Last Sunday I had to play for our church’s guest missionary couple. I had never heard of the song and there were at least five page turns.

I had one of our flute players turn pages for me.  Another quick tip helped a bunch!  I simply wrote the approaching chord on the last measure of each page so it would sound like I knew what I was doing at the turn of each page.  😉  Seriously,  this tip helped me stay in the right chord frame for each page turn.

The Choreo Keeper would have been a life saver that morning  but I left it at home where I use it the most.

I just finished publishing “His Eye is on the Sparrow” very advanced piano arrangement!

This arrangement is another one of my homespun piano arrangements 🙂

I tried to capture the notes flowing out of my fingers as I felt them from my heart.

NOT an easy task! Definitely for the advanced church pianist, in my opinion. (even if it is in the key of C Major)

Just an update on “His Eye is on the Sparrow” advanced piano arrangement…

I just added the final touches this morning and now having a piano friend “test drive” it for me 😉

I’ll be publishing this advanced piano arrangement  sometime this week!

What took so long?  Well…more detail since it’s more advanced.  I tried to re-create it from hearing myself play it on youtube.

This is what I call one of my home-spun arrangements…right from my heart to paper.

I hope you find it playable!  I actually like writing at this level more than any other but it does demand a lot of brain work!

I’m almost finished with the handwritten version of “His Eye is on the Sparrow”

Warning:  For the advanced church pianist, LOTS of runs!  🙂

This video gives suggestions on how to ease through an abrupt chord change in a hymn.  The hymn in this lesson is entitled “Where Jesus Is, ‘Tis Heaven”.

I had NEVER heard of this hymn until one of my readers recently shared it with me. Thanks Karen!

Download the two pages below before viewing the video. (For ease of reference)

Where Jesus Is, ‘Tis Heaven (original version)

Where Jesus Is, ‘Tis Heaven (improvised version)

I wrote this arrangement for “Will Jesus Find Us Watching” several weeks ago after someone requested I play it for one of my recent facebook lives.

This particular hymn has a lot of life to it!  The melody and words go hand in hand.  The level of this arrangement looks to be about late intermediate to early advanced level.

I enjoyed creating this simple; straight forward arrangement requiring minimal practice for the early advanced church pianist. The arrangement begins in the key of F Major and ends in G Major. (two verses and choruses)

Time for me to update/revise our church special music schedule!

I want to better utilize my progressing piano students during the service.

Here’s a picture of the updated schedule.

Students will be playing during prelude & offertories to keep in shape!

For those who haven’t heard…I write hymns for my piano students to play for congregational singing or to use as a piano solo for offertory.

Having them play during prelude provides that extra opportunity to keep them well-versed in their hymn playing.

My piano students tell me they are not as nervous when playing for prelude. (Another benefit of using them for prelude music)

Our church family loves seeing the young ones so involved in the music ministry!

Come join me for an evening of Comforting Hymns at 8:30EST   (July 30, 2020)

When you click the following link…you may have to scroll down the page to see me live.

If you show up early….you may have to refresh the page to pull me in.

I start recorded music playing several minutes before 8:30pm to allow people time to find me.

Facebook Live link:  Comforting Hymns with Jenifer Cook

I think I just had my most embarrassing moment as a church pianist during the morning service today!

After the music portion of the service….I usually have to make a bathroom stop and then back into the auditorium for the preaching.

The morning service had flowed a little different since it was Pastor’s anniversary Sunday.

As I was coming out of the bathroom it hit me….oh no!  I forgot to accompany the vocal special which comes right after the offertory.

I almost ran into the female vocalist who was heading to the bathroom to check on me.  I confessed my memory lapse 😉

I felt like crying…feeling so bad for the singer.  She said she had gone up to the pulpit and waited for me a few seconds.  Poor girl!

She was SO sweet and understanding!

Her vocal special would have gone SO well with the Pastor’s message too!   I was happy when Pastor had her sing at the end of the service.  The timing actually worked out because the song just re-emphasized what Pastor had preached!  Hmm…maybe I’ve started a new order of service!

Anyone else have a humorous story to share? (Of course I wasn’t feeling too humorous this morning!)