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5 Essential Aspects To Consider When Choosing Your Wedding Music

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 13:39:26 +0100

1) Check the credentials of the musician(s) carefully

Although you should value the opinions of friends and family, sometimes just relying on this can backfire when choosing your wedding music. You research should go further by checking a musician or band's website, their testimonials and references. In most cases, live video often indicates how they will look and sound on the day.

Better still, go to one of their live gigs, but don't totally rely on audio clips on their website as these can be edited in a studio or on a computer.

2) Book early and sign a contract

Make sure you book the musician(s) in plenty of time, at least 6 months in advance, and sign a contract with them. You can pay a deposit, usually around 25%, and you will find most bands have a cancellation fee policy so check this carefully. You should also verify that they have public liability insurance. Most policies cover up to £1 million or even more.

3) Check the size of the venue and see if there is enough space for the musician(s)

You will undoubtedly go to the venue on a few occasions as you make preparations for the wedding, but make sure on one of your visits you decide where you would like the musician(s) to set up. If you are hiring a wedding band then ideally they should perform in front of a large open space as your guests will want to dance to the music in the evening.

Also, check if there are enough power sockets for them to use. Two or three should be fine for a 4-10 piece band as they should have their own extension cables and 4-way connectors.

4) What type of music do you want?

You should think about what the guests like as well as yourself. Can the musician(s) play different styles of music from different eras? Some of the older guests may want to hear some classics from the 60s, such as music by The Beatles and Elvis Presley, where as the youngsters will want to hear some more modern tunes. However, as long as the wedding musician(s) can play a mixture of songs, it normally goes down well with all the guests.

5) How long should the band play for?

Make sure you think about this carefully. The musicians you choose should possess an extensive repertoire of songs, but you need to plan when you would like them to start and finish, particularly for the evening entertainment.

For a live band, normally 3 x 45 minute sets is a good length as they can then provide music for at least 3 hours with breaks. You should also check if they supply music during their breaks, playing music through an iPod or another music device.

Top 10 Pieces of Wedding Ceremony Music

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 19:34:48 +0100

Post contributed by Sarah on behalf of Weddzilla.com, an inspirational wedding blog for every lovely bride and bride to be.

With every detail of weddings being planned down to the sugar sprinkles on the biscuits, don’t make the mistake of forgetting the music for the ceremony. There is no obligation to go with the classic “Here Comes the Bride”, although it’s frequently used for onscreen nuptials. Below is a list of popular pieces of wedding ceremony music that combine a sense of grandeur with a celebratory feel.

The Bridal Chorus by Richard Wagner.

Used for the entry of the bride. It is also known, colloquially, as “Here Comes the Bride”. Wagner wrote it for his romantic opera Lohengrin, which in actual fact ends unhappily with the lovers separated. Despite this, it is the classic starter tune for Western weddings.

Wedding March by Felix Mendelssohn.

Generally used for the exit of the bride and groom. It is often paired with Wagner’s Bridal Chorus. Composed as incidental music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Pachelbel’s Canon by Johann Pachelbel.

For the bride’s processional music. Lovely played by a string quartet. It was written in the seventeenth century, but lost until it was rediscovered in the early twentieth century. Pachelbel’s Canon in is renowned for being the basis of many pop songs, by bands from The Beatles to My Chemical Romance. It’s easy on the ear and its repetitive structure means it’s simple to walk in step to.

The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by George Frideric Handel.

Despite the name, this is a popular choice for the exit of the wedded couple. It’s a lively piece with a really celebratory feel.

Crown Imperial by William Walton.

This is a regal tune, for those who want to feel like a princess. It was first performed at the coronation of King George VI, but was more recently employed by royalty in the wedding ceremony of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The Prince of Denmark’s March by Jeremiah Clarke.

This elegant piece was the processional music for the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana. Clarke was an organist for St Paul’s Cathedral and this piece is usually played on the organ. However, there is a famous adaptation which features a trumpet highly, as well as strings and organ.

Highland Cathedral by Ulrich Roever and Michael Korb.

To be played on the clarsach (Scottish Gaelic harp). Used as entrance music for the bride. Composed for a Highland Games in Germany, but often played at wedding ceremonies in Scotland. It has even been suggested as a possible candidate for Scottish National Anthem.

