Piano Prayer and Praises: Early Advanced Piano Book

Dean's hymn settings avoid the trap of becoming either too simplified or too stylistically detached from their sources. The mix of canonical hymns alongside genuinely rare arrangements means students encounter both repertoire they might hear in worship and pieces that expand what they know about the hymn tradition. Federation Festivals recognition confirms these arrangements hold up under adjudication standards.

These settings evoke quiet reflection and spiritual earnestness without sentimentality. Dean's writing creates intimate moments at the keyboard, combining the recognizable comfort of hymn melody with harmonic sophistication that rewards sustained listening.

Advanced early-intermediate pianists preparing for festival competition or worship service performance will find substantial material here. This collection suits students who have developed solid technique and are ready to explore how arrangement and harmonic language can deepen their musical understanding.

• Study the texts alongside the music, especially for the lesser-known hymns. The lyrical content often illuminates interpretive choices Dean has embedded in the piano part.
• Balance hymn tune recognition with the arranger's harmonic language. These aren't straightforward harmonizations; resist over-emphasizing the melody when Dean has distributed thematic material across the hand positions.
• Approach rubato conservatively in the familiar hymns so the tune remains grounded, then allow more interpretive freedom in the character pieces like Into the Woods My Master Went.

Select individual pieces for special music in worship services, or program a hymn pairing (perhaps a familiar setting alongside an unfamiliar one) to create programming variety throughout a season. The collection also serves as strong festival material, with the diversity of ten selections allowing students to choose pieces that match their interpretive instincts.

• Harmonic analysis of chorale-style writing with contemporary chromatic language
• Pedal control in sustained, hymn-based textures
• Stylistic interpretation of sacred music across different harmonic contexts
• Hands independence when thematic material shifts between upper and lower registers
• Sight-reading of less familiar hymn tunes