I hope the previous articles on scales in hymns has been a help to many church pianists.  Scales add so much life to hymns, don’t they?

Tomorrow’s final article on scales will feature some different ways to play scales…preparing the church pianist for real-life application of scales to hymns.  You may  find it interesting to know where I get my ideas for scale drills.    🙂

Scales add life to hymns! 

I’ll show you one way to insert a scale in the first measure of a hymn or in some cases…adding an extra measure to make the scale fit at the beginning.

Editor notes for today’s… Scale Examples in Hymns

1. The  scale in each example  equals two counts.

2. This type of scale entry works well when the first note of the song begins on the 5th note of the present key.

     It is Well is in the key of C and the first note is “G” which is the 5th note of the C scale

3. Notice…the scale in each example begins one octave (8 notes) lower than the first note of the song.

4. When the first word of the song occurs in an incomplete measure…(as in “It is Well” and “He Hideth My Soul”)…the first word will be understood during the scale.  Reminds me of English…when “you” is understood in the sentence even though it may not be written 🙂

 Application:

Try this scale idea in other hymns of similar design!

This free piano hymn arrangement of “I Feel Like Travelling On” is geared for the beginning church pianist at an early elementary level.

My piano student featured in this video, is a church pianist who plays by ear but is learning to read music. She’s doing quite well! I’m writing arrangements with her level in mind.

Maybe some of you church pianists can share this with your students or use this free piano hymn arrangement for yourself. 

I Feel Like Travelling On

I haven’t forgotten  part three of Scales in Hymns 🙂   I will post it tomorrow.

I plan to post part three of scales in hymns by the end of this week.

Some church pianists may not understand where to insert a scale in a hymn.

Scales can be placed in several different places in a hymn.  The upcoming article will show the church pianist how to add a scale to the very first measure of a hymn!

Looking forward to sharing the examples with you!

For the past several months, I have been training one of my students to be a church pianist.  Letha will get her first opportunity to play for congregational singing this Sunday.  (Our church has two pianos in the auditorium.)

I’m excited for her!  I thought I would share us practicing one of the congregational piano arrangements entitled “Higher Ground“.

 

Believe it or not…scales are very important to the church pianist!

Click on the following titles to see examples of scale passages in hymn arrangements:

Blessed Assurance  (two octave scale)   arr. by Marilynn Ham

A Child of the King  (one octave scale) arr. by Marilynn Ham

Count Your Blessings (mainly one octave scale)  arr. by Faye Lopez

There is a Fountain   (one octave scale) arr. by Jenifer Cook

Wonderful Peace    (1 and 1/2 octave scale) arr. by Jenifer Cook

Where to insert scales when improvising hymns:

(not an exhaustive list)

1. End of a phrase or held word elsewhere (Wonderful Peace, A Child of the King, Count Your Blessings) *Notice how these  runs cover the held word plus glide through the next word without really playing the true note…it’s just kind of understood.

2. To dress up the melody (There is a Fountain)

3. Key changes (Blessed Assurance)  adds zest!

Application!

Now…it’s time for you as a church pianist to try inserting scales into your hymn playing.  It works best to add scales to your solo offertories or when accompanying a vocalist or instrumentalist. Why? Because the tempo is more flexible when working as a soloist or when accompanying another soloist.

Start with a slow hymn; allowing you time to work a scale in at a comfortable speed.

Many of you may not be familar with my background of music and what music writers influenced my life. Today, I’ll share a video featuring a couple that greatly influenced my style of music through my high school years.

Ron and Shelly Hamilton is that couple.  Shelly’s parents, Frank and Flora Jean Garlock were also a great influence.  I’m so thankful for their godly example through the years and their faithful diligence in sharing the music God gave to them.

I came across a video today that presents the testimony of the Hamiltons.  Ron went through a great trial that God used to thrust him into the music production arena that has influenced the lives of many children, including mine.

God gave Ron a song from his valley experience entitled “O Rejoice in the Lord”.  What a blessing this song has been to me and many others!  I will also share a video of him singing this song after his testimony video below.

Now….to a touching story of God’s grace…

What could possibly be so important about learning to play scales?!

Part One: Benefits to learning scales

*Mobility

*Strength

*Key recognition

(for example…if you’ve been practicing the D major scale…you will remember this scale has two sharps. When you look in a hymnal and see a hymn with two sharps at the beginning… you’ll know it’s probably D major.  (could be B minor but we won’t go there right now.) The majority of the time..it will be D major.

*Structured fingering

*Prepares the hands for complete and partial scale passages in hymn arrangements.

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Scales are more meaningful when played within a hymn arrangement.

Scales add life to a piece! Sometimes just a partial scale is used depending on what sounds best.

Learning my scales in the beginning stages of piano prepared me for different arrangements I have played through the years with technical passages. 

 In part two of the importance of scales…I will show examples of hymn arrangements containing scales and share ideas of how and where to apply scales in your own improvising.

Part three of the importance of scales will share various ways to play scales preparing the church pianist for real-life application.

 

How can the church pianist possibly benefit from playing scales?!

Do hymns even utilize scales?

In the next article… I will share why I think it’s important for every church pianist to master the scales.  While I’m at it…I’ll share ways to make scale playing more enjoyable.

Looking forward to this next article!

Sharing a video of my piano arrangement “Jesus is the Sweetes Name I Know with What a Friend We Have in Jesus”. 

Several church pianistshave asked about this arrangement.  This particular one has been set aside for an advanced book  to be published through Soundforth sometime in the future.

 In time, I’ll provide some more videos with helpful information for church pianists. (I’m a little camera-shy…so it takes me a while)

Hope everyone is doing well!