Perhaps the most important thing for a church pianist to learn and master is the ability to improvise. When you are learning to play the piano, you are taught to read notes, then phrases, and then entire songs. Everything you need to know is written down on the music in front of you. You simply…
Following the Director
Music directors are as diverse as pianists. They all have differing abilities and talents (or lack thereof) 😉 and working with a director can be one of the most difficult parts of being a pianist. Almost every pianist is trained classically first. There simply aren’t programs that are designed strictly for “church music.” And honestly,…
Playing Preludes and Postludes
“Preludes” and “postludes” are just fancy words for “before the service” and “after the service.” Playing music is a great way to welcome people to the church service and later send them off with a song in their hearts. If you are the full-time pianist for your church, your day at the piano begins before…
Amazing Grace Piano Sheet Music
This easy piano arrangement of Amazing Grace is a free sheet music download perfect for beginners. It includes lyrics and chord symbols. About this arrangement: The sheet music PDF includes four verses of lyrics similar to a standard hymn book. However, instead of the music being written in four part harmony, there’s a simple melody…
Basic Chord Theory
While many pianists inwardly groan when they hear the word “theory,” chord theory is a vital part of learning to play well-especially for congregational singing! Spend a little time learning (or brushing up on) some basic chord theory and it will make a big difference in how you play for church. The terms “triad” and…
Confidence: does it matter?
Can confidence make you a better church pianist? Absolutely! Why do you lack confidence and what can you do to help yourself grow? When you think about the title “church pianist,” what do you envision? Two grand pianos, an orchestra, a 100 voice choir, professional music director and packed congregation A little spinet jammed in…