Favorite Hymns Instrumental Solos: Piano Acc. (Instrumental) Book & Online Audio

These arrangements carry the warmth and familiarity of beloved hymns while offering enough harmonic and rhythmic interest to keep intermediate players engaged. The piano accompaniment provides musical support that feels like a duet partner rather than a backing track, creating a shared musical conversation.

Wind and string players at grades 2-3 who are ready for solo repertoire with real musical substance, whether they're preparing for recitals, church services, or solo competition. This collection works equally well for students exploring sacred music literature or for musicians looking to expand beyond classical solo standards.

• Listen through the full recorded accompaniment before the first rehearsal so you understand the harmonic context and overall tempo; the piano part establishes the structural foundation for your phrasing.
• Balance the melody clearly against the accompaniment without rushing ahead; these hymn tunes benefit from the steadiness the recorded track provides.
• Use the play-along recording in early rehearsals to lock in the harmonic progression, then gradually move toward independence if the performance goal allows.
• Attend to dynamic shape within each phrase rather than playing at one dynamic throughout; the hymn arrangements support expressive playing at this intermediate level.

Feature these solos in a sacred music concert or as part of a winter holiday program, where the congregation's familiarity with the hymn melodies deepens the audience connection. They also work beautifully as service music in a church setting or as solo selections during a benefit recital where the emotional weight of these hymns serves the program's purpose.

• Playing with recorded accompaniment while maintaining independence and flexibility
• Shaping long melodic lines with appropriate phrasing and rubato
• Balancing a solo melody against harmonic accompaniment
• Interpreting sacred music with appropriate emotional depth and reverence
• Sight-reading intermediate-level arrangements in various keys and meters