HymnSkills: Developing Hymn Improvisation from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objective

Improvise music for church services.

Syllabus

Introduction

Martan introduces himself and explains the goals of HymnSkills.

This video explains the importance of mastering scales for improvisation.

Video 1: Learning Scales

Step One: The Five Finger Exercise
- Preliminary to learning scales, it is recommended that you develop the Five Finger Exercise. This is an exercise where you think in interval/numbers to create major, minor, diminished and augmented five-note scales and the accompanying triads. Then you play the triads in inversions.
Step Two: Scales

To learn full scales, just add two whole-steps to the five-finger position. Now you have a seven-note scale. From there, learn Major, Melodic Minor (b3), Harmonic Minor (b3, b6), Natural Minor (b3, b6, b7) and, I suggest also learning the Dorian Mode (b3, b7). Play over and over until all the scales are mastered in all keys.

Find a book of scales. This will help you identify different scales to master. Start with all of the major scales. Then, move on to learning the minor scales (include dorian). The scale book will also help you develop the correct fingering for each scale. Start with learning each hand separately . . . first with on octave, then to two octaves (and beyond). Then move on to playing each scale with two hands, an octave apart.

Video 3: Learning Open Progressions

Step 4: Learning Open Voicing Inversions

To open up the closed progressions, take the middle note and place it up an octave. Then, add an additional root or fifth. Avoid the doubled third.
Practice the Open Voicing Inversions. Start with root, fifth, third rood. Move up the inversions. Play in all keys, major and minor.

Step 5: Learning Open Voicings Series

This is an arbitrary series of open voicings that you should learn in all keys.

Step 6: Learning Open Voicing Bouncing Exercise

In this exercise, you randomly bounce around the piano using open voicings. Think of the right hand first. If the right hand has a third, don’t include a third in the left hand. If the right hand does not have a third, include a third in the left hand. Practice this exercise until you call move quickly from voicing to voicing. Practice in all keys

Video 3: Learning Open Progressions

Step 4: Learning Open Voicing Inversions

To open up the closed progressions, take the middle note and place it up an octave. Then, add an additional root or fifth. Avoid the doubled third.
Practice the Open Voicing Inversions. Start with root, fifth, third rood. Move up the inversions. Play in all keys, major and minor.

Step 5: Learning Open Voicings Series

This is an arbitrary series of open voicings that you should learn in all keys.

Step 6: Learning Open Voicing Bouncing Exercise

In this exercise, you randomly bounce around the piano using open voicings. Think of the right hand first. If the right hand has a third, don’t include a third in the left hand. If the right hand does not have a third, include a third in the left hand. Practice this exercise until you call move quickly from voicing to voicing. Practice in all keys.

Video 4: Make Up Your Own Progression

Step 7: Developing Make Up Your Own Progression

Start with an open progression voicing of the I chord. Ask yourself: “How many ways can I move smoothly to the IV chord?”
Then, ask: “How many ways can I move smoothly to the V chord?”
Then, start moving from a I chord . . . to a IV chord . . . to a V chord and back to a I chord. Use different voicings. Then play in all keys.
Then, start with another voicing and repeat the above.
Eventually, bounce around between various voicings of the I chord, IV chord and V chord. Think melodically. This, in itself, will start to sound like a hymn. Of course, play in all keys.

Video 5: Pachelbel Canon - Part One

Intro to Pachelbel Canon by Martan Mann.
Step 8: Pachelbel Bass Line

The first step to improvise on the Pachelbel Canon is to learn the bass line in all keys. Play this over and over until it is effortless.

I - V - VIm - IIIm - IV - I - IV - V

Step 9: Pachelbel Bass Line w/Melody

Now play the melody of the Pachelbel Canon with the bass line in all keys.

Step 10: Bass Line w/Continuous Melody

Now we will play a continuous melody through the Pachelbel Canon. Since all the chords are diatonic, you can stay within the major scale of the key. Always think forward. Think from the second note in the phrase to the first note of the next phrase.

Quarter Notes
Eighth Notes
Quarter-note Triplets
Eighth-note Triplets

Step 11: Bass Line w/Random Continuous Melody

Endeavor to play a continuous musical melody using variations of melodic time values. Use a mixture of all the time values

Video 6: Pachelbel Canon - Part Two

Step 12: Intro to Open Voicings for Pachelbel Canon

This is a repeat of the intro to Open Voicings. But, this time, it is for the chords in the Pachelbel Canon.

Step 13: Open Voicings Bouncing Exercise for the Pachelbel Canon.

