As any church pianist will tell you, having a handful of solo piano collections that are your go-tos—things you can pull out and play from over and over again—is golden.

Tired of the same-old repertoire and hymn arrangements and looking for something fresh and new to play this year?

Here are eight solo piano collections that I can personally recommend and vouch for—they have been dog-eared and marked up and performed multiple times for various congregations.

If you don’t already have them, I hope you’ll consider adding them to your library.

*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

8 Solo Piano Collections for Worship

1. The Essential Collection, Vol. I and Vol. II (ed. Jane Holstein)

This two-volume collection is a wonderful resource for church musicians. Each volume includes 55 pieces (in a variety of styles) by arrangers like Mark Hayes, Lloyd Larson, Joel Raney, Jack Schrader, among others, for use throughout the church year. Plus, each volume costs only $49.95—a true budget-saver!

2. Mark Hayes for the Intermediate Pianist (Mark Hayes)

This collection offers an assortment of music for worship, including many well-loved hymn tunes. Each arrangement is no more than three minutes in length, making them perfectly suited for preludes.

3. Ten Negro Spirituals (Florence Price)

A collection of ten solo piano arrangements of spirituals written by Florence Price. Perfect for Black History Month, Pentecost, and all throughout the year.

4. Reflections for Worship (Mark Hayes)

Longer arrangements of hymns and contemporary songs like “One Bread, One Body,” “Lord of the Dance,” “You Are Mine,” and “Rain Down”. Each piece is 4’-5’ in length, so if you’re in need of some longer arrangements (compared to the standard 2’30”-3’ pieces), this is a collection worth considering. You might also consider dividing them up and playing a different version each time.

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5. The Living Room Sessions (Chris Rice)

Simple arrangements of classic hymn favorites like "For the Beauty of the Earth" and "Savior, Like a Shepherd, Lead Us." Easy to prepare, these pieces work well in a variety of places throughout the service.

6. Silent Nights (Nigel Hess)

14 beautiful, minimalist settings of Advent and Christmas hymns and carols. Intermediate level.

7. Sacred Nocturnes (Heather Sorenson)

Beautiful, creative settings of 11 different hymns written in a variety of musical styles. Great for preludes or offertories, but also for communion and other places in worship.

8. Illuminations (Dan Forrest)

Grand, pianistic hymn settings perfect for solos and offertories. Rich colors and textures give new life to these familiar hymn texts.

Your turn:

What are some of your favorite piano collections for worship? I’d love to hear your recommendations!