Northwest Indiana Harpist ~ Merrillville Vow Renewal Ceremony

Since I play so many weddings, vow renewal ceremonies are a special treat.  This one was for a couple who has been married for thirty years, and chose to renew their vows in front of a large group of family and friends at the Indiana Operating Engineers Hall in Merrillville, Indiana. 

Most vow renewal ceremonies follow a framework very similar to a wedding ceremony.  I played prelude music as the guests arrived.  As with most weddings, the start was delayed!  I always have plenty of music with me to cover as much time as needed!  Once everyone had found the hall and was ready to begin, the officiants said a prayer and gave a scripture reading.  Between this and the processional, I played "The Lord's Prayer" as an instrumental solo.

The coordinator for the event had requested continuous sacred music played softly throughout the ceremony.  I alternated harp music with a keyboardist who was part of a larger band.  The band played the processional, "Every Step of the Way" for the bridal party.  The first members to enter were also a singing with the band.  I played the traditional fanfare for the bride's entrance, and then the band picked up again with "Lord Lift Us Up" for her entrance.

The ceremony included vows, a ring exchange, Holy Communion for the couple, and feet washing.  Not easy to get up and down off the floor in a wedding dress!  The band also played and sang a song that had been composed for the couple and "Take That" as a recessional.  Since the guests were already seated at the dining tables, they were able to go immediately into the meal service.

Whether you didn't have the wedding of your dreams when you were originally married, or if you just want a wonderful reason to celebrate your relationship, a vow renewal can be a beautiful and meaningful service.  We would love to provide the music for you!  Just give us a call at 1-877-HARP-578 or visit our website,
Northwest Indiana Harpist, for more information.

Central Illinois Harpist ~ Strawn Art Gallery Party

This was the first chance that I ever had to play at the Strawn Art Gallery in Jacksonville, Illinois.  The event was for a birthday party for a long time Jacksonville resident.  The music selected for the event stayed more within the realm of classical music, but also included a few well known popular pieces and jazz standards.

Are you planning a party in Central Illinois?  We would love to provide elegant background music to entertain your guests!  Visit our website, Central Illinois Harpist, or email me for more information at jeff@theclassicharpist.com.

10 Tips for a Perfect Wedding Processional

Order of the Processional 

The wedding officially begins with the seating of the family members.  Depending upon their mobility, some grandparents and older relatives may opt to sit earlier, and avoid walking down the aisle with everyone watching them.

Traditionally, the woman is escorted by an usher, with the man following behind them in the center of the aisle.

Order of parents and grandparents:

• Bride's paternal grandparents
• Bride's maternal grandparents
• Groom's paternal grandparents
• Groom's maternal grandparents
• Groom's parents (or father & step-mother followed by mother & step-father)
• Bride's mother/parents (or father & step-mother followed by mother & step-father)

Once the family is seated, the officiant & groom enter (sometimes they enter prior to the seating of families - your choice!).  The best man and groomsmen may enter with them, or escort the bridesmaids down the aisle.

 

Order of bridal party:

• Junior Bridesmaids
• Bridesmaids, starting with the one who will be standing farthest away from the bride
• Matron of Honor
• Maid of Honor
• Ring Bearer
• Flower Girl
• Bride

If you have other members of your wedding party, use this as a guide:  the closer you are to the bride's entrance, the greater the honor! 

  

Processional Tips

1.  Have a rehearsal.  This gives your bridal party a chance to know where to stand, when to move, and it also allows them to find the venue prior to your wedding day!

2.  Start your rehearsal with everyone in place at the front.  From there, it is easier to walk out in order, and keep everyone in place to practice the processional.

3.  If your wedding is outdoors, be sure the aisle is free of anything that could be a tripping hazard.  If the ground is muddy, consider moving inside ~ high heels sink!  You might also want to avoid using an aisle runner.  They can mask holes and dips in the ground, and are difficult to walk on if the ground is uneven.

4. If you do not have a coordinator (either provided by the church/venue or hired on your own), designate someone to get the bridal party lined up and sent down the aisle. This person should also cue your musicians when everyone is ready, so that the music you selected can be played at the right time.