Start with two “bounces” per chord. Then, move to four “bounces” per chord. Play in all keys.

Step 14: Pachelbel Open Voicings w/Melody

Play Open Voicings through the Pachelbel Canon using 4-note melodies and five-note melodies. (You can also add other melodic phrases.)

Step 15: Pachelbel Open Voicings w/Melody In All Voices

Now we are creating melodies as above, but this time in the alto, tenor and bass parts

Video 7: Hymn Development

Step 16: Hymn Melody and Bass Line

We are using the hymn, “Christ The Lord Has Risen Today”. I’ve created a simple chart using only the chords and the melody of the hymn.
Start by learning the melody. (You also have the option of playng the melody in all keys.)
Next, add in a bass line. This bass line can be deducted from the original hymn. Play the bass line with the melody. You can add extra notes in the bass as lead-ins to the next chord. Experiment with this.

Step 17: Alter The Melody

Experiment with this.

Use Thirds, Sixths, Open Voicings, Suspensions, etc.

Step 18: Free Improvisation

Use your knowledge of playing actual hymns.
Think of progressions.
Use Open Voicings and good voice-leading

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops improvisation skills using hymns, which can be applied to various church settings and provide a creative outlet for musicians seeking to enhance their musical expression

Emphasizes mastering scales and chord progressions, which are fundamental music skills applicable to various genres beyond hymn improvisation, strengthening a musician's overall foundation

Explores open voicing inversions and bouncing exercises, which are techniques that can add depth and complexity to chord progressions and melodic lines in various musical styles

Utilizes Pachelbel Canon as a framework for improvisation, which provides a structured approach to developing melodic and harmonic ideas, and offers a unique perspective on a classical piece

Requires learners to practice each step repeatedly until deeply ingrained, which may be time-consuming and require a high level of dedication and patience

Recommends using a scale book to identify different scales and develop correct fingering, which may require learners to purchase additional resources beyond the course materials

Reviews summary

Step-by-step hymn improvisation skills

According to learners, this course offers a highly effective (positive), step-by-step approach (positive) to developing hymn improvisation skills. Students consistently praise Martan Mann's teaching (positive), describing it as clear and easy to follow (positive). While the course is seen as providing a solid foundation (positive) for improvising in the style of hymns, learners emphasize that dedicated practice is essential (neutral) to internalize the concepts and achieve fluency. The methods taught, such as working with scales (neutral), open voicings (neutral), and voice leading (neutral), are considered practical and directly applicable (positive), particularly for those serving in church music (positive) roles.

Assumes some prior foundational music knowledge.

"Make sure you have a solid grasp of scales and basic chords before starting."

"I found having a decent piano background really helped me keep up with the pace."

"It assumes you can read music and have some keyboard familiarity."

Course effectiveness relies heavily on student practice.

"This course makes it clear: you really need to practice these steps diligently."

"Success isn't automatic; it demands dedicated time to practice the exercises in all keys."

"It's not a quick fix; be prepared to put in the hours practicing the material."

Focuses on useful techniques like open voicings.

"Learning about open voicings and inversions was a game-changer for my playing."

"The exercises on voice leading were incredibly helpful."

"Working with the Pachelbel Canon progression was a creative way to apply concepts."

Skills learned are useful for church music settings.

"I am already starting to use these techniques for preludes and offerings at church."

"The focus on voice leading and open voicings is perfect for hymn-style playing."

"This course gave me practical tools specifically for improvising on hymns."

Methodical progression builds skills incrementally.

"The step-by-step method is brilliant; it breaks down improvisation into manageable parts."

"I appreciate how the course builds from scales and progressions to more complex ideas."

"Following the steps in order really helped me see my progress."

Teaching style is engaging and easy to grasp.

"Martan Mann's teaching is incredibly clear and makes complex topics approachable."

"I found the explanations easy to understand, even for someone new to this style of improv."

"The instructor's videos are well-paced and make the material seem less intimidating."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in HymnSkills: Developing Hymn Improvisation with these activities:

Review Basic Music Theory

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Reviewing basic music theory concepts like scales, chords, and key signatures will provide a solid foundation for understanding the course material and improvising effectively.

Browse courses on Music Theory

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Review scales and key signatures.
Practice identifying intervals and chords.
Study basic harmonic progressions.

Explore 'Hymns for the Family of God'

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Studying a diverse collection of hymns will expand your knowledge of hymn structures and harmonic progressions, providing a foundation for improvisation.