Wedding March by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Usually chosen as processional music. It comes from Mozart’s opera, The Marriage of Figaro. An authoritative tune to make people sit up and listen.

9. Air by George Frideric Handel.

Part of Handel’s Water Music Suite. A gentle tune; much daintier than some on this list and with less pomp. Well suited for the processional of the bride and bridesmaids.

10. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do by Abba.

The wild card in this list. Can seem incongruous at a church wedding, but is well suited to a relaxed, informal atmosphere. This song creates that truly upbeat feeling that people want from recessional music. Have an instrumental version played on piano or organ and you can combine classy and jolly.

Whatever you choose, make sure it is a piece that fits you and the feeling you wish to have at your ceremony. Whether you want music that is rousing and grand or rather more sedate and gentle, there is no right answer.

Wedding at Wentworth Golf Club

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 19:31:08 +0100

As a keen golfer, I can tell you I couldn't believe my luck when I was asked to perform at one of England's most prestigious golf clubs. The main hallway contains a row of golf clubs, that previous winners have donated, such as Lee Westwood's putter, one of Seve Ballesteros' irons and Miguel Angel Jimenez's driver.

For the wedding entrance, I played the Bridal Chorus, for the signing, 'Afternoon Delight' from the film Anchorman, which was an interesting choice and Here Comes The Sun for the exit.

I need to make sure I play a round of golf there next time!

How To Avoid A Wedding Music Mishap - Pick The Right Musicians

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 15:42:23 +0100

E Joseph Crossman stated that “Love is friendship set to music “and this is certainly true when it comes to planning a wedding and getting married. Choosing the right music for your wedding and hiring the right musicians are essential elements that demand special consideration and due care. This article will address some of the key points you need to think about in planning the music for your wedding.

Think about the size of the venue and guest list

A good initial point to think about is the number of guests you plan to invite and the size of the venue. If you are planning an intimate wedding, then look at hiring a harpist, classical guitarist, violinist or piano player. At a larger venue, you could think about a string quartet, or a duo act such as violin and piano, or guitar and voice. Some instruments will work well in either setting; a wedding pianist or guitarist could use an amplifier to boost the sound.

Check with the contact person about what music is appropriate

Some venues, particularly churches, have certain rules on what music is allowed. At this stage, it is certainly worth phoning the contact person at the venue, as you may find your favourite death metal track is a clear no no!

Will my song choices work on the instrument(s) I have chosen?

This question is often overlooked, but extremely important in planning a wedding. Inform the musician(s) about your song choices for the ceremony and see if they are happy to play them. How will your favourite jazz standard sound on the harp? Will that piece of classical music really suit a guitar and vocal duet? Usually, everything works out fine, but I can recall one or two weddings ceremonies where some great songs have simply not worked on the chosen instruments. If in doubt, ask the musician(s) for their advice.

Check the quality of the musicians

So you know the songs and the instruments you want to hear them on, but what about the musicians themselves? Check their website thoroughly by watching videos and reading testimonials. Do not totally rely on audio recordings as they can be edited in a studio. Better still, see them live. The advantage of choosing musicians in your area is that they might play gigs in a local venue. Finally, make sure they have a booking agreement you can both sign.

Hire musicians who are versatile

Can the musician(s) play for the reception as well as the ceremony? This can be a real bonus and take away the hassle of finding a different act for another part of the wedding. You may find certain instruments, such as a harp, violin or string quartet are best suited for just the ceremony, where as a pianist, guitarist or a duo act can usually play for the ceremony and reception. These types of acts usually possess a wide repertoire and offer versatility when it comes to playing different genres of music. This is important as your guests will undoubtedly have different tastes in music.

As a final point to consider, trust your instinct when it comes to hiring musicians for your wedding. Do they seem professional? Are they taking too long to send you a booking agreement? If something does not feel right, then don’t book them. There are plenty of other musicians out there who will do a great job for you. Music is one of the most memorable aspects of a wedding and if you consider your options carefully, you are bound to make the right choice.

