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1963 (5-yrs old) Practicing at home |
Zvolen, Slovakia with Chief Warrant
Officer Jaro Hrinak of
the Slovakian Military Band 2001 |
Michael Elyard Pianist
/ Organist Music Page |
Fooling around during sound check
and set-up with the USAF Band in Alaska - 1995 |
Bethel UMC Organist/Pianist Mascoutah, Illinois - 2007 |
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Young 2-striper (Airman 1st Class) USAF Band 1986 Langley AFB, Virginia US Air Force Band at Langley AFB, VA |
That’s me at the piano to the far left side US Air Force Band – Langley AFB, Virginia - 1987 |
Croatia - One of my last European performances
with the USAF Band - 2001 |
Visiting my first piano teacher Elizabeth Cavallero - 2011 |
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I have served as the full-time organist/pianist at
Wesley United Methodist Church in Morgantown WV since November 2012. It is a large
but friendly church downtown on High Street at the edge of the WVU campus.
The 3-manual pipe organ was built by Wicks Organs of Highland IL, where I
taught several piano students before we moved back to WV in 2008. Small
world. There is also a very nice 7-foot Kawai grand piano. The church is full of talented
musicians: Dr. Lya Stroupe
is the Music Director and is a very talented pianist, and the 30-member choir
itself has many trained musicians including John Hendricks, the Director of
Bands at WVU and conductor of the WVU Wind Symphony. That’s just the
tip of the iceberg. There is also
a Hand Bell Choir and Praise Team. I look forward to many years of leading
the congregation in music worship.
To see more of Wesley UMC: http://www.wesleymorgantown.org/ Hope to see
you there soon!
At the organ – Wesley United Methodist Church For
more information, please contact me – Click
Here Click Here For: My Bio ************************
10 Favorite Hymns of Central United
Methodist Church – July 2012 In
July 2012, the members of the congregation voted on their favorite
hymns. After
selecting the hymns with the most votes, I researched the background of each
hymn and composer. Read
a short background history on the 10 Favorite Hymns and the composers. Click
Here For Hymns and Narratives ************************* My MP3 Recordings Selections
from Undergraduate Piano Recital (WVU) 1980 Schubert Piano Sonata in F# Minor - Mvt 1 Mvt 2 Mvt 3 Mvt 4 Charles Griffes
- The White Peacock The Fountain of the Aqua Paola Clouds Selection
from Graduate Piano Recital (WVU) 1982 George Walker Piano Sonata #1 - Mvt 1 Mvt 2 Mvt 3 USAF
Jazz Band – Langley Air Force Base, VA (1986-1988) Here
are selections off the CDs “Here’s One For You” and “6/8
Jazz”. I was the
pianist on both CDs. (This
band is shown on the top of this page, on the 3rd photo from the
left) Sweet Georgia Brown Upside Down Fly Me To The Moon
Bag Lady Georgia Love For Sale
Mama Llama Samba
Nocturne
The Diver
Tico Tico USAF
TAC (Tactical Air Command) Band – Langley Air Force Base, VA (1988) Here
are selections from “Standard Bearers of Excellence”. I was pianist and
percussionist.
Strike Up The Band (Gershwin)
Danse Folatre
(Claude T. Smith) King Karl King (Henry Fillmore)
La Gitana Del Albaicin
(Pascual Marquina)
Fiesta Del Pacifico (Roger
Nixon)
The Carousel Waltz (Richard Rogers)
Themes from “Silverado” (Bruce Broughton) USAF
Band Of Mid-America - Scott Air
Force Base, IL (2007) After
retiring, I was asked to be guest pianist for the recording of
“Westward Sentinel”. Westward Sentinel - Kim Archer’s tribute to
the 40th Anniversary of the St. Louis Arch.
