Hymns for beginning pianists

I got this list from
http://gospeldoctrineplus.blogspot.com/2013/03/graded-list-of-lds-hymns-for-piano.html?m=1

I am posting it here for my own reference.

She also has a list of the easiest hymns in the Hymns Made Easy book, for those who aren't ready for the actual hymnbook yet. You can find it here:
http://gospeldoctrineplus.blogspot.com/2013/08/learning-aids-for-lds-hymns-made-easy.html


25 Beginner Hymns
(Music Reading Level 4-5 US)
 These hymns are in easy keys, have few hand position changes, fairly simple rhythms, few accidentals, and slow to moderate tempos.
142 Sweet Hour of Prayer
302 I Know My Father Lives
116 Come, Follow Me
309 As Sisters in Zion
239 Choose the Right
152 God Be With you Till We Meet Again
38 Come, All Ye Saints of Zion
106 God Speed the Right
294 Love at Home
92 For the Beauty of the Earth
144 Secret Prayer
306 God’s Daily Care (As I Watch the Rising Sun)
3 Now Let Us Rejoice
304 Teach Me to Walk in the Light
19 We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet
301 I Am a Child of God
241 Count Your Blessings
131 More Holiness Give Me
100 Nearer, My God, To Thee
98 I Need Thee Every Hour
125 How Gentle God’s Commands
339 My Country, ‘Tis of Thee
67 Glory to God on High
94 Come, Ye Thankful People
204 Silent Night

25 Intermediate Hymns
(Music Reading Levels 5-6 US)
These hymns have more hand position changes, trickier rhythms, more accidentals, bigger jumps, and/or faster tempos.

136 I Know That My Redeemer Lives
249 Called to Serve
338 America the Beautiful
105 Master, the Tempest is Raging
199 He Is Risen
243 Let Us All Press On
308 Love One Another
97 Lead, Kindly Light
14 Sweet is the Peace the Gospel Brings
108 The Lord is My Shepherd
30 Come, Come, Ye Saints
237 Do What is Right
89 The Lord Is My Light
7 Israel, Israel, God is Calling
206 Away in a Manger
23 We Ever Pray For Thee
113 Our Savior’s Love
21 Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice
96 Dearest Children, God is Near You
259 Hope of Israel
26 Joseph Smith’s First Prayer
219 Because I Have Been Given Much
193 I Stand All Amazed
85 How Firm a Foundation
319 Ye Elders of Israel

25 Advanced Hymns
(Music Reading Level 7-8 US)
These hymns are fast, have lots of big jumps, require the right hand to play three parts, have challenging rhythms and keys, accidentals, and/or parts that move at different rates.

5 High on the Mountain Top
227 There is Sunshine in My Soul Today
292 O My Father
298 Home Can Be a heaven on Earth
246 Onward, Christian Soldiers
134 I Believe in Christ
29 A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief
264 Hark, All Ye Nations!
2 The Spirit of God
335 Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy
60 Battle Hymn of the Republic
27 Praise to the Man
255 Carry On
86 How Great Thou Art
52 The Day Dawn is Breaking
64 On This Day of Joy and Gladness
200 Christ the Lord is Risen Today
78 God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand
220 Lord, I Would Follow Thee
35 For the Strength of the Hills
263 Go Forth With Faith
203 Angels We Have Heard on High
340 The Star-Spangled Banner
256 As Zion’s Youth in Latter Days
254 True to the Faith

Master the Tempest is Raging (Hymn #105) -- chorus only

Actions to teach the chorus:

The winds and the waves (make a big sideways figure eight with your hands)
shall obey thy will (ASL for obey)
Peace be still (ASL for peace)

Whether the wrath (make a claw with your hand like it's covering your face to look angry)
of the storm-tossed sea (ASL for ocean -- big waves moving away from you)
Or demons (left hand out to the side)
or men (right hand out to the other side)
or whatever it be (with hands already out, shrug your shoulders)

    [**Explain that whether it's a storm or a monster or a bad guy or anything else that may be frightening you, Jesus can help you feel peace.]

No waters can swallow (wag your finger "No" while shaking your head)
The ship where lies (make a boat with your hands cupped)
The Master of ocean (waves moving away from you)
and earth (palms down, hands flat out to show the ground)
and skies (arms up to the sky)

They all (arms outspread) shall sweetly
obey thy will (ASL for obey)
Peace be still (ASL for peace)
Peace be still (ASL for peace)
They all (arms outspread) shall sweetly
obey thy will (ASL for obey)
Peace, peace be still (ASL for peace)

Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel (Hymn #252 - chorus only)

Discussion:
Have the kids picture a wagon wheel as tall as they are.  Pretend it's stuck in the mud.  How would you get it out?  You could push it with your hands, but what if that didn't work? Could you turn around and push it with your shoulder and back?  What if you were pushing your hardest but the person who was supposed to push the other wheel was goofing off or refusing to work?

Easy actions to teach the chorus:

Put your shoulder (right arm on left shoulder) to the wheel (brace your feet against the pretend wheel)
Push along (pretend to push with your shoulder)

Do your duty with a heart (both hands on heart)
full of song (smile-- to have a heart full of song means to be cheerful while you work)

We all have work (pretend to hammer a nail)
Let no one shirk (shake your head and wag your finger no -- be sure to explain what "shirk" means)

Put your shoulder (right arm on left shoulder) to the wheel (pretend to push with your shoulder)

I Know My Father Lives (Hymn #302 OR CS p. 5)

Today we are going to learn a song that teaches us about God.  Did you know there are many people in the world who are confused about who God is and what He is like?  But we don't have to be confused, because we can learn the truth through this song.

I'm going to sing the first phrase of this song, and I want you to listen for two truths it tells us about God:
(sing) I know my Father lives

Truth #1:  God is my Father
Truth #2:  God has a body; He lives

Now I'm going to sing the next phrase.  Listen for another truth:
(sing) and loves me too

Truth #3: God loves me

Will you sing that whole line with me?  ("I know my Father lives, and loves me too")

(Bear testimony:) God is real.  He lives, and because He is your Father, He loves you. I know that is true.

Do you feel the Holy Ghost whispering to you that this is true?  That's the Holy Ghost's job: to tell you in your mind and in your heart what is true.  When you feel happy, that is the Spirit speaking to you.

The next line of the song reminds us of this.  It tells us HOW we can know these things are true.
(sing) The Spirit whispers this to me and tells me it is true; and tells me it is true.

This song is a testimony.  It tells what you know, and how you know it.  When you sing this song, it is just like bearing your testimony.  Will you sing it with me? (repeat it several times until it is learned)