Spring Weddings

I've been fortunate so far this summer - nearly all of my weddings have been outdoor, and not a single rain-out! It's been a great start to the "season". A few pictures:

The beautiful flowers at my wedding on June 15th were done by the Flower Cart in Chesterton, Indiana. Although it was definitely on the warm side, Aberdeen Manor has a nice spot in the shade for the harp. The monogram made out of rose petals in the aisle was a theme that the couple carried throughout their wedding, from the programs that served as fans to the personalized hand towels in the restrooms!

A new wedding location for me: the Potawatomi Inn at Pokagon State Park in Angola, Indiana. Another hot day! I also learned that I shouldn't wear high heels when playing on a slatted wood surface - it makes pedaling even more difficult! It was hard to keep the harp in tune due to the high temperatures, but we were able to stay inside until just before the wedding began. Makes for a short prelude!

The two weddings for which I played on June 9th were at a couple of my favorite locations - South Bend's Center for History Gardens and Valparaiso's Aberdeen Manor. The couple that got married at Aberdeen are also musicians, and picked some great pieces! They started with a prelude of all classical music, and then switched to popular and jazz for the processionals and ceremony. The recessional was a quartet singing "All You Need is Love", which I followed up with "Grow Old Along with Me."

I returned to Foster Park's Bridal Glen on June 2nd. The rain held off just long enough for the beautiful ceremony! That night, I got to play my Celtic harp for a birthday party in Valparaiso. It was a lot of time on the road! Fortunately, my wonderful husband and "harp roadie" was able to come along and keep me company - and of course, move the harps!

Memorial Day weekend was another busy one - four weddings! I played at Swan Lake in Plymouth, Indiana for the first time, and had the pleasure of working with a wonderful violinist. It was a bit drizzly, but the gazebo there provided plenty of shelter to keep the harp and violin dry. That night was a reception at Strongbow Inn where I got what I think was a compliment - I had just started, and a guest walked by and said "Oh, you're actually playing!" Perhaps I sound like a CD? I guess that's pretty good!

On the following Sunday, I had a ceremony and then a reception - both in Valparaiso. It was a busy weekend, but extremely enjoyable. Good thing I had my trusty roadie!

Wedding Prelude Music

This in when your wedding really begins! Your first guests start to arrive, and they are greeted by the sounds of music. For most brides, this seems to be a difficult time to plan. Since the prelude can last anywhere from five minutes to an hour, it seems like an overwhelming task to anticipate what you will need to select for this time. Hopefully, some of the answers below will help!

1. What is the prelude?
The prelude is the music played as your guests are arriving, before the processional begins. Generally slower pieces are used, to emphasize the solemnity of the occasion and help guests settle in. Sometimes families are seated during the prelude; you may also select a separate piece of music for their entrances.

2. When will you start to play?
My wedding ceremony contracts begin 15 minutes prior to the scheduled starting time of your ceremony. For instance, if your wedding begins at 3:00 PM, your booking will start at 2:45 PM. However, if you have guests that arrive early, I will begin playing as soon as I am set up and tuned. You are guaranteed at least 15 minutes of prelude music. There is no maximum time for prelude music, other than the end time of your contract.

3. What if my wedding starts late?
Most do! I always come prepared with at least two hours worth of music, so you never have to worry about running out before the processionals are underway. If you think things might run behind on your wedding day (you know your friends and family best!), you may want to arrange with your musicians and ceremony location for a longer booking. It is better to pay a little extra and have the peace of mind that they will be available for the duration of your ceremony, even if it starts significantly late. If not, your musicians may have to leave before your ceremony concludes to attend to subsequent engagements, or you will incur higher overtime fees.

4. Do I have to pick specific songs? How many?
This is a very common question! You DO NOT have to pick each and every prelude song. There is absolutely no way of knowing how long your prelude will last. I start playing when your guests begin to arrive, and don't stop until I get the cue to begin the processionals. Since neither you nor your musicians know when these two things will happen, it's not possible to determine exactly how long your prelude will last, and therefore, how many songs you will need. Give your musicians a general guideline of the types of music you would like to have played (classical? Broadway love songs? Celtic? jazz?), and leave it up to their professional judgement to pick pieces that are appropriate. Of course, if there are a few specific songs you would like to have included, be sure to mention them!

5. How do I list it in the program?
The most simple is just "Prelude", but you could be more specific and say "Harp Prelude" or "Instrumental Prelude". You won't want to list all of the individual songs (any delay in guest arrival or the processionals will make your list inaccurate), but you may say something to the effect of:

Harp prelude, including "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"


As always, if you have questions specific to your wedding, ask a professional musician for guidance. They have played for hundreds of weddings, and should be able to offer guidance both for music selection and the logistics of wedding ceremonies.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, or if you are interested in hiring harp music for your wedding ceremony or reception (http://www.theclassicharpist.com/).

Student Achievements - Again!

Congratulations are in order for several students from my studio.

Dana M., who has been selected to perform in her school's talent show
Anna B., who played the lead in her school's production of "The Little Mermaid" this past weekend
Anna B., who also auditioned for and was accepted into her school's top chamber choir
Catherine G., who was selected to participate in Indiana's 2008 All-State choir

Good work everyone!

