My Friends,

I can still remember sitting at the piano bench as a boy, with my mother telling me there would come a time when I would appreciate the ability to play the hymns from a hymn book and that others would be blessed by my musical talent. 

I wish I had the maturity then to value the efforts of my mom and piano teacher encouraging me to practice piano. It is ironic that for the past 20 years, I have spent thousands of hours at a piano writing, arranging, and recording hundreds of piano solos and other music. 

More than half of the songs I have created have been hymn arrangements. My younger self on the piano bench would be surprised that my music has been played and listened to by millions of people. I’m always looking for beautiful melodies and have found that some of the best music and melodies are found in old hymns. 

I’ve come to realize great music isn’t tied to any specific religion or denomination, and that through the music you can help others to feel the Spirit. This project started as an idea years ago with my music books, as I would attempt to share a small piece of the story behind how a hymn had been written. There was never enough space to share the full story though. With the help of my friend, Glenn Rawson and my mother, Jean Tonioli, we have been able to research and write stories about the composers and authors of some of the most beloved hymns. 

In some ways, I feel like we are seeing a proper end to what started as a “piano war” with my mom and I at the piano bench with her prediction that one day the time spent practicing the hymns would pay off and bless the lives of others. Hopefully her predictions are true, and these stories and the music that comes with them will help draw many people closer to the Savior. 

Jason Tonioli