View Melania on Amazon

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Browse through the hymnal and select several hymns to study.
Analyze the melody, harmony, and structure of each hymn.
Practice improvising over the chord progressions of the hymns.

Read 'The Jazz Piano Book' by Mark Levine

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Studying jazz piano techniques can broaden your harmonic and melodic vocabulary, leading to more creative and expressive hymn improvisations.

View For all musicians, jazz piano voicings on Amazon

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Study the sections on chord voicings and substitutions.
Practice applying jazz improvisation techniques to hymn melodies.
Experiment with different harmonic approaches.

Four other activities

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Practice Scales and Arpeggios in All Keys

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Practicing scales and arpeggios regularly will improve finger dexterity and familiarity with different keys, making improvisation smoother and more natural.

Show steps

Practice major and minor scales daily.
Practice arpeggios in different inversions.
Focus on smooth transitions between scales and arpeggios.

Improvisation Exchange with Another Musician

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Collaborating with another musician provides valuable feedback and exposes you to different improvisational approaches.

Show steps

Find a musician interested in hymn improvisation.
Take turns improvising over hymn tunes.
Provide constructive feedback to each other.

Compose a Short Hymn Prelude

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Composing a short hymn prelude will allow you to apply the skills learned in the course and develop your own unique improvisational style.

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Choose a hymn tune as a starting point.
Develop a short introduction and interlude based on the hymn's melody and harmony.
Experiment with different voicings and improvisational techniques.
Record and review your composition.

Record a Hymn Improvisation Performance

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Recording your improvisations allows you to critically evaluate your performance and identify areas for improvement.

Show steps

Choose a hymn tune to improvise over.
Record your improvisation performance.
Listen back to the recording and analyze your performance.
Identify areas where you can improve your improvisation skills.

Career center

Learners who complete HymnSkills: Developing Hymn Improvisation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Church Musician

A church musician provides music for religious services, often playing an instrument or leading a choir. This role requires the ability to create beautiful, moving music that enhances the spiritual experience of the congregation. This course, with its focus on hymn improvisation, may be particularly beneficial for a church musician who wants to develop skills in creating unique and engaging musical arrangements for preludes, meditations, and offerings, especially since the course helps build skills in improvising on existing hymns and creating original compositions. The course’s emphasis on mastering scales, chord progressions, and open voicings helps a church musician develop the foundational skills to create a diverse and compelling musical experience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Church Musician

Organist

An organist plays the organ, typically in a church or other religious setting. They provide music for the services, including preludes, hymns, and postludes. This course helps an organist develop improvisational skills specific to hymn arrangements, which are often a part of services. The course's step-by-step approach to mastering scales, chord progressions, and voicings may be valuable for an organist seeking to expand their abilities. By providing practice in creating original hymns, this course may especially help an organist create unique, engaging music.

See salaries and explore the career path for Organist

Music Director

A music director oversees the musical aspects of a performance or organization, such as a church or theater group. This can include planning musical programs, rehearsing musicians, and arranging music. For a music director, this course can prove useful, as it provides instruction in hymn improvisation, a skill that helps add depth and variety to musical offerings. The course's focus on developing skills in scales, chord progressions, and open voicings helps a music director arrange music tailored to a church's specific needs. This course may also help a music director develop improvisation skills for preludes, meditations, and offerings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Director

Pianist

A pianist performs music on the piano, often in a variety of settings. A pianist who seeks to play in religious settings may find this course useful as it helps build skills in improvisation, particularly in the context of hymns. The course’s curriculum focuses on developing a strong foundation in scales, chord progressions, and open voicings, which are all skills valuable for a pianist. The course’s focus on creating original hymns and improvising on existing ones can add depth and variety to a pianist’s repertoire.

See salaries and explore the career path for Pianist

Cantor

A cantor leads singing and chanting in a religious service, engaging the congregation and enhancing their worship experience. This role demands strong musical skills and the ability to lead and inspire a community. This course, focused on hymn improvisation, may be useful for a cantor seeking to develop skills in creating unique, engaging, and expressive musical arrangements. The course's approach to scales, chord progressions, and open voicings may help a cantor develop a deeper understanding of musical structure and how it can be used to enhance worship.

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Worship Leader

A worship leader guides a congregation in singing and worship, sometimes also playing an instrument. This role often requires skills in leading music and engaging a community. This course’s focus on the development of musical improvisation skills, particularly in the context of hymns, may be beneficial for a worship leader. The course's step-by-step development of musical skills, including scales, progressions, and voicings may help a worship leader perform and lead more effectively. Additionally, learning to improvise during services may make worship services fresh and engaging, which may prove quite valuable for the worship leader.

