Hymn Improvising Piano Lesson - Part One

I was in fifth grade when I received my first improvising lesson from the hymnal. The hymn I improvised was "At Calvary". It took me at least two months to master this improvised style in a flowing rhythm. "At Calvary" was not the best hymn to try first since this particular hymn contains a more complex rhythm.

Here are the first two improvising steps I learned to create a fuller sound in hymnplaying.

First, open a hymnal to the hymn "Like a River Glorious". I chose this hymn because it is in an easy key and contains a simple rhythm.

Let me preface this lesson with the following clarification: The hymnal is written for voice parts only, not for an instrument. Therefore, the pianist must adapt by adding notes to create a fuller sound giving more support to the singers.

The soprano is the top note on the treble staff. The alto is under the soprano. The tenor note is the top note on the bass staff and the bass note is under the tenor.

Step one: add the tenor note to the right hand when feasible. The right thumb plays the tenor note.

You should be playing a total of three notes in the right hand.

Exception: Sometimes the tenor note fits better between the alto and soprano note. This occurs when the alto and soprano have a greater distance between them; allowing space for the tenor note to fit comfortably between them.

It is best to practice the right hand alone (with the added tenor note) until a steady flow can be maintained.

Expect to feel disoriented at first by adding the tenor note to the right hand without it being written that way.

Step two: Double the bass note in the left hand. Place your left thumb on the written bass note and duplicate the same note an octave lower.

Doubling the bass note is basically playing in octaves. This second step adds a deep, rich sound to the hymn!

Be prepared to slow down when adding the left hand to the right hand. Keep in mind, it may take a while to master this style. Be patient with yourself. Once you play one hymn this way, you can apply the same two step process to other hymns.

Choose hymns in easy keys with simple rhythms at first. Once you have gained confidence, move on to hymns with more complex rhythms.

This two step improvising method will allow the pianist to sound full enough to support congregational singing.

Over time, more improvising skills can be obtained; adding even more life and fullness to hymn playing!

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Ukulele Lesson - Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Instruction

You can actually play melodies on your ukulele! In this ukulele tutorial you will learn to play Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star in the key of C. I will tell you how to place your fingers on the frets so you will not have to read sheet music!

There are many ways to notate melodies for ukulele. The most common way is to use ukulele tablature that consists of four lines representing the strings on your ukulele and numbers placed on the lines to indicate which frets to press down.

In this article I will instruct you with English words how to play on your ukulele. We will play this melody in the key of C. I presuppose that your ukulele is tuned in C which is the most common tuning.

C-tuning means that the first string on your ukulele is tuned in A. The first string is the bottom string when you hold your ukulele in playing position. The second string is tuned in E, the third string in C and the fourth string in G.

The notes I just mentioned can be found in the fourth octave on a piano. That is the octave in the middle of a piano or a keyboard.

Remember, the first string is the bottom string on your ukulele when you play.

Try to use your left hand index finger to play the notes on the first fret, the middle finger to play the notes on the second fret and your ring finger for the notes on the third fret. Practice to play this way and you will experience that this is an effective way to play melodies as you can keep your left hand in the same position as you play the notes and it will also be easier to find the notes.

You can use your right hand thumb to pluck the notes or use a pick.

I will use two ways to show you how to play the melody.

1. First you will find the lyrics to the song, one line at a time. Below the lyrics I will show you the melody in a form of notation that I call number tablature. In this notation every note consists of two numbers, the first number tells you which fret to play and the following number which string to play. If the first number is a 0 it means that you play the string without pressing down a fret.

2. Below this notation I also give you a description on how to play the melody with words.

Here are the lyrics line by line with corresponding ukulele tablature and instructions on how to play:

Twinkle, twinkle, little star

03 03 32 32 01 01 32

Play the open third string twice. An open string is a string you play without pressing down a fret. Then play the third fret second string twice, the open first string twice and the third fret second string.

How I wonder what you are

12 12 02 02 23 23 03

Play first fret second string twice, second open string twice, second fret third string twice, then the open third string.

Up above the world so high

32 32 12 12 02 02 23

Third fret second string twice, first fret second string twice, open second string twice, second fret third string.

Like a diamond in the sky!

The same melody as the previous line!

Now you only have to repeat the two first lines of the melody and you have completed the song!

Learn the melody one line at a time until you master the song by heart and you are ready to play it for your friends!