After wanting to go to the Wilds Music Conference for at least the past ten years….I finally got to go!  My schedule just didn’t allow it in years past since the conference was scheduled at the end of December and into New Year’s Day.  ( I believe the Wilds is changing the music conference to a later date next year….to sometime in January.)

Please understand that this conference is a general music conference.  Since it’s only about a 2 & 1/2 hour drive…I felt it was worth attending.  Read the conference description below as stated on The Wilds website:

“Join us for the mixture of general preaching sessions, biblical philosophy and practical “how to” workshops, and choral reading sessions which will make you more effective in your ministry of music in your local church. Both trained musicians and laymen alike will benefit from the blessing and refreshment of fellowship around Christ-honoring music at this conference.”

Here’s what I did at the conference:

* Hymnplaying master class (once a day for three days) great practical ideas for pianists in general!

* Attended at least eight Choral reading sessions (free pack of music per session)

* Rubbed shoulders with musician friends (always pick up ideas from fellow musicians!)

* Went to Sacred concert by Matt & Christy Taylor on Wednesday evening

I do plan on sharing my gleanings in future posts.  The highlight of my week was playing in the Hymnplaying master class for critique.  What constructive advice I received!  (will share in video soon!)

Answers from previous quiz questions for Chord Substitutions:

Minor chords for IV are  ii and vi

Minor chords for V are  iii and vii

Key of C Major:  F chord is the IV chord….so…d minor is the ii chord and a minor is the vi chord.  The V chord is G….so….e minor is the iii chord and b minor is the vii chord.

Review from last lesson:  A Major chord lasting two or more beats can be substituted with a minor chord. Go up or down two chords from the Major chord to find its minor chord substitutions.

For example:  The  C Major chord can be substituted with an e minor or a minor chord.  (The melody note dictates which substitution will sound right).

This is only the beginning…there are SO many chord substitutions!  I’m just covering the basic choices.

New Lesson

Warning label to the church pianist:  Chord substitutions cannot be used for congregational singing IF the congregation is singing parts from hymnal.

Chord substitutions can be used for solo instrumentals or when accompanying vocalists or instrumentalists singing or playing the melody.

Reason for selective use:  chord substitutions do not support the written voice parts in a hymnal.

Our church has a small congregation that mainly sings melody with occasional tenor….giving me more freedom in congregational accompaniment.  Adding chord substitutions just brings what would be a plain hymn…to life!

If you’re a church pianist wanting a warmer sound to your playing…chord substitutions are the answer!  I use a lot of chord substitutions during invitation..creating a more reflective mood.  Our pastor likes background music during the entire invitation…allowing me more freedom to alter the melody and chords.

The following chord substitutions would be better understood if the church pianist had a basic understanding of being able to analyze chords within a hymn…hence….another lesson in the works 🙂

Until then…enjoy learning a couple chord substitutions for the following hymns.  

Layout explanation:  Three different hymn examples; each hymn is represented by an original line from the hymnal followed by an improvised version of that line. The I (CEG) chords are labeled as well as the substituted chord numbers. Each example is in C Major.  *Measures marked with a red square require future post to explain.

*Click on the following pages to download:

Page one: Chord Substitution Application

Page two: Chord Substitution Application

Been enjoying family & guests over the holidays.  Now it’s time to gear up for the new year!

I’m currently working on several chord substitution examples to share with you.

These examples are in relation to the final lesson on chord substitutions.

You may have to review the previous chord substitution lesson in preparation for these examples.  Plan to post the examples tomorrow!

Just finished the Christmas piano solo of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” this morning!

One of my readers requested that I arrange an intermediate level of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”.  This piano arrangement may appear to be late intermediate level but the technical side of it may qualify for an early advanced level piano solo.

Regardless of the outcome, I hope you enjoy this piece as much as I had writing it!

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Late intermediate to early advanced Christmas piano solo, 2 pgs. Approx. 1:33

Price: $3.00

A reader recently requested a piano congregational arrangement for “Joy to the World”.  I had almost forgotten about having this arrangement.  I am forever writing music of some sort and it’s easy to forget what I have 🙂

This is a rather straightforward arrangement of “Joy to the World”…no frills but enough fill-ins to add zest to the congregational singing for this joyous hymn about Jesus’ birth.  Hope it’s a help to church pianists looking for congregational arrangements.

Click on song title below to download your free copy!

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.