Listen to Episode #270

“Morning Coffee” – Solo Piano Instrumental for Prayer, Meditation, Relaxation, and Rest I’m finally back in the studio and after a few months’ hiatus (again), I’m happy to be releasing a new piano interlude for my Worship Interludes Podcast. I called this one “Morning Coffee” – having my coffee in the morning with my quiet time is one of my favorite parts of the day. I hope that you can listen to this short, five minute interlude and that it brings a sense of peace and calm to...

“Time to Listen” – Peaceful, Relaxing Solo Piano Music for Prayer, Meditation, Reflection, Relaxing Last night I was listening to an Atlanta Braves baseball game on the radio. In between innings there was a commercial which was a short devotion by a pastor. The short 30-second devotion reminded us that God often speaks in a still, small voice and that we don’t typically hear Him unless we slow down, make ourselves quiet, and listen. It inspired me to finally sit down and...

“At Peace” – Solo Piano Improvisation Background Music for Prayer, Meditation, Relaxation, Worship I decided to forego the pads and extra layers of sound this morning and just record the pure, simple piano. The Key of Eb is one of my favorite keys and is where I began. This morning was a sweet time of worship for me. I sang to my Lord spontaneously and prayed as I played throughout this improvisation. It just felt sweet and peaceful to me. I hope that you enjoy it as...

“Pursuit” – Piano Instrumental Interlude for Prayer, Meditation, Relaxation, Worship, Mindfulness Welcome to episode #266 of my Worship Interludes Podcast. This episode is called “Pursuit” and is in the key of G-minor. The interlude lasts nearly eight minutes. I suppose it’s the nature of the minor key and the melody that came forth as I was recording, but this interlude has a pressing, trial-like vibe. When we are in pursuit of something, it’s often a long, hard...

“Awestruck” – Piano Instrumental Improvisation for Prayer, Meditation, Relaxation, Soaking Worship Today’s interlude was recorded on January 15, 2022. It’s a 7:00 interlude of peaceful piano music that is an ideal soundtrack and background music to use for your personal times of worship, soaking worship, prayer, intercession, meditation, mindfulness, relaxation, studying, or resting. Listen to “Awestruck” Listen/View on my YouTube Channel Please...

“In the Beginning” – Solo Piano Instrumental for Prayer, Meditation, Soaking Worship, Relaxation Welcome to my first new piano improvisation of 2022, appropriately titled “In The Beginning”. It’s the beginning of yet another year. I vividly remember how relieved I was to be putting 2020 behind us, thinking that we may finally be returning to a sense of normalcy in 2021. As we all know and lived, it was anything but “normal” in 2021 – although for most, far better than...

“Forever Grateful” – Solo Piano Improvisation by Fred McKinnon Hello everyone, It’s been a while (once again) since I recorded. This morning I decided that I’m going to just forget about all the work I have to do and sit down and record. I hit record and played the first chord and realized that in my rush, I hadn’t even prepared myself. I took a deep breath, whispered a quick prayer, and began to improvise. For the next six minutes, it was like escaping to another...

“Mindful Moments, Op. 8” – Solo Piano Instrumental Interludes by Fred McKinnon Released October 9, 2021 Today’s interlude is a shorter piano instrumental that is part of my “Mindful Moments” series. This series features piano improvisations that are under five minutes. My wife was talking about some of my instrumental pieces earlier this week. She is a fitness instructor and likes to play some of these instrumentals during cool down periods or for stretching. She clearly...

“Majesty” – Solo Piano Improvisation Instrumental Music for Prayer, Meditation, Relaxation, and Rest Hello friends, I absolutely love the Fall Season. By far, it’s my favorite. I was able to spend some time in the studio this morning to share this improvisation. The piano music is in the Key of Dm and the accompanying video has some beautiful imagery of Fall. I hope you enjoy it! Grace and peace, Fred McKinnon, Pianist/Composer All Video Blocks...

“Sabbatical” – Piano Instrumental Interlude for Prayer, Meditation, Relaxation Dear friends, I’m back. In case you didn’t notice, I haven’t released a new recording of my interludes through this “Worship Interludes Podcast” in nearly two full months. I basically took the entire Summer off. It was not planned. And although I’m calling this interlude “Sabbatical” – I can’t say I really took a true sabbatical. I did, however, give myself permission to hit pause on the...

“Mindful Moments, Op. 6” – Solo Piano Improvisation The “Mindful Moments” series consists of shorter improvised interludes that I’ve recorded. I don’t always hit the record button with the intention of creating one of these. Sometimes, the melody comes and works its way around the piece and resolves beautifully in a shorter amount of time. Rather than force the improvisation into an extended arrangement, I keep it short. That’s what happened this morning with the 6th...