Being Center Stage

Last night, I performed a solo concert for the series at the Lincoln Township Public Library in Stevensville, Michigan. It was a totally new experience for me! Usually, when I'm playing for weddings, I'm not exactly the center of attention - I leave that to the bride! Although temporarily terrifying (my poor husband had to put up with a VERY nervous wife all day!), once I got started playing I really enjoyed myself. I just had to remember that this was probably one of the few times most people will get the opportunity to hear a harp in person. It was a chance for me to share my love of music and this instrument with an attentive audience, instead of being the "living floral arrangement" that I sometimes become at parties! I also had a wonderful time after the concert chatting with the attendees (including a couple of other harpists!). I'm not sure how often my husband will want me to give concerts, but now that this first one is under my belt, hopefully I won't be as nervous for future ones!

How Young is Too Young for Music Lessons?

I get this question a lot. Parents see a spark of musical creativity or aptitude in a child as young as two or three, and want to immediately sign them up for lessons. Some children are ready for the structured environment of one-on-one intensive instruction; others might do better in group music & movement classes (Kindermusik, MusikGarten, etc.).

Parents need to take a realistic look at their children - you know him or her better than anyone else! - and determine if they are ready. Can your child sit still and pay attention for fifteen minutes at a time? Does your child know the alphabet? Can he or she count to ten? Write his name? Do you, as a parent, have the time in your schedule (and the patience) to sit with your child for 15-20 minutes EVERY DAY to supervise and assist with practice time? Older children and adults can discipline themselves to work through their assignments on their own, but young children will need constant guidance and support from you.

All that being said, I have found tremendous success teaching children as young as four to play the piano! This is NOT Suzuki training. These students are learning to read music, playing songs they love, and creating songs using their imaginations and creativity. In my studio, I will accept harp and piano students as young as four, and voice students at age eight. For students under age eight who are interested in taking singing lessons, I highly recommend beginning with piano lessons. This allows the student to learn the fundamentals of music reading and musicianship on the concrete object of the piano, rather than in the more abstract terms of the voice. Even my youngest students take 45-minute lessons. With "off the bench" music activities and games, we are able to maintain the focus on learning through different mediums.

An article appeared in the South Bend Tribune last February, that discussed the benefits of early music education and lessons. Selections from this article follow.

"Some instructors teach children as young as 4; others prefer to wait until the children can read. Some instructors say that, because more children are attending pre-school - and thereby being introduced to music in class - they are interested in music lessons at an earlier age.

"The decision usually falls to parents, many of whom view music as an alternative to sports or other extracurricular interests.

"Parents know that music carries our culture forward. If you want your child to be culturally literate, then you want him to study or listen to music.

"Music isn't a magic pill, but there are a variety of studies that show how music supports a child's development. Some of those benefits include socialization, cooperation, and mental agility. Other studies suggest that music helps children focus on the structure of sounds, an important aspect in language development.

"The challenge comes when parents set their expectations too high, hoping for instant results. The teaching method needs to match the child's age, interest, and maturity. Even when you hold an infant, sing to him and rock him gently, you are being a music teacher."

My studio has grown tremendously since moving to South Bend last summer. There are still some openings available if you or your child are interested in signing up for harp, piano, voice or music theory lessons. Please contact me at devon@theclassicharpist.com to set up a no-obligation interview!

Another snowy wedding

After last night's weather, I got a little worried about even making it to today's wedding! They had closed down part of the road I needed to get to the church because of snow and high winds, but fortunately it was open by this morning, and I had no problems.

This ceremony was held at the Morris Chapel of Morris Farms in Niles, Michigan. What a beautiful place! Simple and elegant, and the acoustics were fabulous. I can't wait to play there again. The music selected for the processionals and recessional was primarily traditional (Canon in D, Bridal Chorus, Trumpet Voluntary), but the couple chose more popular pieces for the prelude, postlude, and unity candle lighting (All I Ask of You, Grow Old Along with Me, Embraceable You, Bless the Broken Road, From This Moment On).

The snow kept falling throughout the ceremony, but let up just in time to get the harp loaded and back on the road.

After the long winter of corporate gigs and holiday parties, I'm always ready for the weddings to start again. It is such an honor to be included in a couple's wedding ceremony, and today was no exception. Congratulations to the new Mr. & Mrs. Schroth!

Wedding in a Blizzard

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of playing for a beautiful ceremony at Riverside Receptions in Geneva, Illinois. The ceremony was held overlooking the partially frozen river. The bride wanted snow, and she certainly got it! The ceremony began at 5:00 PM, right when the flakes started coming down. I can't wait to see the pictures!

This performance was for the harp and flute duet for the ceremony, and harp solo for the cocktail hour.

By the time I was ready to load up, my car was completely covered in ice. The trip that took two hours to arrive took five hours to get home. Snow, ice, and high winds made for some poor road conditions, and having the harp in the back of the car makes me a little nervous when the person driving behind me is tailgating! I almost stopped for the night in Highland, Indiana, since I had to be in Valparaiso the following morning for Sunday brunch. I even went to Walgreens to buy a toothbrush, but never found a hotel. Once I was off the interstate, road conditions improved, and I made it back to South Bend at 1:00 AM.

"Wedding season" is staring early this year. Usually February, March and April are slow months, but this year is already busier than 2006. April Saturdays are almost full, and nearly every weekend for the rest of summer already has at least one wedding, sometimes two or three! I'm looking forward to playing in some exciting new venues, and sharing the pictures here.