Essential Qualities To Have As A Jazz Musician (Part 2)

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 17:44:48 +0100

Here is the second part of the qualities you should possess to be an accomplished jazz musician

5) Personal Sound

In learning the qualities you should possess in being a skilful jazz musician, it is often easy to overlook the importance of personal sound. You can possess amazing technique, display superb harmonic and melodic control in your playing, but if you do not have your own unique sound, then it can make it difficult for people to identify you as a performer. Listen to the great players and it is astonishing how many different sounds are possible, from the rich vibrato of Ben Webster on the saxophone, to the percussive piano playing of Michel Camilo.

6) Interaction Ability

To play jazz proficiently, you need to interact with the other musicians in the band. If you play with “your ears closed” and only focus on what you are playing, then you could start to sound boring, unoriginal and in the worst case, get lost in the music!

To get around this problem, really have “your ears open” when you are performing and pay attention to what the other musicians are playing. As a piano player, I try to listen to what the soloist is doing when I am comping and attempt a musical conversation with them by playing in the space. I also like to pay particular attention to the drummer and feed of their ideas or throw out some of my own to see if they respond. It makes performing in a group much more enjoyable and it really enhances your playing.

7) The Blues

As well as knowing all the advanced scales to improvise with, it is easy to forget about the blues. If you are using some sophisticated lines in your playing, it is good to mix things up every so often by throwing in some blues licks. It keeps things fresh for the listener and shows your versatility as a musician. During a solo, I often like to start with the blues and use if for half or a full chorus as it provides a nice platform to build your solo from. Alternatively, you could also try using the blues at the climax of your solo. Oscar Peterson is a master of using the blues in jazz and I highly recommend listening to his recordings, although his technique is tough to emulate!

8) Innovation

Finally, you need to demonstrate the ability to innovate and create unique musical characteristics in your playing. This is easier said than done, but the more you look back at the greats and study their playing, you can learn to create your own ideas. Indeed many of the jazz artists of recent times fuse different genres of music together to create some superb pieces of music and innovative styles.

These eight features highlight some of the key features you should possess in order to be a successful a jazz musician. I am sure there are others which I have not mentioned and if any of you can think of any, I would love to hear from you!

The willingness to improve and further your skills as a performer should never stop as there are always new pieces to learn, new people to listen to and new styles to master, which is what is so great about jazz.

Good luck and have fun practicing!

Essential Qualities To Have As A Jazz Musician (Part 1)

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:02:25 +0100

One of my first piano teachers told me it takes 7 years to become a proficient jazz musician. I remember being puzzled by this statement when I first heard it thinking how can you possibly quantify this. Why not 3,6 or 8 years?

Maybe he thought I was a bad student and only I needed 7 years!

Looking back I should have realised he was merely referring to the amount of practice that is required and a better analogy would be Gladwell’s 10,000 hour rule in terms of mastering a particular skill or subject.

The list below is the first of a two part article on useful qualities that every jazz musician should have in their locker every time they play a solo.

1) Harmonic, Melodic and Rhythmic Control

For improvising, striking the right balance between following the changes (vertical) and creating exciting melodic lines with rhythmic interest (horizontal) can take a long time to master.

As a jazz musician, you have to know your harmony and be willing to practise numerous lines in 12 keys to master melodic and rhythmic control. I am a big advocate of playing the drums as a second instrument as a poor sense of rhythm is a real weakness I see in students.

2) Pacing

Pacing a solo is also important and there are a couple of ways to approach it. You can come out of the blocks all guns blazing at the beginning and then slow it down, before a big climax at the end. Alternatively, you can start slow, leaving lots of space and gradually build to a big finish at the end. Of the two, I generally prefer the latter, but there have been times when I have started a solo with a great double time lick!

3) Technique

This always seems like the least fun part of practising as a jazz musician. However, a good way to think about it is “Greater technique leads to greater expression” i.e. you can play more of what you want with better technique.

Instead of practising all your major, minor, diminished scales, arpeggios etc in the same methodical way, mix it up, by playing a variety of patterns, both rhythmically and melodically. This will make it more fun for you to play, enabling you to play more interesting solos and progress quicker.

4) Swing sensibility

You can play all the right notes in the right places, but if you don’t have the right feel it often won’t sound good. You need to develop a good sense of swing and this comes easier for certain musicians than others.

For me personally, it took quite a while to get the right feel, but I found listening to a ton of jazz solos by the piano greats such as Bud Powell, Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly, Red Garland, Oscar Peterson and Herbie Hancock helped me a lot.

