Posts Tagged ‘piano hymns’
Piano Prelude Tips
Monday, August 28th, 2023Jenifer…need help in determining what songs are appropriate to use for preludes. I like grand, powerful songs reflecting God’s greatness but not sure it would be necessary to always play these types of songs. Can you help? Thanks. Nell
Excellent question!
I was always taught to play peppy and loud with an upbeat tempo!
However, I have changed somewhat.
You may think I’m weird, but for most preludes I play the prelude according to the spiritual temperature of any given service.
For example, on Sunday mornings, most of the congregation is already in their seats sitting quietly waiting for the service to begin.
We have a brief choir rehearsal right after Sunday School in a room behind the auditorium. We usually get to the auditorium when it’s about time to start!
So, I will play hymns around a medium level of volume such as: (Our grand piano easily overpowers our medium sized sanctuary)
O Worship the King
Blessed be the Name
Praise Him! Praise Him
Grace Greater Than Our Sin
Amazing Grace
There are some mornings that it feels more appropriate to play more subdued/prayerful hymns such as: In the Garden, The Old Rugged Cross, I Must Tell Jesus, Jesus is the Sweetest Name I Know. (Especially for times when the congregation has been touched by a recent death(s) or other trials)
Our congregation seems more sociable before Sunday and Wednesday night services 🙂 So, I’ll play hymns like Victory in Jesus, When the Roll, Blessed Assurance, Love Lifted Me, etc.
I try to keep my volume under tow so as not to overpower those that are visiting before the service.
I think my piano preludes are starting to evolve into more of a background type of music vs. the loud; intrusive style that can crowd out conversations or meditative moods. I have been on the receiving end of preludes many times at different churches over the years and always enjoyed the preludes that drew you into a worshipful mood without being too loud. We were recently at a funeral of a relative and the organ was SO loud that it hurt our ears and drowned out the congregational singing.
On a side note…ever notice how the prelude is more like the alarm clock for everyone to get in place? 😉
Please understand these tips are coming from personal opinion. We all have our own styles and ideas. This is just what works for me.
How To Add Sixteenth Note Runs in a Hymnal
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022I’m almost finished with a tutorial showing how to add sixteenth note runs to hymns. (For the late intermediate pianist and beyond)
This particular tutorial will deal with adding runs to congregational accompaniment.
There will be five pages of examples for this particular run in various keys, time signatures and different hymn excerpts.
Each example will not only show the run application but will also share a graceful way to work out of the run.
This Sixteenth Note Run tutorial will be available in my online store asap.
I’ll publish a brief you tube commercial before publication.
For adequate preparation on my part….What questions do you have about playing runs in hymns or what difficulties do you face when playing runs etc.? Thanks in advance for any feedback!
Re- Published Congregational Arrangements!
Friday, January 11th, 2019Customers from several years ago may have purchased this collection “Congregational Piano Hymn Arrangements Booklet Two”.
I published this collection several years ago but for some odd reason had not been showing up in my store.
I’ve also just published a congregational piano accompaniment for “Great is Thy Faithfulness” thanks to a reader who prompted me to publish it.
Both of these items can be found in my store HERE or you can purchase below.