| The Church Pianist |
| A help ministry for church pianists all over the world! |
Do you ever have a hard time knowing what to play for fill-ins when improvising hymns?
This simple, instructional video gives the beginning church pianist some easy-to-use right hand fill-ins!
Do any of you church pianists compose? If so, you will
find the following links very beneficial.
As a composer myself, I found the following two part article
very interesting…an interview with the composer…Kevin Costley.
The web address of the interview host is:
http://www.composecreate.com/wendys-piano-studio
Interview links:
http://www.composecreate.com/archives/1784 Part One
http://www.composecreate.com/ Part Two
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:
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.
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:
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
