074: What Should I Play for Church?

Growing up playing in church services gave me much of my early performance experience, and it’s a topic I’ve never explored on the podcast until now. In this solo episode, I’m sharing my journey with sacred music, from childhood church performances to my studies in Sacred Music. I’ll be talking about my favorite hymn arrangers, like Lloyd Larson and Mark Hayes, and will offer suggestions for pianists of all levels looking to incorporate sacred music into their repertoire. Whether you're teaching students to play in church or looking to expand your own playing, I hope you’ll find some useful resources in this episode.Rachel shared her experience playing sacred music in church from a young age.She explained how her Sacred Music degree shaped her understanding of church music and performance.Her early experiences playing hymns and offertories during church services.She shared her favorite hymn arrangers, like Marilynn Ham, Dino, and Mark Hayes.Rachel highlighted Lloyd Larson as her favorite arranger for accessible yet beautiful hymns.She recommended Dennis Alexander’s sacred music for intermediate students.She mentioned Roger House’s pieces as accessible yet technical arrangements.She introduced Larry Shackley’s Sacred Rhapsody for advanced pianists.Rachel shared Michael Larkin’s All Creatures of Our God and King with hymns and original pieces.She encouraged listeners to share their favorite sacred music suggestions.Links MentionedRachel's Favorite Sacred Piano BooksAmanda Tero MusicSusan Staples Bell Music for WorshipMark Hayes' Hymn HarmonizationsMichael Larkin's All Creatures of Our God and KingMarilynn Ham BooksTopMusic Piano Podcast 010: From Concept to Composition with Susan Staples BellDownload the latest TopMusic Magazine edition here.About Rachel EhringDr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.Visit her website at RachelEhring.comVisit her Instagram page: @rachelehringVisit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender MusicThank you for tuning in!Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Fridays weekly.TopMusicPro 14-Day Free TrialHeard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership.TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL