Playing for funerals is not the easiest task for a church pianist; especially if the deceased person was a close friend.  Over the past year, I’ve had to play at several funerals of people I knew very well.

God has given me the grace to make it through these funeral services. I like to play songs that comfort the family as well as myself.  I avoid too slow of a tempo on purpose…making it less of a sad tone and more bearable for the family.  Hymns with a medium tempo/mood such as Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, He Hideth My Soul and Like a River Glorious are a few of what I call comforting tunes to play at such a time. Check out my piano funeral collection consisting of about 18 minutes playing time.

Several readers have emailed me lately asking for funeral tips.

Automatically I think of the prelude (music played before the funeral).  The length of the prelude can vary according to many factors.  For example, the last funeral I played for took place at a funeral home.  The family of the deceased person had many relatives that attended the viewing across the hall from the chapel.  The funeral home provided music over their intercom system during the viewing time.  We worked it out for me to start playing the prelude once the people started entering the chapel which was about twenty minutes prior to the service.

Playing for a funeral at a church can vary depending on if the viewing is held at the church or not.  At our church,  the sound man provides soft taped music in the background during the viewing and sometimes a little longer prior to the service;  to avoid having me play for an extended period of time.  The background music is just a collection of suitable recorded instrumental music from our church services.  I usually begin playing about 15 to 20 minutes before the service.

Unless you all do things differently,  the immediate family members start filing into the area of the funeral service right before time to start the service.  This is one of the most emotional times of the funeral.  I make sure I continue providing music during this difficult time to avoid an awkward time of silence. I finish playing when I see the last member of the family being seated or when the pastor looks at me and steps up to the pulpit to let me know he’s ready…whichever comes first.

Once again, at the end of the service, I begin playing when the family begins to exit and continue until the majority of the crowd disperses.

Some pianists have asked me where to expect the soloist(s) to sing.  Depending on the order of service, the special music can be placed just about anywhere. Here are  the different places I’ve seen vocal specials during a service:  at the beginning after family members are seated, after an initial welcome and remarks from pastor, after pastor’s message, after a prayer, for the conclusion of the service (especially if it was a favorite song of the deceased person).

Playing for a funeral service is the church pianist’s opportunity to minister to  both family and friends during a difficult time through God’s gift of music.

“Christ Arose” is a very well-known hymn that most churches only use around Easter.  We use this beautiful hymn periodically throughout the year as a reminder of Christ’s glorious resurrection.

Robert Lowry, a well-known hymn composer/preacher, wrote “Christ Arose”

Click on song title below to download your free congregational arrangement:

Christ Arose in B Flat

I had to write a few congregational arrangements in a hurry this week for a couple of our church pianists to play this Sunday.  Since that took up the majority of my music writing time…I’ll share one of those arrangements with my readers tomorrow 🙂

Just wanted to announce to my readers that the piano funeral collection is now available in the music store.

In the near future, the songs will also be sold separately.

Hear audio excerpts from several of the hymns below:

Rock of Ages & Like a River

Amazing Grace & Saviour Like a Shepherd

Funeral Collection

Early advanced to advanced sacred piano solo collection. Song list: Amazing Grace, Saviour Like a Shepherd, Trusting Jesus Medley, Does Jesus Care, Rock of Ages, Like a River, He Hideth My Soul, Sweet by and by Medley, Wonderful Peace. *Key changes and song order included for the benefit of church pianists using this as a funeral prelude or offertory medleys. *Approximately 18 minutes playing time. *These songs will also be sold separately in the near future.

Price: $16.00

Just so everyone knows…I’m working feverishly…trying to finalize the piano funeral collection today.  Due to being sick, I fell behind a little but now editing the last song in the collection today!

We will be visiting our grandson tomorrow so I’m hoping to publish the piano funeral collection tonight or no later than tomorrow night.

This versatile; nine piece collection can be used for: funeral prelude, individual offertories or as vocal specials due to the included lyrics in the piano score of each hymn.

Well, back to work…almost finished!

Timeless Truths, an online resource, containing public domain hymns has a feature that church pianists will love!   Simply go to their site and search a hymn by title.  The page for the hymn will show the words on the right column.  Scroll down and look for the choice in left column that says “View Scorch sheet music” and click on it.

The sheet music for the hymn will appear (if you have downloaded scorch player). If not…it can be done for free.  The nice thing about viewing the music with scorch player is you’re given the chance to transpose the hymn to any key you desire before printing it for free!  Just look for the (2 flats symbol) at the top of the music  and click it.  A small box will appear allowing you to choose how far down or up you want to  transpose.

I have been grabbing my rare spare moments….trying to finish the “funeral collection” for church pianists!

I hope to complete it by no later than mid-March.  All the arrangements except for one have been entered in Finale.  Now the finishing touches begin such as: key changes between each song; dynamics,visible lyrics for each song to help the church pianist focus on the message of each song. Each arrangement in the funeral collection can also stand alone as an offertory.

Each piece is written in (hopefully) a simplistic yet artistic style…making it easier for the average pianist to prepare with minimal practice.  Most of the songs are in easy keys such as: C, F and G Major with the exception of at least two in the key of E flat Major.

The funeral collection will consist of at least fifteen minutes playing time.

Looking forward to publishing this collection soon!

Just thought I’d share a free sheet with key changes to connect the following hymns for a  piano prelude on the “Blood of Jesus”.

(Our prelude lasts anywhere from five to ten minutes…depending on how soon I can make it to the piano.)  I usually play two verses per hymn.

Prelude List:

Power in the Blood (B flat major)

When I See the Blood ( C Major)

Nothing but the Blood ( G Major)

Are You Washed in the Blood? (A flat major)

The sheet contains the final phrase of each hymn; followed by the key change to connect each hymn in the list above.

Just wanted you all to know I’m still alive and working on the next article as well as future articles that I’m excited about!

Tomorrow, I plan to share a free sheet containing key changes for a thematic prelude on the “Blood of Jesus”.  I love creating transitions and key changes between hymns during prelude or the Lord’s Supper.  I will share some EASY key changes soon…stay tuned!  🙂

I’ve got to organize my music!  Currently, all of my music is stashed away in our front living room closet in a two drawer file cabinet and several boxes.  I plan to replace the boxes with two plastic drawer carts from Walmart.

I will store my piano books in the two-drawer file cabinet due to their heavier weight.   The sheet music will be filed away in the plastic drawer carts.

I’ve also thought about filing my own arrangements (sheet music) in labeled notebooks by category such as: Christmas, Wedding, Offertories, Preludes, Vocal Solos, etc.)

What storage ideas can you share that would help the rest of us?  Feel free to share your comments at the bottom of this article and I will post them as I see them come to my email  inbox.

I do like the pocket storage idea that Laura Lowe, author of Lowe Piano Studio, shared on her blog. Since my piano studio is in the living room…I would probably hang the pocket storage in my closet along with my music.

Joy Morin of Color in My Piano Blog also has a great idea with a simple bookshelf…