The following article discusses the limitations that come with the intermediate level church pianist.  A reminder, they are doing the best they can do for the moment. But with a little extra practice…they can blossom into a fuller sound of playing by expanding their right hand horizon; opening up space for more left hand creativity!  The following article is meant to encourage the intermediate level church pianist.

Most intermediate level church pianists play basically in the middle area of the keyboard when accompanying congregational singing or other vocal specials.

(See the picture of their range below)

The bass part in the hymnal doesn’t normally go below the second G under Middle C and the right hand probably doesn’t go as high as the second F above Middle C unless the intermediate pianist takes quick ventures into the upper register 😉

 

When the right hand stays within this boundary…the left hand playing space is limited.  Taking the right hand an octave higher for an occasional spin…opens up more room for the left hand. This does not mean the pianist must stay an octave higher throughout the entire hymn.  It’s actually better to use a combination of both the middle or upper register for variety in sound.

When to change registers for the right hand?  In my early days of training, I was taught to change right hand registers at the end of a line which equates to at least two sentences.  It’s nice to gradually work your way up or down by playing extra chords or notes leading into whatever register you’re heading for.

See example below in the hymn excerpt “Like a River Glorious” (click on image to enlarge)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click HERE to download free pdf copy of this image without comments in red

 

 

If you read the previous article on “Like a River Glorious” then the following will make sense.

I’m sharing a way that the right hand can climb back down the ladder after playing an octave higher during the first sentence of “Like a River Glorious”.

To read the previous article, click HERE.

Here’s a quick tip that would make any church pianist sound much fuller when playing from the hymnal.

When improvising from the hymnal, the pianist can make the hymn sound fuller by playing 4 note chords in the right hand….allowing more space for the left hand to improvise.

“Like a River Glorious” is a great hymn to apply this idea…since the rhythm isn’t real busy…making it easier to maneuver.

The first two measures in the example below demonstrates the standard five-part style hymnplaying (3 notes in the right hand and 2 notes in the left hand).

The final two measures show the right hand playing an octave higher to allow room for the 4-note style in the right hand.  One of my teachers from years back taught me the idea of playing a phrase in one general area and then gradually climbing back down or up (whichever the case may be) for variety.

Next time, I’ll show you a fun way the right hand can climb back down to the middle of the piano for the next phrase of “Like a River Glorious”.

 

 

As promised, I’m offering a free hymn piano arrangement today for church pianists.  The title of the hymn is “Like a River Glorious”.

This free piano arrangement can be used for prelude, congregational singing or as an offertory.

As a church pianist, I would find this arrangement most suitable for congregational singing.

Like a River Glorious (free piano hymn arrangement)

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