by oldwp | Oct 17, 2011 | Uncategorized
As “Chicago’s favorite strolling violinist”, I am always amazed by the musical requests during this time of year and I am equally amazed that people really don’t have a favorite so they request that I pick one of mine. With over 500 songs memorized (actually I stopped counting when I got to 500!), I had to come up with a few favorites. I thought if you ever needed to request a song from a strolling violinist, this list would be most helpful!
My top ten musical requests ffrom my audiences have been (and personal favorites, too!)…
1. Autumn from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
2. Autumn Leaves
3. October Sky
4. Moonlight in Vermont
5. September Song
6. Memories from Cats
7. Moonglow and other Halloween favorites – please see my post for the “Dead Composers Society Orchestra”…click here
8. Anything to do with Columbus Day – Lady of Spain, Italian medleys
9. Let Me Call You Sweetheart – for Sweetest Day
10. Anything by Charles Ives whose birthday is October 20th (requested by my husband and mega Ives fan, Chicago band leader, Roy Vombrack)
by oldwp | Aug 1, 2011 | Uncategorized
Come one, come all to the Elgin Harvest Market this Thursday, August 4th from noon to 1:30 p.m. to enjoy Chicago’s favorite strolling violinist, Jennifer Silk! This week’s performance will the Jazz Consortium leader, Roy Vombrack manning the booth. Jennifer’s greatest hits cd and her holiday cd, “A Christmas Carol” will be available for sale. Also available for purchase is the “Women’s Professional Musicians Club Music Portfolio”. These fantastic arrangements by Roy Vombrack are wonderful additions to your sheet music library. For more information and purchasing – https://www.jennifersilk.com/shopping_cart.html
by oldwp | Oct 19, 2010 | Uncategorized
Selecting the music for your wedding ceremony is one of the easiest and most enjoyable parts of the wedding planning process – next to the tasting, of course! For those who might not believe me, I would like to offer some helpful observations from having performed for over 5,000 events.
This is the easy part: Start with focusing on only 3 pieces of music to select – the processional for the bridal party, the bridal processional and the recessional. In musical terms, that is your “theme” and then come the “variations” -prelude/the seating of the families, the interlude/unity candle, the postlude as the guests leave and the 5-6 pieces of pre-ceremony music.
Even 3 songs can seem overwhelming so let’s narrow it down to only one. I start every wedding music consultation with “what would you like to walk down the aisle to?” There are numerous scientific studies that prove that when we are excited, the first thing that happens is we lose our sense of hearing. Just knowing that bit of information can help you! How? By selecting a more familiar piece of music, everyone involved knows what their cue is.
Stay away from the 3 P’s – Perfection, Procrastination and Paralysis – When I want something perfect and I don’t know how to make it that way, I will procrastinate or put off making a decision for fear of it being the wrong one. Then I am paralyzed with not knowing what to do next so then I don’t want to do anything. Overloading your ipod with tons of music of different wedding music collections and then scheduling and cancelling your music consultation would indicate that you might know what I am referring to and it’s okay.
Your music consultation ideally is to be scheduled with your wedding musician or agent 2-4 weeks before the ceremony. I suggest having a telephone consultation that lasts between 20 -30 minutes. Most of that time is spent getting to know about the two of you and how the music will highlight your beautiful love story. This is the fun part!
What should you do now? Why take a deep breath, smile and enjoy this wonderful time of your life!
