If you want to improve your skills as a church pianist and are willing to work, I want to help you. I will be posting a new lesson every week or so and using my own arrangements to illustrate them. Each lesson will also give you a homework assignment to work on. You can sign up to receive a notification when a new lesson is available by sending an email to subscribe@greghowlett.com.

In addition, be sure to check out my free Christian piano arrangement downloads.

Lastly, if you have a question or something you would like me to cover, please email me at greg@greghowlett.com.




You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open these files. If you do not have it, you can download it for free at Adobe.

Count Your Blessings
Jesus Is All The World To Me
My Jesus I Love Thee

Free orchestration track for "Jesus Is All The World To Me"




Introduction
Overview of these lessons
What is a good church pianist

Theory
How to name chords – Why chords can be called different things
How to name chords – Chords with missing 3rds and 5ths
How to name chords – Rule for identifying slash chords
"Just As I Am" - Example of identifying chords
Chord Cheatsheet

Ear Training
Identifying chords by sight and ear
How to begin playing by ear - Part 1
How to begin playing by ear - Part 2

Improvisation
Introduction to improvisation
How to play a lead sheet - Part 1
How to play a lead sheet - Part 2
Important things to know about playing altered chords - Voicing rules

Using 7ths
How to add 7ths
How to choose between the major and minor 7th

Using 2nds and 9ths
How to add 2nds and 9ths
Ending a song with the 2nd or 9th
The 2nd and 9th as a filler in arpeggios and runs

Functional Harmony and Reharmonization
Overview of reharmonization
Myths about reharmonization and introducing the V7 to ii7 substitution
The ii-V7-I progression and V7 to ii7 chord substitution
Voicing the ii7 chord
Secondary dominants
The I-ii7-iii7 progression
Introduction to chord substitutions - Part 1
Introduction to chord substitutions - Part 2
How to use the IV/V to V7 progression

Modulations
How to modulate between keys
How to modulate up a half step
The simplest modulation of all
Modulating around the circle of fifths

Other topics
Two different ways to learn to play the piano
How to practice scales and arpeggios
How to develop musicality
Thoughts on ear training and learning theory
Name dropping thoughts
Understanding dissonance
Musical accessibility
Introduction to arranging
Your touch matters
How to choose a piano teacher

Greg Howlett ©2007. All Rights Reserved.