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The popular Play today praise and worship series continues to grow after the launch of the third book and the first CDs on Saturday (September 15)

Dr Lyell Heise and Valmai Hill's Play today 3 contains 14 songs--a mix of contemporary praise and worship and hymns--with piano arrangements for beginners and intermediates.

Each song includes: a note about the song's origins; at least one Bible reference; a note to piano teachers about how to use the song in their lessons; lyrics, including those in repeat choruses or verses; and tips for worship leaders. CDs for books one and two and book three contain instrumental backing music for every song--38 in total.

Lyell coordinated the production of the book in his role as director of the Institute of Worship, an entity of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's South Pacific Division located on Avondale's Lake Macquarie campus. Valmai, a piano teacher who serves as a member of the institute's board, arranged each of the songs.

The two highlighted the aim of the series--to give young piano players the confidence and motivation to participate in the praise and worship at their local church--during the worship service at Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church. All but three of the songs presented come from the series. Ethan Max, a student of Valmai's, played with Dennis Charlton and Valmai from Play today 3 during the prelude. Brooke Carter, another student, and her mother, Julie, played the offertory with backing music from the CD.

"It's more important to have my students participate in worship than to receive a certificate for an examination," says Valmai. "If a person has the gift of music, it's important to share that with others because the gift comes from God."

Some 460 copies of Play today 3 sold in the first week after it appeared in the September edition of Bookshelf, an advertising insert produced by Signs Publishing Company.

Play today 3 is available from Adventist Book Centres, the Institute of Worship and Koorong bookstores for $24.95. The CD for books one and two and the CD for book three are available for $19.95 and $14.95.

Caption: Valmai Hill shares the excitement of Play today 3 with one of her students, Brooke Carter.
Credit: Student

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