 5. Place your musicians somewhere they can see the processional (the front & back of the aisle) when the bridal party is in place. If I can't see what is happening, I can't make the music fit perfectly!

6. Remind your bridal party to smile!

7. Have a designated time when each member of the bridal party starts their walk down the aisle (when the person in front of them gets to the third row, etc.).

8.  The bride does not follow tip #7.  The musicians will be watching for the last member of the wedding party to get into place, and then will change the processional music for the bride.  Listen for this change before you enter.  Your musicians have a good view of the ceremony, and will know when everyone is lined up and ready for your entrance.  Wait for it!   

9.  Kids are unpredictable.  If you are having young children in your wedding party, be prepared to be upstaged!  This can be a good thing (super cute) or a bad thing (temper tantrum).  If the kids are overwhelmed by the attention, they may not walk down the aisle the way they practiced the day before.  Have a parent close by to help them along or take them out of the processional if they just aren't able to do it.

10.  Breathe - and walk slowly!  This is the moment you've been waiting for.  Take your time as you walk down the aisle, and make eye contact with your groom.  The parents should stand to signal to the guests when they should rise for the bride's entrance.


Are you interested in having your walk down the aisle accompanied by live harp music?  Visit our website, The Classic Harpist, or call 1-877-HARP-578 for more information!

Champaign Illinois Harpist ~ Wedding Music

April 16th was to have been my first outdoor wedding ceremony of the year, but strong winds, dropping temperatures and rain forced the event inside.  When you are planning an outdoor wedding, you have to be flexible - and have a solid back-up plan!

The Plan B for this wedding was an indoor location at the same venue, the Baytowne Apartments Clubhouse in Champaign, IL.  They have a lovely room with a fireplace that served as a backdrop for the ceremony and many of the pre-wedding photographs.  There was also a piano and large windows, so we could all watch the rain and be glad we weren't out in it!

This date was not only special to the bride and groom, but also to the parents of the bride.  They were celebrating their 57th wedding anniversary that day! 

Prelude music on the Laurel Leaf lever harp greeted guests as they arrived, and the maid of honor entered to "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera.  The bride opted for the traditional "Bridal Chorus" by Wagner, and the recessional was "Trumpet Tune". 

I was supposed to play "Fields of Gold" as an instrumental solo after the vows and ring exchange, but I got skipped!  No problem - I just played it immediately after the recessional, so the bride and groom were still around to hear it. 

As the ceremony concluded, the guests offered their congratulations to the bride and groom, and headed to the reception in the clubhouse dining area.  Here's to 57+ years together!

Jeff and I are available to provide wedding music in Champaign-Urbana and throughout Central Illinois.  Visit our website, Champaign Illinois Wedding Music, or call 1-877-HARP-578 for more information.

Springfield IL Wedding Planning ~ Piper Glen Bridal Expo

This was the first year that Piper Glen Golf Club hosted a bridal expo for Springfield area brides to meet with a select group of vendors to help them plan their weddings.  It was a small show, which meant that we had lots of time to really talk to the brides who attended and to meet the other vendors. 

The show was set up on the lawn in their Grand Tent.  We were glad they turned on the heaters!  If you'd like the beauty of an outdoor wedding without the hassle and reliance on the weather, a tent with windows is the way to go.  Even better when it is climate controlled!  Make an appointment with MJ at Piper Glen to see the space in person.  We're looking forward to booking weddings there this summer and for 2012!

Visit our website:

Springfield Illinois Wedding Harpist

You can also call 1-877-HARP-578 for more information about having harp music for your wedding at Piper Glen or anywhere else in the Springfield area!  Other vendors at the show included:

Nelson's Catering of Central Illinois
Party Creations Florist and Rentals
Bella Amore Bridal
Pasfield House
Schroeder's DJ Service

Harp Lessons in Central Illinois ~ Pine Tree Studio

Starting this summer, I will be offering harp lessons at Pine Tree Studio in downtown Jacksonville, Illinois.  This is a new space operated by Terri Benz (who will be teaching piano, voice and music masterworks classes), and also features dulcimer instruction with Mike Anderson. 

On Sunday, April 10th, we celebrated the new space with an open house.  It was wonderful to meet new people and get reacquainted with colleagues from I knew from when I grew up in Jacksonville!