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Accompanist

An accompanist provides musical support to other musicians, such as singers or instrumentalists. This often involves playing the piano or organ and requires a strong understanding of harmony and musical phrasing. This course, with its focus on improvisation, may help an accompanist who needs to create arrangements or provide musical interludes on the spot, especially in the context of hymns. The course may help an accompanist develop skills in scales, chord progressions, and voicings to enhance their ability to support other musicians. This course’s emphasis on different musical styles can prove useful for an accompanist working in a variety of settings.

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Choir Director

A choir director leads and trains a choir, selecting music, planning rehearsals, and conducting performances. A choir director may find this course beneficial, particularly the sections on music theory, which may help with arranging music. This course might also help a choir director who seeks to develop skills in improvising musical interludes, or who needs to create unique arrangements of hymns. The course's emphasis on scales, chord progressions, and voicings can help a choir director develop the skills for creating arrangements that fit a choir's needs and capabilities. The exercises in the course, which focus on creating original hymns, may also help the choir director gain insight into creating their own arrangements.

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Composer

A composer creates original music. This role requires a deep understanding of musical theory and the ability to craft melodies, harmonies, and rhythms. This course could serve as a useful resource for a composer seeking to explore the musical language of hymns and sacred music. The course's focus on scales, progressions, open voicings, and improvisation techniques may help a composer develop new ideas and expand their musical vocabulary. Additionally, the course's step-by-step approach, while geared to improvisation, can help a composer develop a deeper understanding of music theory. Although this course focuses on hymn improvisation, it may help a composer in other genres.

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Arranger

An arranger adapts existing music for different instruments or ensembles. This involves a deep understanding of music theory and the ability to create interesting and engaging arrangements. This course, which develops skills in improvising and creating hymn-like pieces, may help an arranger who wants to add new skills to their repertoire or who wants to delve into sacred music. The course’s focus on scales, chord progressions, and voicings may help an arranger create pieces that are both beautiful and well-structured. The course's approach to improvisation may also help an arranger explore new avenues for creativity.

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Music Teacher

A music teacher educates students in music theory, performance, and appreciation. This can involve teaching a variety of instruments and musical styles. This course, with its focus on hymn improvisation, may be appealing to a music teacher seeking to broaden their knowledge of musical genres, with the goal of teaching students about the history and practice of improvisation. The course's methodical approach to learning scales, chord progressions, and voicings may help a music teacher who seeks to better understand and convey the basics of musical composition and improvisation. The course’s exercises on creating original hymns may be quite helpful for a music teacher who wants to demonstrate the creative process to their students.

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Freelance Musician

A freelance musician works in a variety of settings, often performing different styles of music on various instruments. This path requires flexibility, adaptability, and a strong musical skill set. This course, with its focus on hymn improvisation, may be of interest to a freelance musician looking for new career avenues. The course may help a freelance musician learn new skills in improvisation and create new musical works. The course’s methodical approach to scales, chord progressions, and voicings may help a freelance musician enhance their versatility and adapt to a variety of musical contexts.

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Music Therapist

A music therapist uses music as a therapeutic tool to help individuals improve their physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being. While this course is not designed for therapy, a music therapist may benefit from learning new musical techniques in order to better connect with their patients. This course, with its emphasis on improvisation, may help a music therapist expand their musical toolkit and provide fresh, engaging musical interventions. The course’s focus on scales, progressions, and voicings may help the therapist create a wider range of musical experiences for the people they serve.

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Private Music Instructor

A private music instructor teaches musical skills to individuals, tailoring their lessons to the unique needs of each student. While this course is not designed to teach, a private music instructor might find the course useful for expanding their own musical skills. The course's focus on scales, chord progressions, and open voicings, along with its emphasis on improvisation, may benefit a private music instructor seeking to enhance personal skills. The course's techniques for creating original hymns may also help a private music instructor develop a deeper understanding of how musical compositions are created.

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Songwriter

A songwriter creates original music. This often involves writing melodies, lyrics, and harmonies, and includes an understanding of music theory. While this course is focused on hymn improvisation, it may prove useful for a songwriter who seeks to explore music in a new context. The course’s focus on scales, chord progressions, and open voicings may help a songwriter expand their musical toolkit. The course’s step-by-step approach to improvisation may also help a songwriter better understand the process of music creation. While this course focuses on sacred music, it may help a songwriter in other genres.

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HymnSkills

Developing Hymn Improvisation

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Step-by-step hymn improvisation skills

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