LIVING
ROOM RAMBLINGS – Since
one of my favorite past-times is just sitting at the piano and improvising
gospel/sacred music, jazz classics, and other favorites, I decided to start
recording and posting some of these impromptu interpretations. Nothing
is written down, nothing is planned. I just click the "Record"
button and see what happens. Hope you enjoy these informal performances. Check back as I add more in coming
weeks/months. Without Seeing You
By and By
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Wave
I Can't Get Started It Might As Well Be Spring This Masquerade Doin' Time (an original
composition) From Mark Hayes' book of hymn
arrangements: Sweet By and By When I was at WVU from 1976-1983, I spent a
lot of time at the home of a good friend and wonderful musician, Ann Custer (Mayle). Her parents, Aub
and Dorie, treated all of Ann's friends like
family. It must have been like "That 70's Show" when a group
of us were there. Her mom (Dorie) especially
liked the theme from the TV show "Taxi". Her parents have
both passed on and I miss them both. Dorie
- this one's for you! ************************ Links
to some favorite music videos on YouTube and mp3 recordings: Johnny Costa - You
will recognize the music as soon as he starts playing. He was the pianist for
Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Virtuoso
pianist in the same league as Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum. Incredibly imaginative!! Intro to
Johnny Costa
Tea
For Two (Compare for yourself: Oscar Peterson / Johnny Costa / Art Tatum
perform)
Caravan
Gordon Mote – A truly gifted pianist who has been blind
since birth. You see him frequently on Bill Gaither shows. I wish I could play like him!!!! Old Gospel
Ship
I
Know Somebody Who Does (with the Isaacs)
Get
Up In Jesus’ Name
If
They Could See You Through My Eyes (to his wife) Wake Up Dancin’
(get ready to cry!)
I
Can’t Even Walk Without You
Ernie Haase
and the Signature Sound –
This group of young men is another standard fixture on Bill Gaither
shows. Talented and energetic! Ami
Rushes – Great gospel
singer. Pays tribute to Albertina Walker and Rev Timothy Wright. I Can Go To
God In Prayer
Testify
Holy
Ghost Randy Travis – Famous for his country music, but he does
this gospel song right with a small acappella group. Very moving! I’m Gonna Have A Little Talk With Jesus Take 6 – A fantastic 6-member acappella vocal
group. Christian music, pop
music, jazz – they do it all! (Love the vocal bass lines!) My Friend
(Features guest Ray Charles!!!) Get Away
Jordan
If
We Ever Needed The Lord Before (We Sure Do Need Him Now) Biggest
Part of Me (Old Earth Wind & Fire tune – done with band)
Tommy
Emmanuel – Perhaps the
greatest guitarist in the world!
Watch the thumb picking the bass line underneath everything else!!
Played on what looks like a pawn-shop guitar. Amazing! Marc
Cohn – Great songwriter
who tells a story with each song.
Here’s two of my favorites Silver
Thunderbird (About a
young boy’s memories of his dad)
Walking
In Memphis (still popular on the radio 20 years after he wrote it –
visiting Elvis) Sting -
Another great songwriter – very intricate harmonies and rhythms
along with a story in each song. My favorite CD is “Ten Summoners’ Tales” Munificent
Seven - (Inspired by Yul Brynner and the “Magnificient Seven” – Follow the mixed 7/4
and 4/4 meters) Fields of Gold
Seven Days (Another fun mixed meter in 5/4)
A Thousand Years
(A great story-telling song) Shape Of My Heart
(nice guitar/vocal duo) Fragile (shows how creative you can get with
just 3 basic chords I-IV-V) Bruce Hornsby - These
are mp3 recordings (not videos).
BH is another great storyteller and songwriter. Incorporates elements of jazz, pop,
folk, gospel, and more. He
lives in Williamsburg VA and records in his basement. Listen closely to the words for
a message in each song. The Way It Is (This one made his famous – exposes
stereotyping and bigotry) Lost Soul What A Time (Great piano playing!) Long Tall Cool One (nice groove!) Pastures of Plenty
(Some Irish Folk Song flavor) The Dreadful Spoon
(A fun song to listen to! Shows his strong folk-music influence) West Side Story (Various Artists) – (mp3 recordings) An incredible collection
of the best musicians performing the music of Bernstein. America – Natalie Cole, Patti Labelle and Sheila
E. (transitions to a
foot-stomping gospel at the end!) Cool – Patti Austin, Mervyn
Warren and Bruce Hornsby I Feel Pretty -
Outrageous performance by Little Richard (Really!)
I Have A Love -
Superbly done by Trisha Yearwood |
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