2016 Greatest Christian Hits: Piano Book

Tornquist's Easy Piano arrangements of these 2016 hits capture the emotional core of each song without overwhelming beginning pianists. The collection spans genuine stylistic variety, from reflective ballads to energetic contemporary pieces, giving you real programming flexibility and keeping student interest high across a full 12-song set.

These arrangements blend sincerity with accessibility. You'll encounter the emotional depth of songs designed for contemporary worship, supported by harmonic choices that feel current and fresh while remaining grounded in functional voice leading. The collection moves fluidly between intimate, reflective moments and moments of energy and affirmation.

This collection serves church pianists, worship leaders, and intermediate piano students seeking accessible arrangements of current Christian music. Anyone looking to expand their contemporary repertoire without requiring advanced technique will find these 12 songs both playable and spiritually substantive.

• Pay attention to the specific tempo and feel marking for each song. The contrast between ballads like 'Thy Will' and upbeat pieces like 'If We're Honest' shapes how listeners connect to the material, so honor those distinctions rather than playing everything at a comfortable speed.
• Use pedal thoughtfully to add warmth to sustained harmonies without blurring the chord changes. Tornquist's arrangements often rely on clear voice leading, so release the pedal when harmonies shift significantly.
• Lock in the rhythmic groove in the contemporary pop-rock pieces by staying precise with the left-hand patterns. These songs carry strong originals with memorable grooves, and nailing that rhythmic integrity keeps the arrangement authentic.
• Shape phrases by listening for the vocal melody line you may know from the originals. These arrangements respect the song structure listeners recognize, so allowing that familiar contour to guide your phrasing creates natural, singable passages.

Build a contemporary worship or spiritual music segment of a church service or recital around selections from this book. The variety of tempos and moods makes it ideal for constructing a program arc that moves through different emotional terrain while staying rooted in accessible, singable melodies.

• Reading and executing contemporary rhythmic patterns and syncopation
• Interpreting tempo and dynamic markings to shape emotional expression
• Pedal technique for sustaining and blending chord changes
• Balancing melody with supportive left-hand accompaniment patterns
• Stylistic awareness of contemporary Christian and pop-rock idioms