I just finished the final copy of “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”.

This is a very advanced piano hymn arrangement with at least a half dozen runs sprinkled throughout the piece.

To be honest, I didn’t think this arrangement was worthy of publication.  Why? Sometimes I feel like my homespun arrangements aren’t that interesting.   But this is the style I like to play….just straight from my heart.

My piano friend, Meryt Wilson encouraged me to publish this piece.

Maybe there are other church pianists that could make use of this homespun arrangement.

I’ll be creating the video today and hope to publish it by no later than the end of this week.

Headed to meet up with one of my piano friends, Meryt Wilson!  We try to meet at least once a year to trade ideas and just have fun playing the piano or pianos together!  I’ll try to share the highlights of our meeting asap!

I’m almost finished with a very advanced arrangement of “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus!”

Meryt will test drive the piece for me today before final publication.

Be in touch soon!

Right after the service this past Sunday night…I noticed my oldest grandson sitting on the front pew with an open hymnal in his lap wearing a perplexed expression.

“Whatcha doing?” I asked.   He points to the hymn title “Doxology” and says to me with a concerned look, “Grandma, this is a weird word and it’s not even one of the words in this hymn!”

Trying not to show my amusement, I explained to him what the word “Doxology” meant and how not all hymn titles are found in the lyrics but how the title will in most cases reflect the main topic of the hymn.

Across the page I noticed the hymn title “Security” and asked him what he thought that hymn was about.  He wrinkled up his face in thought and replied, “Security has to do with policemen.”    I explained it was about feeling secure in God’s arms; God’s protection.

My grandson has had such a fascination with our church hymnal since he was very young.  (He’s now almost nine and hasn’t lost interest in the hymns.)

He actually learned to read by singing through the hymns he knew from the hymnal on their 40 minute commute to church!

On Sunday afternoons, you can usually find him singing through the hymnal as his repertoire has greatly increased!

I LOVE the hymns too!  Sometimes I join in and sing along with him on Sunday afternoons.

My advanced sacred piano solo of “The Lord’s Prayer” is now available through Sheet Music Plus.

This particular arrangement took two weeks to create.  I always like to allow breathing space when creating the more advanced pieces…always chiseling away…trying to smooth the rough edges.

As a church pianist, I always played the vocal accompaniment for someone to sing but never as a piano solo.

I’ve never come across this particular song as a piano solo. How about you?  I’m sure there’s piano solo arrangements out there for “The Lord’s Prayer” but I haven’t seen one at the advanced level.

I tried to stay true to the flow of the melody score even though I stretched it out a bit with tuplet time.  The tempo  should be brisk to avoid dragging out the melody.  I tried to maintain a clear melody path while meandering through many twists and turns.  😉

I thought The Lord’s Prayer was in the public domain. I searched out the title before creating the arrangement.  Somewhere along the way I discovered that this certain melody of the Lord’s Prayer was still under copyright.  Fortunately I was able to publish it through Sheet Music Plus.  Yay!!!

Click here to buy the Lord’s Prayer (off site product) This link will take you to Sheet Music Plus

Just finished the printed version of “The Lord’s Prayer” advanced piano solo!  A piano friend is proof reading before final copy is made.

The music to this popular tune is still under copyright so I will be publishing this arrangement through Sheet Music Plus.

You can still go to my store to purchase the arrangement once it’s published.  Clicking on the arrangement will take you to Sheet Music Plus’ site for purchase.

I plan to publish “The Lord’s Prayer” by this Friday afternoon.

Listen to this video clip for some helpful pointers on the topic of “Playing Within Your Level”

Jenifer & Lauren aired live on facebook tonight with the following video…

Here is an early advanced arrangement of “Crown Him with Many Crowns”.

I consider this one of my home-spun arrangements straight from the heart.

This is the style I like writing the best!

I will probably play this piece for Thanksgiving service at our church.

Just in time for Thanksgiving!  One of my piano students wrote a song, “He’s a Wondrous Glorious God” a good while ago.

Her song is now available as a vocal solo with piano score at:  Sheet Music Plus

The words & melody are Ady’s.  I just arranged/provided the piano score for the vocal solo.

Ady is SO ecstatic about having her song published!

Listen to Ady share her excitement in the first video below.  The second video is of her singing the entire arrangement.

God has blessed you Ady 🙂  Always use your talents for Him.

Looking forward to having one of my students over this Thursday evening to share some music with you all via live facebook.

Ady LOVES playing the piano and singing!  She’s going to play and sing a song she composed not too long ago entitled “Wondrous, Glorious God”…a great selection for Thanksgiving!

She doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to present her with the complete arrangement (vocal and piano score) in Thursday night’s live facebook event.

Her song “Wondrous Glorious God” will be available on Sheet Music Plus by this Saturday. (She doesn’t know that either….LOVE surprising my students!)  😉

See you all soon!  This Thursday at 7pm on my facebook music page:  https://www.facebook.com/thechurchpianist

You do not need a facebook account to view this live event on Thursday evening at 7pm EST

Oh! I almost forgot!  I’m also publishing an early advanced piano arrangement of “Crown Him with Many Crowns”  by this Saturday as well.

The whole arrangement: verse chorus, chorus is in the key of C Major 🙂

As a church pianist…I’m extra grateful for my parent’s influence on my life by providing me with a rich heritage of godly music.

My Dad turned 84 today and still singing for God’s glory.

Just thought I’d share a family video of him singing a couple of years ago with a long time family friend, Jerry Baker. Jerry Baker and his wife Linda, were missionaries in Christian broadcasting for a number of years.