Transcribing a solo and playing along with the original is also a superb way of obtaining the right feel you are after.

Be sure to check out the second part on other qualities you should possess as a jazz musician

Wedding at the Marriott County Hall Hotel in Westminster

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 09:27:49 +0100

Last Saturday, I played at the Marriott County Hall Hotel in Westminster. Wedding locations don't get much more central than this, and it was amazing to have a view of Big Ben and the Thames from the window.

It was an intimate wedding with only a handful of guests and fortunately there was a nice Kawai grand available to use for the ceremony (I didn't fancy driving into the centre of London on a Saturday with my digital keyboard!).

I played a different version of the Wedding chorus for the entrance and 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight' from the Lion King for the exit. For the reception I played a mixture of jazz piano and some film score soundtracks.

Check out some of the pics below.

2 Gigs in one day

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:04:34 +0100

On Saturday, I played solo piano at a wedding in East Sussex. I performed in a marquee and although it was quite blustery outside, it was a lovely day and a DJ provided the entertainment after my set. I went straight from there to a gig at the Prince of Wales in Reigate, performing with The Velvet Undertones. It was another great gig with lots of positive feedback. Our website is currently being updated but it should be completed soon!

Wedding at Wotton House, near Dorking, Surrey

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 22:06:34 +0100

I performed a 2 hour set for a wedding breakfast at Wotton House today. I was really pleased that the couple had gone for a variety of entertainment, including a vocalist, who was on before me, and a comic and a DJ for the evening set. I'm sure that all went down really with the guests.

I enjoyed meeting Kevin of Howlin Comedy Club and wished I was able to see his set, as I know his comedy act involved using a keyboard, a bit like the Bill Bailey or Dudley Moore!

The Best Ways To Start Learning The Piano

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:02:58 +0100

If you want to learn to play the piano, where on earth do you start?

It's a tough question. To begin with, most of us can't afford to splash out on a grand piano, so a good place to start is to buy a good keyboard. Whether it's a second-hand one which has given its previous owner years of pleasure or a brand-spanking new one, once you've got it home the fun can begin. If you don't have the money to pay for piano lessons from a good teacher, buying some piano tuition books and piano sheet music is crucial.

Tip #1 - Learn theory

It may sound dull, but believe it or not the best way to learn the piano and love it is to learn the theory behind the music. You may feel overwhelmed with all the talk of intervals, seconds through sixths, triad chords, key signatures, meters and eighth notes - but never fear! There are many piano beginner's theory books out there which will lead you through such things and help you understand how to read notes, including sharps and flats.

Tip #2 - Start slow

You are not going to be able to sit down at your piano and become a master overnight. Learning the piano takes time, so it's important not to get frustrated. Start slow by buying yourself a piano instruction book with easy-to-follow text and clear demonstration diagrams for things like "how to sit correctly" and "learning the keys". These type of books will get you into good habits early - you don't want to pick up bad ones as they can be hard to break.

Tip #3 - Chords are cool

Now you're picking up the basics, it's time to start learning some chords and expand your piano skills. Whether you enjoy rock, jazz, blues, country or pop music, a book such as an encyclopaedia of colour picture chords will help you find the chords you need quickly and easily. You'll also learn about two-handed chord voicings, chord theory, chord inversions and techniques common to all types of music. You could even buy a book with an enclosed CD so you can play along to professional backing tracks - progressing your journey from beginner to novice!

Tip #4 - Buy sheet music you love

Whatever your taste in music, there are plenty of websites out there with free and downloadable sheet music for piano. However, although it may sound close to the real thing it's unlikely to be 100% accurate, and that's where piano music sheets comes in. Many of today's big artists such as Coldplay or Adele have official sheet music songbooks and playing recognisable tunes will really impress your friends!

Tip #5 - Gain confidence

Now you've mastered the basics and can play along to your favourite tunes, it's important to practice practice practice. It sounds obvious but the more you practice the more your confidence will increase. Perhaps you can join a band? Offer your services for a local church or choir? Or maybe you could play in an open mic night? Whatever you do with your new-found skills you're bound to get some applause and see confidence in yourself increase - and that's why we love the piano.

This guest post was written by MusicRoom.com