I enjoyed creating this sacred piano arrangement of “To God be the Glory”.

Part one of this free arrangement is available at the following link:

https://thechurchpianist.com/free-piano-arrangement/the-church-pianist-free-sacred-piano-arrangement-part-one/

Click here for part two of “To God be the Glory” arrangement

It is getting closer to Thanksgiving and thought I would share a free sacred piano arrangement of “To God be the Glory”.

This piano arrangement would work for a short offertory or prelude.

I usually play this style for prelude.

Remember, this is only part one of this  free arrangement.

Click here to download:  To God be the Glory part one

I wanted to share this free piano arrangement of The First Noel.

Natalie Wickham of Music Matters Blog arranged this easy piano duet of The First Noel. Natalie gave me permission to post an audio of her arrangement but I will share the link to her blog for this nice piano duet.

This free arrangement would be nice for a beginning piano student to play with a teacher or more advanced piano student.

The arrangement is short but would work well in the smaller church. You could always play it two times for a longer offertory.

Click below for a free copy of The First Noel:

http://musicmattersblog.com/2005/10/13/the-first-noel-piano-duet/

Audio:  The First Noel

I love the hymn: It is Well.  What a comforting piece of music! I’ll have to share the story behind it sometime soon.

Dwelling on the words of the song allows the pianist to be more expressive; producing a more effective delivery through music.

Click on the following title to hear the interpretation of It is Well.

Audio: It is Well (interpretation)

As promised in part one of this lesson…I’m sharing a video demonstration of my very first hymn improvising piano lesson.

The only change…I used the hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” instead of “Like a River Glorious”.  Either hymn is fine but I decided on the second one for the video.

Youtube video link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yemAttikFNU

Click here to download free pdf arrangement:   When_ I_ Survey_ the_ Wondrous_ Cross_ five_ part_ style_

Are you a church pianist needing to know how to improvise hymns?

Do you play straight from the hymnal…as written?

Would you like to know how to make your playing sound fuller?

If so, this lesson is for you.

I plan on posting Part Two of My First Hymn Improvising Lesson next week.

The article will include a video demonstration of ths lesson.

A free downloadable arrangement of the improvised hymn will also be available.

Please let other piano friends know that may benefit from this lesson.

Part One of this lesson can be found at:

https://thechurchpianist.com/improvise/the-church-pianist-part-one-my-first-improvising-piano-lesson/

Appreciate all your visits and comments!

I have thorougly enjoyed playing through the numerous free Christmas piano samples

on Alfred Music Publishing Co.’s website. 

Here are the rest of my special finds on Alfred’s website.

(I’ve included an audio sample for most of the following piano samples.)

Simply Christmas (Early intermediate for the adult hobbyists) by Dan Coates

Audio: O Holy Night  Traditional style; well arranged

http://www.alfred.com/alfredweb/front/SearchResult.aspx?keywords=30041

What Can I Play for Christmas? (Intermediate) by Cindy Berry

Audio: The First Noel  Nice variety!  I love the introduction.

http://www.alfred.com/alfredweb/front/SearchResult.aspx?keywords=33607

The Christmas Suite Collection-NEW!   (intermediate to late intermediate) by Various arrangers

Audio: What Child is This?  I love this!

http://www.alfred.com/alfredweb/front/SearchResult.aspx?keywords=33471

Magic of Christmas–Book 2  (late intermediate to early advanced) by Dennis Alexander

Audio: Still, Still, Still (piano duet)  Very creative and peaceful 🙂

http://www.alfred.com/alfredweb/front/SearchResult.aspx?keywords=piano%20christmas%20duets

 Carol of the Bells  (intermediate) piano duet by Catherine Rollin

Audio: Carol of the Bells (piano duet)  Very structured for the adult hobbyists 🙂

http://www.alfred.com/alfredweb/front/SearchResult.aspx?keywords=18976

Celebrated Christmas Duets-Book 3 (early intermediate to intermediate) by Robert D. Vandall

No audio available. Sample music only shows one piano part but please view music at following link.

http://www.alfred.com/alfredweb/front/SearchResult.aspx?keywords=31463

Famous and Fun Christmas-Book 5  (intermediate) by Carol Matz

Audio: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear  Simple but very structured for even a late elementary level.

 http://www.alfred.com/alfredweb/front/SearchResult.aspx?keywords=23222

Christmas Carols for Today (late intermediate to early advanced) by Carol Tornquist

Audio: How Great Our Joy  Very lively!

http://www.alfred.com/alfredweb/front/SearchResult.aspx?keywords=33511

Go, Tell it on the Mountain (advanced piano duets) by Victor Labenske

No Audio available (O Little Town of Bethlehem sounds beautiful!  View it at the following link.)

http://www.alfred.com/alfredweb/front/SearchResult.aspx?keywords=24436

Silent Night (intermediate) piano duet by Sharon Aaronson

Audio: Silent Night (piano duet)    Simple but beautiful with altered melody!

http://www.alfred.com/alfredweb/front/SearchResult.aspx?keywords=18978

Hope you enjoyed viewing these free Christmas piano samples as much as I did!

