Open My Heart to Worship: 11 of the Most Popular Praise and Worship Songs Masterfully Arranged for Solo Piano (Sacred Performer Collections)

As church musician for 30+ years, I have accumulated a significant library of piano books. I have also found that so many of the new books are just new arrangements of songs that I already have in 10 different versions. And many of the "praise" books are for songs that just aren't all that musically interesting. This book contains some of the most beautiful praise and worship songs, and with Mark Hayes masterful arranging style, I find that I am never bored with these. I think I only have one or two of these songs in other books, and these arrangements are much better. I don't know how to classify the playing level, though. I am not an expert pianist by any means, although my family and friends seem to think so. I will say that I can sightread most of Mark Hayes music, and his advanced books may take a little practice for me to get them ready for Sunday morning. This book is easily a "one and done" for me: play through it once to familiarize myself with key changes, tempo, etc., and then it's ready to play on Sunday morning.

The music is truly Mark Hayes style, and if you like that, you'll love this book. It's an older book but the music is wonderful, the arrangements are not difficult - more moderate to difficult - which is perfect if you are a somewhat skilled pianist and you don't have to spend tons of time learning the song.

This is a nice selection of worship songs arranged by Mark Hayes for advanced solo piano.I really like and appreciate that chords are included with the arrangements, making it easier for those of us who play fake book style to learn these a bit more quickly. I don't consider myself an advanced pianist - more like advanced intermediate - and those chords help me work through a song, especially in passages that require more talent than I possess.I do wish this - and every other music book - had spiral binding so that pages can be open flat when performing. As it is, I copy the pages of individual songs so that I only have a few in front of me at a time.But these are nice arrangements that work well for church or recital.

I purchased this book for a single song (Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord) but there are a few other songs in there I wish to learn now. Beautiful arrangements, and they're challenging but definitely doable pieces!

Wow! These arrangements are wonderful! The gospel-swing arrangement of "Sweet,Sweet Spirit" is completely original. There is truly nothing else out there like it. The congregation at our church really enjoyed it! The other arrangments all have a more pop ballad feel, which is nice. I don't have any other book like this one at all. I have the feeling it will be used quite a bit.The difficulty level is not as high as some of the Mark Hayes editions. I would classify this one more at the level of his Intermediate titles. I am an advanced pianist and sight read the entire book at near-performance level. So if some of his other books are a little too "scary" for you, this one might be very enjoyable to you instead. Even though they aren't as difficult, however, doesn't mean they aren't as beautiful or as rich. This is an all-around great collection that belongs in every pianists library.

Beautiful arrangements by an artist who I had a chance to hear in concert several years ago. Amazing! When it says "Advanced Piano," it indeed is advanced--too advanced for me at this time. However, as I skim through the book, I notice that there are some selections that might be somewhat challenging for the intermediate player, but not completely out of reach for one who reads music well and can get the music under their fingers in a reasonable time. It is refreshing to see contemporary worship songs in print so beautifully arranged that invite the instrumentalist and the worshiper to open their hearts in praise. I am looking forward to the day that I can play them with the ease and confidence that the artist/arranger intended. Let the practicing begin!

I played through the entire book as soon as it arrived. I was going to return it (wasn't very impressed with the arrangements) until I got to Sweet, Sweet Spirit. It's a fantastic gospel piano arrangement!! That and They'll Know We Are Christians were my favorites and made it worth keeping the book. As a church pianist, I know I'll get some use out of those. The other arrangements in the book are typical Mark Hayes- cheesy intro, play through the hymn once, then play it a little differently a second time in a new key. Most of the arrangements are too big and loud. Some might work as a postlude, but I was hoping for more Communion options. I still prefer Hayes' jazz hymn book. That's why the Sweet, Sweet Spirit was worth it in the end.

I have only tackled a couple of songs so far, but love the arrangements. They are definitely advanced with numerous key changes, but worth the effort.

Much more difficult than expected, and advertised

All the hymns wife required