Page turns are one thing, but thick, bound books (like hymnbooks) have other issues. They won’t lay flat, and the pages won’t stay open. I have terrible memories of trying to play a hymn as the page slowly turned itself. I had to twist my head to the side to try to keep seeing the notes on the back side of the page.
Then there are the solo pieces or choir specials, with the music spread over many thin pages. You know how hard it is to open those grocery store produce bags sometimes? Music pages are sometimes just as hard to turn, so I often bend the corner a bit so I can grab it quickly for a page turn. Sometimes I grab more than one. There’s nothing like the excitement that happens when you quickly turn a page only to find yourself in a totally different key (or even a different piece). How many pages did I turn?
Page turns may be a pianist’s bane, but I’ve learned to manage them most of the time. Bend the corners slightly differently for each page. Look for good spots with only a few notes being played before or after a page turn. Make a copy of a page and spread it out on the stand.
But for some situations, the most blessed solution is to have a friend. Have someone come up and hold the pages for you, turning them when you nod your head. Professional accompanists use page turners quite frequently, even during concerts. For a special piece, even in church, a page turner can be the most wonderful invention.
This is why we need the rest of the body of Christ around us. The different parts of the body work together in different ways, and we could not function without our fellow Christians in our lives. Sometimes we need help. Sometimes we need to help someone else. Whether it is for encouragement or accountability or just plain fellowship, our lives are so much richer for having the whole orchestra of God’s family around us.
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Romans 12:10-12