The Church Pianist: Hymn Improvising Tip

My new website: http://thechurchpianist.com/


Here's an easy hymn improvising tip that

can create a more open; pleasing tone when
improvising with the left hand.



Any time you play a triad (in consecutive
thirds)...keep it above Bass C.



Actually, any three note chord begins to
sound muddy or heavy when played below
Bass C.

I just play a two note chord when playing
chords lower than Bass C.



I'll give some visual examples to help
clarify this simple improvising tip.



The examples are written at a easy level
for a hopefully, clear presentation.

The Church Pianist: Improvising tip

My new website: http://thechurchpianist.com/


Here's a simple improvising tip for
left hand when playing chords in an
accompaniment pattern.

Avoid playing a close-knit chord
(consisiting of consecutive thirds)
lower than bass C (which is the next
C under Middle C)

Example of close-knit chord: CEG

Why? To avoid a muddy; heavy tone.

Lighten up the sound of the left hand
accompaniment by playing only two
note chords when it involves the area
of bass C or lower.

The next article will contain visual examples
of today's improvising tip.

The Church Pianist: The Star Spangled Banner: Free Piano Arrangement

My new website: http://thechurchpianist.com/


I started having too much fun writing this

free arrangement of Star Spangled Banner.

What I mean by that is....it's hard for me

to keep things simple. I want to dress it up

some.

This is not written to be done as strictly as a

piano solo but as accompaniment for the

church congregation.

You'll notice on page two of the arrangment

that I deleted some melody notes on purpose

starting on the third line.

Why? During repetitive melody note passages

it helps to hold through repeated notes to avoid

a choppy or mechanical sound.

See link below on repeated notes:

http://thechurchpianist.blogspot.com/2008/08/pianists-tips-for-hymnal.html

Link to page one of The Star Spangled Banner:

http://thechurchpianist.blogspot.com/2009/05/church-pianist-star-spangled-banner-in.html

Here's an audio of the entire arrangement

of The Star Spangled Banner...

http://www.box.net/shared/fpb5k02lzx

Hope you enjoy this free piano arrangement!

The Church Pianist: The Star Spangled Banner in Key of G (Part One)

My new website: http://thechurchpianist.com/


Some church pianists may say I'm committing

a crime by transposing the Star Spangled Banner.

Seriously, it's rather high for most people

in the average small church congregation.

Of course it has its lows at the beginning.

Extreme ranges to be sure!

Just thought I would share The Star Spangled

Banner in a lower key with the small church in

mind.

This is just part one of the Star Spangled Banner

in the key of G. I will post the remainder in the

next article.

The next post will also provide an audio of this

simple arrangement.

Hope it's useful to some of you church pianists.

The Church Pianist: Improvising Hymns with Chord Inversions

My new website: http://thechurchpianist.com/



Chord inversions add variety when improvising hymns.

A root chord such as C E G (consecutive thirds) can be inverted
two different ways for variety in sound.

See the following link for a simple explanation of chord inversions.

http://thechurchpianist.blogspot.com/2009/02/church-piansit-using-chord-inversions.html

The following scenario makes good use of chord inversions.

When one chord lasts for at least 4 beats....the left hand
can invert the chord (same chord...just in a different note
order).

Example #1 (There is a Fountain) *See image below

The first left hand broken chord begins with the note "C"
"C" is the root of the C chord....so this broken chord would
be considered the root chord (even though E and G swapped
places for a more open tone).

The second broken chord of the left hand begins on note "E".
This is still a broken C chord but....considered in first inversion.
The true order of the C (first inversion) is EGC....but G and C
swapped places to create a more open tone.

Basically, the bass note dictates what chord inversion is being used.
But...you have to look at the complete picture for this analysis.
Meaning...notes in both hands must be combined for proper
chord analysis.

Special note:

A chord in 1st inversion is labeled with the number six (6)
Why? Well...remember that the notes in the first inversion
of a C chord are: E G C

The note "G" is the 6th note from the bottom note (E)

The same left hand chord pattern occurs in "Just As I Am".

What a mouthful! Hope this makes sense. Feel free to ask
questions if needed.

Chord inversions add color to improvising!

The Church Pianist: Free Piano Arrangement of Just as I Am

A free piano arrangement

Just As I Am...

This is an intermediate arrangement I just

wrote for one of my piano students who is

starting to play more for the church service.

My new website:

http://thechurchpianist.com/

The Church Pianist: How Great Thou Art Piano Arrangment: Chord Substitutions

My new website: http://thechurchpianist.com/



I at least have time to share the chord sub-

stitutions for the ending of "How Great Thou
Art" piano arrangement.


This piano arrangment of "How Great Thou Art"
can be heard at the following link:



http://thechurchpianist.blogspot.com/2009/05/church-pianist-youtube-of-how-great.html

See the written ending of "How Great Thou Art" below:

The Church Pianist: Youtube of How Great Thou Art

New website: http://thechurchpianist.com/

I haven't had much sit down time in a good while.
So...thought I'd share another youtube video.

This is one of my arrangements of How Great Thou
Art.

I take some of my vocal and piano students
to a local nursing home about 3 times a year for
a reach out ministry.

This arrangement was played at our last nursing home
visit in April.


I do use several different chords on the end for a regal
sounding finale.


For regal ending ideas, click on the following link.

http://thechurchpianist.blogspot.com/2008/10/church-pianist-song-endings.html

The next article will provide a free written (simplified) sample of my ending.

Click on the following youtube link to hear the arrangement of

How Great Thou Art.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQsW1Yv8roo

The Church Pianist: Part Two of Free Patriotic Piano Arrangement: America the Beautiful

New website: http://thechurchpianist.com/

Here is part two of yesterday's free patriotic

piano arrangment.

See the following link for part one (page one).

http://thechurchpianist.blogspot.com/2009/05/church-pianist-part-one-free-patriotic.html

Audio of the entire arrangement:

http://www.box.net/shared/i0x1mft8f3

The Church Pianist: Part One: Free Patriotic Piano Arrangement

New Website: http://thechurchpianist.com/

I felt in the composing mood last night before

bed....so here is a free patriotic piano arrangement.
(part one)



There never seems to be enough patriotic piano
arrangments available.



Maybe this patriotic arrangement will be helpful
to the church pianist who attends a smaller church.



Short offertories are always beneficial;
especially when it's free.

Audio of today's free piano arrangment:

http://www.box.net/shared/015yy3hmis