The Church Pianist: Angels We Have Heard on High (busy inner voice movement)

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Some hymns, such as Angels We
Have Heard on High, contain busy
inner voice movement.

I'm referring to the moving alto part
in the chorus.

It makes it tough on the piano fingers!
There's no need to play every note in
this kind of passage.

I simply play more blocked chords
that include the moving voice
parts to support the singers (congregation).

Stepping bass octaves in the left hand add
movement needed to maintain a peppy tone.

Just remember to simplify busy inner voice
movement by using blocked chords that agree
with the voice parts.

The Church Pianist: Improvising Ideas for Mundane Bass Line

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Mundane bass lines need extra
treatment to create a more
interesting sound.



Here are some improvising ideas for the


church pianist using the gospel song:


Power in the Blood.





We, as church pianists, grow weary of
playing the same way for every verse.


For that reason, I've included improvising
ideas for at least two verses.


Our church sings every stanza of every song
so I really have to be creative!





Editor notes for piano score of:


Power in the Blood:





*Full chords give a bigger sound to encourage


the congregation to sing out.





*It's not necessary to play every word....


just on beats: 1,2,3,4 to give rhythmic stability.





*Verse one: See measure #2 (4th beat of right hand)


I repeated the 3rd beat chord an octave higher for


a smoother transistion to upper register of keyboard.


(I usually play at least a whole phrase in one register


before changing to a new location).





* Verse two: I freed myself of melody and just played


a certain pattern for each new chord.

The Church Pianist: Free Piano Arrangement (part two)

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I decided to lengthen the previous

free arrangement of Joy to the World,

by adding Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

This second part uses a key change.

Notice how I repeated the first phrase

of Joy to the World as part of the

transisition into Hark the Herald Angels

Sing.

The ii 7 and V 7 chords of the new key

(F Major) were used in the modulation

process.

Hopefully you'll enjoy this longer
piano arrangment.

The Church Musician: Free Christmas Piano Arrangement

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Merry Christmas early! I thought
you all might enjoy a free piano
arrangement of "Joy to the World".


I wrote it with the small church in
mind. You can always repeat it to
make it just right for an offertory.


The arrangement could also be used
for the prelude.


Remember how I've been telling you all
that scales are important?


Well....here's a good example. They add
life to hymn arrangements. I used the C
scale twice in this Christmas song.


You'd better know the correct fingering to
make it sound... ever-so-smooth.


(C scale fingering: 12312345) for right hand


I also used a lot of chord inversions in measures:
five & six (left hand). They add a more open tone.


Remember: frequent use of root chords create a
"plunky" sound.


I'm saving my longer piano arrangments for my
future website. Hope you're able to use this
free arrangement!

Thanks for your visits. Hope I've been a help.

The Church Pianist: Congregational accompaniment (A Shelter in the Time of Storm)

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Accompanying congregational singing
demands a lot of creativity when sing-
ing more than one verse of a hymn.


If able, the church pianist should
vary the accompaniment for each
verse.

I always try to use accompaniment
that matches the text of the hymn.

In today's example, I show variations
of accompaniment for three verses of
"A Shelter in the Time of Storm".

Things to note:

Verse one:
on the word "storm"....I use dotted rhythm in the left hand to
depict God'strength as our shelter.

Verse two:
Lighter chords (for variety)
5th measure: The right hand will play
an octave higher for a while starting
on the word: "No"

Verse three:
Heavier, brighter accompaniment for
final message: God is our refuge and strength!

Learn to play with variety to enrich the text
and boost congregational singing.

Piano Introductions (Tempo Changes)

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Some songs in the hymnal
have time signature changes.

The verse may start in 3/4

and the chorus in 4/4.

Generally, introductions consist of

the first and last phrase of the song.


Remember, the purpose of the intro-

duction is to establish the initial tempo.


The introductions for songs with tempo

changes must be created from the verse

to establish the initial tempo.


I have given several song examples to

illustrate possible introductions.



Editor notes for Examples:


1. Christ Returneth: the introduction

had to be modified to avoid a lengthy

introduction.



2. The last two songs were easier...

using the first and last phrase of

the verse.



Introduction tip: The last phrase of the verse


must end on a one chord to give the introduction


a closing sound. Otherwise, the church pianist


will need to modify (end on the one chord).



For more information on introductions, please refer to


the following links of my earlier articles.



http://thechurchpianist.blogspot.com/2008/09/church-pianist-introduction-tips-for_9455.html

http://thechurchpianist.blogspot.com/2008/09/church-pianist-introduction-tips-for.html

The Church Pianist: Transposing for Congregational Singing

New website: http://thechurchpianist.com

Transposing (changing keys) is one art

all church pianists should strive to learn.

Congregational singing can be energized

by just transposing the last verse of the

hymn being sung. Of course, you and the

music director will want to have this worked

out in advance.



Our music director is very laid back and doesn't

mind me surprising him with a key change.

Transposing up a whole step is very easy!

Basic chord ingredients needed:

Last measure of the song ends on the I chord.
Next, add the minor 7th of the I chord.
Finally, Play the V 7 of the new key and you're there!



Refer to the examples on today's image and play them.

I will address "how I learned to transpose melodies" in

another article.

Just think one note higher when transposing up a whole

step. Knowing your scales is of upmost importance!