Category: Videos - Notes of Joy Piano Studio

Be Thou My Vision with Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata

7/27/2018

This piano solo is dedicated to Maurica, one of my online piano students, who was the inspiration for this classical hymn arrangement!

This classical hymn arrangement creatively combines the familiar Irish melody of "Be Thou My Vision" with Beethoven's expressive "Moonlight Sonata". This arrangement is 5 pages in length (approx. 3:37 minutes in duration), and it is perfect for both recital and church performances year-round.

Want to play this piano solo?
The sheet music is available on Sheet Music Plus.

Just a Closer Walk with Thee

7/6/2017

This piano solo is dedicated to Kenneth, my online piano student, who encourages me to keep creating new hymn arrangements. I'm so thankful for him!

This hymn arrangement of "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" is quite expressive, and it is 7 pages (approx. 3:48 minutes in length). The various sections are woven together with a gentle, flowing melodic pattern. This piece was written for early advanced pianists, and it is perfect for church performances throughout the year.

Want to play this piano solo?
The sheet music is available on Sheet Music Plus.

2017 Spring Piano Recital

5/9/2017

Our 3rd annual spring piano recital showcased the dedication of each student. The program comprised of nine piano solos and seven ensembles; four of these pieces were original compositions: Shooting Star (composed by a piano student), Spring Storm, Landing Point, and Faithful Sunset. Each student did a fabulous job, and I was so excited to see how far they had come in their music studies!

Notes of Joy Piano Studio - 2017 Spring Piano Recital

My brother and I have performed a piano/juggling entr'acte in the middle of the recital program for the last couple years, and it has become a spring recital tradition. Typically, my brother juggles while I play a ragtime piece on the piano; however, this year I knew we needed to change things up. So, we decided to switch...I would learn to juggle and my brother would learn a piece on the piano. This twist completely surprised my students and made for a memorable evening!

My Anchor Holds Medley - Patriotic Piano Solo

4/20/2017

This piano solo is dedicated to Ruth Kester, Ryan Pipes, and all the brave men and women who serve in our United States Navy. Thank you for your service!

This patriotic hymn arrangement beautifully weaves together the hymn, My Anchor Holds, and the US Navy anthem, Anchors Aweigh. It is a full 6 pages in length (approx. 3:24 duration), and it is perfect for recitals and church performances around patriotic holidays. Throughout the piece, the tunes of My Anchor Holds and Anchors Aweigh are often both audible at the same time. Later, the refrain from the hymn, Will Your Anchor Hold?, is triumphantly proclaimed during the climax.

Want to play this piano solo?
The sheet music is available on Sheet Music Plus.

YouTube Video Schedule

3/30/2017

I have recently set a goal to deliver viewers one new YouTube video per month. These videos will feature my sheet music, recital performances, and original Bible verse songs.

Please check out my latest videos and sheet music:

God is so Good with Bach - January 16, 2017

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing: Hymn Medley - February 20, 2017

Christ Arose - March 19, 2017

If you enjoy these videos, show your support by subscribing to my YouTube channel. Thank you! :)

2016 Spring Piano Recital

5/13/2016

Our Spring Piano Recital was lots a fun with eleven piano solos and ten piano ensembles. In fact, one of my young students told me after the recital was over, "I wish the recital was just now starting!" because they had enjoyed it so much.

2016 Notes of Joy Piano Studio Spring Piano Recital Group Picture

This year at the studio, we held our first ever Piano Practice Competition. To acknowledge my piano students amazing hard work, I awarded certificates of achievement at the recital. Six students earned the Gold Certificate of Achievement with 30+ hours of practice in seven weeks.

In the middle of the piano recital, my brother and I perform a juggling and piano entr'acte created especially for my piano students (so they can relax for a minutes and enjoy the piano recital). This year my brother added a couple more difficult tricks including tossing it once over his left shoulder. Enjoy!

Patriotic Arrangements

6/16/2015

Homeschool Friends 2015

On June 7th, I attended a home school group program in which three of my piano students performed. We worked several months in preparation for this event and I was excited to see each student do a fabulous job!

Two of my students, in Level 2B, performed original arrangements of "America the Beautiful" and "My Country, 'Tis of Thee." One of the reasons I created these arrangements was to challenge them with additional hand movement beyond the five-finger position. This also expanded their note reading skills.

My other student, in Level 6, performed "You're a Grand Old Flag" from a fun patriotic arrangement book, titled Let Freedom Ring, by Phillip Keveren.

Cover tiny file

Let Freedom Ring! 14 Patriotic Favorites Arranged For Piano Solo. Arranged by Phillip Keveren. Piano Solo Songbook, Phillip Keveren Series. Americana. Songbook (no lyrics). 55 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.310839).

America the Beautiful - Level 2B Patriotic Arrangement

The sheet music is available on Sheet Music Plus.

My Country, 'Tis of Thee - Level 2B Patriotic Arrangement

The sheet music is available for FREE here.

The Eclipse - Piano Six Hands

5/18/2015

I wrote this piano six hands composition for the 2015 Spring Recital with these young men in mind. After practicing it together a couple times, I asked them to think about the overall sound of the piece and choose a title. One of them brought up the change in the piece between minor and major which made him think of light vs. darkness. It wasn't too long before they decided on "The Eclipse".

Their piece was a highlight at the recital because the audience could tell they were having fun playing it together.

The sheet music is available for FREE here.

Ode to Joy - Guitar/Piano Duet

5/18/2015

One of my piano students recently began taking guitar lessons. To encourage her in her guitar studies, I arranged "Ode to Joy" into a beautiful guitar/piano duet for her and her sister to perform at our 2015 Spring Recital. My brother plays guitar and he helped me write the guitar part – in fact, he actually taught me how to play it on the guitar.

They both did a great job at the recital!

The sheet music is available for FREE here.

2015 Spring Recital

5/17/2015

The recital program was divided into two sections: piano solos and piano ensembles. My goal in having piano ensembles was to teach the students how to work with other musicians and enjoy performing as a team.

There were twelve solos and seven ensembles. Among the piano duets and trios, I was able to involve some of my student's siblings, who play other instruments, to form a guitar/piano duet and violins/piano trio. I composed/arranged four of the ensembles for my students and found it so rewarding! It was fun to personalize the part just for them.

Each student worked very hard and did a fabulous job!

My students often perform for church, home school group programs, and other similar events. However, this year, with encouragement from my students, I organized our first piano studio recital.

Notes of Joy Spring Recital 2015

For the recital, my brother and I created a special surprise for my students - a choreographed juggling act! My brother juggles as a hobby. Below is some clips from the show. Enjoy!