Tuesday is my "big" piano teaching day. It's the day for all of my elementary age students. Because of safety reasons I go to the classrooms and walk the students to and from their piano lessons. Not only do I get some great exercise, we have some great time for fellowship.
We just finished our Homecoming Revival and I'm planning on taking the momentum from the revival and working it into the next few lessons. Our pastor led the singing throughout the meeting, so that meant....transposing each hymn into a lower key!!! Praise the Lord, we had time to make copies of the selected hymns and Mrs. Amy Robinson graciously wrote in the chord symbols for each song. For an "old dog" who is used to playing "Victory in Jesus" in Ab, I actually had to think a little about staying in the key of G.
So, for advanced students the emphasis will be transposing and embellishing hymns they have already mastered. The beginner/intermediate students will put the "pedal to the metal" on their left hand hymn technique. We fundamental, independent Baptists may not play at Carnegie Hall but we should be the hands down experts at hymn playing! I do believe I'll enter the next "American Ideal Baptist Pianist" competition. :)
How's your hymn playing?
If you are bored with your hymn "style", your listeners are probably in a daze, too. Here are some things that have helped me throughout the years.
1. Pick up the tempo on your preludes and postludes. Nothing kills a hymn more than "dragging" it to death.
2. Practice your scales regularly and try to incorporate at least one in a song each Sunday.
3. Pay attention to your technique - sloppy? weak? lazy? too fast? too loud? painful? Any of these problems can combine and kill the message of the song, plus injure your hands and wrists. Change up your dynamics, attack, "touch", and check your posture.
4. Do something different on each verse of each hymn, don't repeat the same old, same old, same old - it becomes a "drone" - almost hypnotic.
5. Sing along with the hymns and pay attention to the message of the song, "breathe" with the singers, watch the song leader, be involved emotionally and spiritually.
6. Listen to Rudy Atwood play. He is not a banger, he is strong, but controlled. Every note is clear, precise, and there on purpose.
7. Practice the intros for the hymns. These set the mood, tempo, and put the congregation on the right key! Be clear and precise!
8. Enjoy playing and smile!
Let's be the best for the Lord's work - it's the greatest venue in the world for musicians!