There is a waiting room; a large teaching room for group classes; a library for reading, listening (and coffee!); and a smaller teaching/practice room.

Harp lessons cover classical and traditional repertoire on both the pedal (orchestral) and lever (Celtic or Irish) harp.  Students learn Salzedo technique along with music theory, ear training, harp maintenance and music history.  Ensemble, performance, and competition opportunities are available for interested students.

You do not need to have any previous musical experience to begin harp lessons.  Music reading can be taught along with the basics of harp technique for students who are not already familiar with it.  Students ages six through adults are welcome in my studio, and I love working with all levels, from beginners to advanced performers.

Rental harps are available from several sources in Chicago, IL, Bloomington, IN, and other locations.  I can assist you with locating a pedal or lever harp to purchase or rent.

Please contact me (1-877-HARP-578) if you are interested in signing up for harp lessons, need a rental harp, or have any questions!
Harp Lessons Jacksonville   Harp Lesson Springfield  Harp Lessons Quincy    Harp Lessons Lincoln  Harp Lessons Carlinville  Harp Lessons Jerseyville    Harp Lessons Taylorville  Harp Lessons Macomb

Anniversary Party ~ Springfield, IL Harpist

On Friday, I was hired by the daughter-in-law of the celebrating couple to provide harp music for the party she was hosting for them on Sunday afternoon.  It's never too late to call and check our availability!

In honor of their 60th anniversary, family and friends gathered in Springfield, Illinois, to enjoy a luncheon reception and have family photos taken.  I played as the guests arrived and during the luncheon.  The room was decorated in lavender, sage and yellow ~ the colors that they used for the original wedding.  The chair sashes held a purple pansy, and the centerpieces were forsythia and other yellow spring flowers.  There was even a two-tiered cake for the guests to enjoy!

When I play for anniversary parties, I always make some music selections that were popular when the couple got married.  Songs such as "Earth Angel", "Blueberry Hill" and "Some Enchanted Evening" are a hit!  They are familiar to the guests of honor, and well suited to the harp.

We are available to provide harp music for events throughout Springfield.  Please visit our website, Springfield Harpist, for more information!

New Popular Music for Harp

My repertoire list is constantly growing, both with pieces that I like and want to learn and with client requests.  Before the wedding season really gets going, I like to add a few popular pieces to my play lists.  Some of these are not necessarily wedding music, but the latest additions are:

• A Thousand Miles; as performed by Vanessa Carlton
• Glitter in the Air; as performed by Pink
• Haven't Met You Yet; as performed by Michael Bublé
• I Never Told You; as performed by Colbie Caillat
• Smile; as performed by Uncle Kracker
• Sweet Child O' Mine; as performed by Guns N' Roses

You can also visit the repertoire lists on my website to see more harp music available:

• Classical harp music
• Popular, Broadway & jazz harp music
• Folk & Celtic harp music
• Sacred harp music
• Jewish harp music
• Holiday harp music

New Harp Demo Recording ~ Springfield, IL

Every few years, I update and add new clips of my harp playing to my website.  Since I was going to be in Central Illinois for the week, I decided to record my latest demo at DRC Studios in Springfield. 

There were a few times I thought the harp and I might not make it down the winding stairs and into the low-ceilinged studio in one piece.  Although I do have several bruises, the harp arrived unscathed!  The first hour or so always is spent setting mics, tuning and re-tuning the harp, and adjusting sound levels. 

After everything was set, I played parts of about 15 different pieces.  Some of the new recordings include "Arioso", "Romanza", "Come Sail Away", "Try to Remember", "Prelude in C", "Time to Say Goodbye" and "Meditation from Thais".

Jeff had to make a special drive down just to help me retrieve the harp from the studio.  Such a good harp husband!  It got out much easier than it went down.  Having two experienced harp movers, we just tipped it on its column, held on tight, and carried it most of the way out.

Check the website in the next few weeks for the new clips, and contact us if you are looking for a harpist in Central Illinois!

Northwest Indiana Harpist ~ Gala Dinner Reception

The evening of April 2nd, the organization Parents as Teachers of Lake County hosted a gala dinner reception and fundraiser at the Wicker Park Social Center in Highland, Indiana.  Guests were able to bid on items in a silent auction, enjoy a plated dinner, and take home bags of treats from a candy bar.