Are you looking  for piano Christmas offertories? Well…be prepared to shop a while!

A couple times of year, I receive a free sampler from Alfred Publishing Co.

The free sampler consists of Alfred’s ‘just published’ Christmas piano music as well as previous publications.

Each piano book series list a sample page for preview. The following link/s show even more sample pages but

having the sampler offers a simple overview of all Alfred’s Christmas piano products.  For example: I discovered

the group of links listed below (special finds) by entering the product number from the 2009 Holiday Sampler booklet.

You can order your free copy of Alfred’s 2009 Holiday Planner by emailing them at: keyboard@alfred.com

Simply request the : 2009 Holiday Planner.  (Also include your mailing address).

My favorite part to the following links…you can print the sample pages in large enough print!

Have fun looking at all the Christmas piano music! There’s more to the list on the next article.

Book Series: 

http://www.alfred.com/alfredweb/front/General.aspx?pageid=340 

My special finds on alfred.com/piano   *(Audio Samples included before each link)*

Christmas Memories-Book 2 and 3 (intermediate to late intermediate) by Melody Bober

Audio: Hark the Herald Angels Sing

http://www.alfred.com/alfredweb/front/SearchResult.aspx?keywords=28414^28415^28416

Especially for Christmas -Book 3 (late intermediate)   by Dennis Alexander

Audio: Joy to the World/Angels We Have Heard on High

http://www.alfred.com/alfredweb/front/SearchResult.aspx?keywords=31387^31388^31389

It’s Time for Christmas (Advanced) by Ken Renfrow

 Audio: What Child is This?   Audio: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

 http://www.alfred.com/alfredweb/front/SearchResult.aspx?keywords=33622

Great Piano Christmas Hits (Intermediate/Advanced) by Dan Coates

Audio: Angels We Have Heard on High

http://www.alfred.com/alfredweb/front/SearchResult.aspx?keywords=AF9681

There’s so much more to share! 

Part two of this article will include the rest of my findings on http://www.alfred.com/piano

Managing a website is an ever learning experience for me.

I’ve recently added audio samples from my CD: Simply Christmas

Just click on the navigation button at the top of the screen entitled:

Simply Christmas CD

I was in fifth grade when I received my first improvising lesson from the hymnal.

The hymn I improvised was At Calvary.  It took me at least two months to learn the improvised style in a flowing rhythm.

Here are the first two improvising steps I learned to create a fuller sound in hymnplaying.

First, open a hymnal to the hymn: “Like a River Glorious”.  I chose this hymn because it is in an easy key and contains a simple rhythm.

Let me preface the lesson with the following clarification: The soprano is the top note on the treble staff; while the alto is under the soprano note.

The tenor note is the top note on the bass staff and the bass note is under the tenor note.

Step #1:  Add the tenor note to the right hand when feasible (right thumb plays this note).

You should be playing a total of three notes in the right hand. (tenor, alto and soprano)

Exception: Sometimes the tenor note fits better between the alto and soprano note.

This usually occurs when the alto and soprano have a greater distance between them; allowing room for

the tenor note to fit between them.

It is best to practice the right hand alone (with the added tenor) until a steady flow is maintained.

Expect to feel disoriented at first; having to add the tenor note to the right hand without it written that way.

Step #2: Double the bass note (left thumb is placed on the written bass note and duplicated an octave below with the pinky).

(Doubling the bass note is basically playing in octaves.) This second step really adds a deep, rich sound to the hymn.

Be prepared to slow down when adding the left hand to the right hand.

The following two step improvising lesson can be described as playing in five-part style:

Three notes in the right hand and two notes in the left hand.

Keep in mind, it took me two months to play one hymn with this two step improvising lesson.

Once you play one hymn this way, you can apply the same two step process to all other hymns.

Choose other hymns in easy keys with simple rhythms at first. Once you’ve gained some confidence,

you can move on to hymns in harder keys with more complex rhythms.

This two step improvising method will allow a pianist to sound full enough to support congregational singing.

Over time, more improvising skills can be obtained; adding life and fullness to hymnplaying.

Part two will contain a video demonstrating this two step improvising piano lesson along with a free pdf arrangement

of Like a River Glorious in five-part style.

Click here to see video of my first improvising lesson