The Church Pianist: Do You Practice Enough?
Thursday, December 24th, 2009If someone were to ask me if I practiced piano like I should…I would have to say, “Unfortunately…no.”
The older I get…the less motivated I am to practice. Anyone else have this problem or would admit to it? “smile”
I hear this confession quite often from other composers. We spend so much time writing that we don’t take time to just sit and play.
What really motivates me…is getting with other piano friends and playing duets and duos.
I find myself wanting to sharpen my sightreading and technique skills.
A piano friend of mine and I are planning to meet once a month starting in January. We plan to do alot of sightreading.
I’m also planning to play a concert in the spring with another one of my piano friends to keep me on my toes.
Playing for a smaller church requires shorter offertories. The majority of the challenging arrangements I’ve learned through the years are too long for our offerings. I find myself just playing something from the hymnal most of the time.
Playing simple offertories from the hymnal is fine but I need a challenge every now and then… so occasionally, I’ll play a longer arrangement.
Click each song title below to see the short offertories available on this site…
Let the Lower Lights Be Burning
My Saviour First of All (I Shall Know Him)
Feel free to share some of your own motivating practice tips by clicking on “comments” below.
Sincerely,
Jenifer