“Creation” – Solo Piano Instrumental Music for Prayer, Meditation, Reflection, Relaxation Today’s interlude is called “creation” because it’s been a minute since I felt creative. It’s been over a month – perhaps one of the longest droughts in my creative season since starting this Worship Interludes podcast. There’s a part of me that’s ashamed. I feel strongly that I was given this gift to bring a sense of peace and comfort into the world. It’s God-given and I feel that I’ve...

“Soak” – Solo Piano Improvisation for Prayer, Meditation, Relaxation It’s been a full month since I last recorded. That may be a record for the length of time I’ve taken off from the creative/recording process. I explained this in an email that I sent to my newsletter and patrons earlier this week. You can read that letter on my Facebook Page here. Today’s interlude is a short, 6-minute improvisation. I think I had my eyes closed the entire time that I played this,...

“The Darkness” – Solo Piano Instrumental Improvisation Today’s episode is called “The Darkness” – it’s in the key of G-minor and has more of a dark, tense vibe. These are musical reflections of how I often feel when my prayer is filled with more concern or when I feel that I’m in spiritual warfare through my prayers. As you listen, pray for those around you that may be struggling with darkness in their lives. This world is full of evil, darkness, and wickedness. No person...

“Mindful Moments” – Short, Peaceful, Soothing Piano Improvisations Today I’m releasing another improvisation in the “Mindful Moments” series. These instrumentals are shorter (less than 5 minutes) and perfect for a short respite during your day. Thanks to everyone who reaches out to me with emails and social media posts and messages. It always encourages me to continue recording and releasing more instrumentals when I hear such wonderful reports of how the music is a blessing...

“Peace and Joy” – Piano Instrumental Music for Prayer, Meditation, Soaking Worship, Devotion, and Relaxation It’s refreshing to be back in the studio recording today. It’s been a while! I hope that you enjoy this instrumental improvisation. This episode includes some of the pads and synth sounds that I like to utilize from time to time as a constant layer beneath the piano. May you be filled with peace and joy. Photo by Pixabay from Pexels To enjoy a high...

“Open Spaces” – Solo Piano Improvisation, Background Music for Prayer, Meditation, Relaxation, Reflection, Devotion, Quiet Time, Soaking Worship I normally record my interludes on Tuesday mornings. Yesterday was Tuesday and I got caught up working on some administrative tasks early in the morning and simply ran out of time. That’s usually the way things work – if I don’t do this recording in the early morning, it won’t happen. I felt a longing in my soul to record this morning so...

“Strength for the Weary” – Solo Piano Improvisation, Background Music for Prayer, Meditation, Soaking Worship, Intercession, Mindfulness, Studying, and Rest Today’s interlude is called “Strength for the Weary”. It’s a gentle improvisation in the key of G Major. This morning I chose to only use the grand piano for the recording. I love having the extra pads and synths from time to time but love the space that is created when the only thing is the resonance of those piano...

“Peace Like A River” – Calm, Peaceful Piano Instrumental Improvisation Today’s interlude is a slow, lyrical, expressive solo piano improvisation. I started with a C2 chord, thinking I would be in C, but the melody landed me into the Key of G. I was a bit rushed this morning but I felt the world slow down a bit as I began to play. I don’t have a lot of backstory, inspiration, or meaning to try and write for this episode. I’ve also realized that trying to find “words” to...

“Calm the Soul” – Solo Piano Instrumental Music for Prayer, Meditation, Worship, Reflection, Relaxation Today is Saturday, January 16th. I don’t often record on Saturday mornings but I woke up with some tension in my spirit and felt this was one of the best ways to soothe my soul. I’ve had this tension in my soul all week. I’ve always had what the Bible refers to as a “gift of discernment” – but sometimes, I discern that something is up, but I don’t know what it is. All I can do...

“Trust” – Solo Piano Improvisation for Prayer, Meditation, Reflection, Relaxation As the sun set on the final days of 2020, we entered 2021 with much hope and anticipation. It hasn’t taken long to realize that 2021 is already full of its own opportunities to stress, worry, and be anxious. Personally, I would be hopeless if I did not have something … someONE … who I trust.Whom I believe in.Whom I know holds this messed up world in His hands. I hope that you will take...

“White as Snow” – Solo Piano Instrumental Improvisation by Fred McKinnon Dear Friends, MERRY CHRISTMAS. This morning’s improvisation is a soft, free-flowing piece in the key of Dm. I was imagining a peaceful, gentle snow falling. We rarely get to experience snowfall here in south Georgia but I’ve always loved seeing snow. As we approach our Christmas holiday, I’m reminded of the season and the reason that we celebrate. Christmas means so many things to me, but at the...

“Shelter” – Solo Piano Instrumental Music for Prayer, Meditation, Relaxation, Mindfulness Psalm 91 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. I pray and recite it often as it’s a beautiful reminder of God’s protection for us. Our family recently had a terrifying experience that could have been really terrible. As it turned out, things worked out OK but I was reminded of how God is a Shelter for us – a protection like no other. That was my posture this morning as I...