this piece.

Hope to complete it soon!

Niki Lott and Alicia Reagan…sisters and authors of the website, Christian Compositions, have a wonderful selection of vocal music!

Right now they are running a very special offer on a ladies’ trio/ensemble vocal book entitled “The Reason I Sing”.  Once you click on the link below in Niki’s note, just find their” listening room” and listen to the samples for “The Reason I Sing” CD.  It will be the same songs in the book.

Please read Niki’s email below that she sent out to their current customers just today:

“I recently ordered a new shipment of my book, “The Reason I Sing”.  I updated the format in order to make it consistent with our other books. Because of an oversight on my part, the covers were not printed in color with the design we intended, but were instead printed as a very basic black and white.

There is nothing wrong with the music inside the book. However, this is not what I want the books to be.  I am going to sell these books at a 50% discount so I can re-order as quickly as possible.

If you have been wanting to purchase this book, now would be a great time! Also, if you are interested in purchasing them for a trio or ensemble, this is a better discount than our bookstore rate.

No coupon code is needed. Simply follow this link: Christian Compositions: “The Reason I Sing” and be sure to select “physical” in the drop-down menu, and order the quantity you wish. The discount will show up in the shopping cart.”

Sincerely,

Niki Lott

I’ve already bought my copies!  This book is excellent for ladies’ solos, trios or ensembles!  One of my favorite songs is “The Reason I Sing”…same as the book title 🙂  Take advantage of this offer while supplies last!

Finished it!  Hope you enjoy this free Christmas piano arrangement of “In the Bleak Midwinter”.  The arrangement is written at an advanced level.

Click on the title to download free arrangement:

In the Bleak Midwinter

(image below is  for viewing purposes only)

Click here to hear youtube video of this free piano arrangement of  “In the Bleak Midwinter”

I’m on track to publish “In the Bleak Midwinter” by tonight after church.

For those just tuning in… I’m publishing a free advanced Christmas piano solo of “In the Bleak Midwinter”.

The melody and text of this song fit so well together!  I thoroughly enjoyed trying to depict the setting of a calm winter’s night as a backdrop to this hymn.

“We Plow the Fields and Scatter” may not be a familiar hymn to some circles but this is a great song for Thanksgiving or anytime of year!

One of my readers requested piano accompaniment of  this song for a trumpet solo… back in July of this year and I finally finished it.

I had a lot of fun with this one!  Thanks for this song suggestion Cherie!

We Plow the Fields and Scatter

Trumpet solo with piano accompaniment, 5 pgs. Great for Thanksgiving or anytime of year! Price covers two copies.

Price: $5.00

Just to let everyone know….working on a FREE advanced Christmas piano solo of “In the Bleak Mid Winter”.

Hope to publish it by no later than Wednesday of this coming week…just started it yesterday.

I have two ideas for the introduction but can’t decide which one to use.  I like them both!

Looking forward to sharing this free piano arrangement with you!

Sorry for not posting last week.  We had to leave unexpectedly out of town for our daughter-in-law who had a miscarriage with a couple complications as well.

We have witnessed God’s amazing grace  through it all.  I should be back to a normal schedule this coming week.

I’m very excited about publishing “When I Looked Up to the Cross”, sacred vocal solo by my dad, Reece Yandle.

This is our family favorite.  My youngest son had this song sung at his senior graduation.

You will enjoy this uplifting melody with a salvation emphasis!  The video below was recorded before the written arrangement and differs slightly… but will give the listener the writer’s intended interpretation of the song….especially since the writer himself is singing in this video 🙂  Thanks dad for allowing God to use you through this song!

Time to apply what was taught in lessons one through four on “How to Add Chord Substitutions”.

The following visual aid of the C Major scale and its chords will be helpful for this lesson!

Notice once again:  The Major chords above are indicated by an upper case Roman numeral.  The lower case Roman numeral indicates a minor chord.

Now for the fun part!…You’re about to learn how to find chord substitutions!

The bottom line:  The three major chords listed above in the key of C: I, IV and V can be substituted with a minor chord. How do do this?

Look for a minor chord that has at least two notes in common with a major chord.  For example:  A iii chord (EGB)  has two notes in common with the I chord (CEG).  That means….a iii chord can replace a I chord in the right setting.

Ok….can you find the other minor chord that has two notes in common with the C (I) chord?  Yes!  the vi (ACE)

Your Quiz:

1. Find the two minor chords that have two notes in common with the IV chord.

2. How about the two minor chords that are compatible with the V chord?

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So…when to use the chord substitutions?  When a major chord lasts for two or more beats…there is time to use a minor chord substitution!  The melody note also dictates which substituted chord will sound right. (Hint: The left hand plays the chord substitution and the right hand may have to alter the alto note to match the substituted chord. (When playing from the hymnal)

*Special note:  (Observation from one of my readers)…Just go up or down two chords from a Major chord to find its minor chord substitutions.  (Thanks Victoria!)

I will provide visual examples in the next article!