The room was decorated beautifully, with blue uplighting and twinkle lights that became even more noticable as it the night progressed.  I played for the first two hours of the event, during cocktails, the silent auction, and dinner service.

I've provided harp music for several wedding ceremonies and receptions at Wicker Park, but this was the first non-wedding event I've played for in their ballroom.  I'd be happy to speak with you about enhancing any event with live harp music ~ just visit my website:  Northwest Indiana Harpist for more information, or call 1-877-HARP-578.

If you would like to find out more about Parents as Teachers of Lake County, visit their website, http://www.patlakecounty.org/

South Bend Harpist ~ St. Joseph County Library

As a part of One Book, One Michiana, the St. Joseph County Public Library held several events at the beginning of April tied into the book Rocket Boys.  On the afternoon of April 2nd, they held an edible books festival.  Several area bakeries, colleges, and grocery stores created cakes that were inspired by the book.  The public was invited to judge the entries, and the organizers invited me to play during the judging time and afterwards as moon pies and lemonade were served.

Since most of the events for which I play are private, this was a great opportunity for many more members of the community to get to hear the harp and see it up close.  Kids always have lots of questions - most want to know if I play with the symphony!  The teenagers are always surprised to hear me play Coldplay and Styx, but I thought "Come Sail Away" was especially appropriate given the theme of this event. 

Whether you are planning a wedding, party, or community event, we'd love to work with you and provide harp music to fit any occasion.  Visit our website, The Classic Harpist - South Bend Harp Music, for more details.

Ludington Michigan Harpist ~ Cornerstone Baptist Wedding

On the weekend of our seventh wedding anniversary, Jeff and I spent some time in Ludington, Michigan.  Of course, part of that mini getaway was playing for a wedding ceremony!  My sister and I had taken a road trip around Lake Michigan a few years ago, and one of our must-stop places was Grocer's Daughter Chocolates in Empire.  Jeff thought he didn't like truffles, until he tried their pomegranate one!  If you are anywhere near Traverse City, be sure to visit.  It was a couple of hours north of where we were staying, but well worth the drive!

The wedding ceremony was held at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Ludington, MI.  During the summer, this is a busy lakeside town, but it was much more relaxed and peaceful when there was still some snow on the ground.  The bride chose classical music, but not the most traditional selections.  As the daughter of a retired band director, she has good taste! 

One special selection during the prelude was the hymn "As the Deer".  I played the Welsh lullaby "Suogan" for the seating of the mothers, followed by "Canon in D" for the bridal party entrance.  The bride's processional was "Arioso" by Bach, and the lighting of the unity candle was Godefroid's "Romance without Words".  She chose an upbeat version of "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" for the recessional.

The flower girl was absolutely precious!  She took her job very seriously, carefully placing a handful of petals with each step as she walked down the aisle.  On the way back out of the church, she began to pick them all up again!  Kids in weddings are unpredictable, so I always keep a close eye on them during the processional.  Some run down the aisle, some go very slowly, and some just won't go at all.  No matter what happens with the youngest members of your bridal party, I keep the music going so it always fits perfectly!

We are happy to travel throughout northern Michigan to provide music for weddings.  Please visit our website for more information:

Michigan Wedding Harpist

Dinner Party Harpist - Strongbow Inn Valparaiso, Indiana

Recently, I got the chance to play background music for a dinner reception at the Strongbow Inn, located in Valpariso, Indiana. While I have played at Strongbow Inn many times before, and have played dinner or reception music for several events, this one was a first for me in a unique way!

It was a first for me in the fact that I've never played for an 8th grade girls' and boys' basketball team dinner. The teams were visiting the Valparaiso area to participate in a tournament at Valparaiso University. I may have been hired by the adults at the dinner, but it was the kids who had the most questions for me about the harp.

During the event I played many popular selections that some of the members of the boys team that happened to be sitting by me were able to recognize and name the pieces that I played. What made this event truly great was that they were able to put the whole thing together in a matter of days, including hiring me the day before!

If you are ever in need of a last minute harpist or musician for your event, just contact us!