Category Archives: Weddings

Weddings

Solo violin at weddings

Lately I have been booking more solo violin weddings than ever. Though I still think the ensemble is a little bit nicer, there is something easy about solo violin…I can play whatever I want, improvise/repeat/cut VERY easily, I can blend from one tune to the next, I don’t have to coordinate my entrance with anyone. Plus from an organizational standpoint, I only have to play myself (or hire another violinist to fill in) and don’t have to worry about getting two or three other people to play.

So, YES, I would love to play solo violin at your event! I can play a wide variety of tunes, and I’m sure you will love it 🙂

Weddings

July lull

July is becoming very slow. This week several of my students are out of town or taking off for various reasons. Additionally, I have a Saturday completely FREE. NO weddings!

I do have one on Friday though 😉

I had four weddings last weekend. The last was my trainer’s wedding, and we stayed after to hang out. It was a casual backyard wedding and a lot of fun. They set off fireworks from the roof afterwards! I would post a picture but all of the photos I took are just plain awful.

I created a facebook page for the “Frantillo Strings.” Just to be clear, that’s Frantill-o. Not Frantiy-o. It’s not very exciting yet–I need more pictures of us during events. That will help! Any past clients reading this and want to help out?

I’ve started a book titled “Punished by Rewards” by Alfie Kohn. The premise is that if we only do things to get the reward we don’t do those things as well. I have only read a few chapters so far however. The book was recommended by Susan Kempter at Suzuki Institute the other week–she does not give rewards to her students. Learning is (I guess) intrinsically its own reward. In any case, I’m trying to stack up new ideas for the fall, for my new classes.

I also got a sweet little Mr. Mozart finger puppet/bow topper. I can’t wait to try him out on a little student.

Weddings

Fourth of July weekend

Happy Fourth of July to everyone (one day early, yes, I know). I am having a wonderful weekend–last night two of my friends got married at St. Margaret of Scotland Church and then had a lovely dinner/reception at the Piper Palm House. I had played outside of the PPH, but had never seen the inside. It’s very nice! Congratulations to Sebastian and Yuna!

The happy couple!

Today I am off to the World’s Fair Pavilion to play for my hairdresser’s wedding. It is hot, but it could be much hotter. The World’s Fair Pavilion is in Forest Park and sort of looks down on the park. It’s a beautiful place.

I have a wedding tomorrow as well-downtown in the late afternoon/early evening. I guess that’s an easy date to remember!

Chris, me, and a friend (Laura)
outside the Piper Palm House


Weddings

Wedding Music thoughts

1 Comment

I think Panis Angelicus by Franck is really beautiful. When I get married I want it to be played at my wedding. My favorite arrangement is the one I have for quartet…just SO beautiful. Of course, I also love Pachelbel’s Canon, but played in a romantic way, not baroque.

Why do I mention this? Clients often ask me for ideas. It’s tough to decide something so important as wedding processional music for somebody else, but I always have lots of ideas. For recent processionals we’ve played Pachelbel Canon (of course), Wagner’s Wedding March, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, but also Moonlight Serenade, Clocks by Coldplay, and “Mooshabum” by Feist. So that’s a pretty wide range! Remember, for YOUR wedding, you should pick something you love or at least that you find absolutely beautiful. Or pick something you hate, so you won’t cry! (A friend did this–well, not something she hated, but something ridiculous that made her giggle instead.)

Teaching, Weddings

Hot hot hot!

Today I had two outdoor weddings.  I was dreading them, as it was supposed to be very hot, and indeed it was very hot!  However, both weddings went very well!  Both groups of people were very nice and appreciative of our talents, and were very accommodating in regards to keeping us out of the sun and helping us with the cues we needed.  We got to play a few new pieces (we are always on the search for new pieces and arrangements) and played some old favorites as well (Queen of Sheba and Ode to Joy!).  Though I was exhausted and sweaty by the end, it was a good day overall.  We also took a few pictures for my friend’s website, and got to participate in a quasi-hay ride (from the ceremony site to the reception site of the first wedding).

What shall Monday bring?  More pottery…I have a variety of pieces that (hopefully) will be ready to glaze.  I think I am going to finish out this session (three more weeks) and then take a break.  It seems that pottery has been more of an added stress rather than a relaxing activity for me, and I need a break!  I have been enjoying it for the most part, but then I feel guilty for not going back between classes to practice, and of course then I get upset that I am not as skilled at it as I would like to be.  I will take the next three weeks as they go, and make an executive decision at the end of it.  The other option would be to take a “hand building” class rather than “wheel throwing”, but either way, I could always pick it up later.  It’s not cheap either, which is another good reason to take a break if I am not feeling inclined.

Tomorrow also will bring a good workout (either more attempts at running or perhaps weights with Chris) and a BBQ at a friend’s house.  Basically a very busy day off!  The rest of the week will be preparing for Sunday’s recital in many ways–teaching, cleaning the house, and other details such as the program, certificates, and snacks.  Should be a good week!

Cat, Teaching, Weddings

Stuff on my cat

This is my cat.  We call her “Fatty”.  Okay, so it’s not a terribly nice name, but it is an incredibly endearing nickname.  Her given name was “Oistrakh” and she was one of a pair (the other cat, since deceased, was “Heifetz”).  But the name “Oistrakh” proved to be too big for such a sweet kitty, so it never really stuck.

Here is my best attempt at putting “Stuff on my cat“.  As I’m a violinist, you can see my tuner and metronome are there!  My students tend to like my cat–she is usually very friendly and sweet to them, very affectionate, and she is SO soft and furry.  Occasionally she causes a distraction in the lessons, but I think I keep it under control enough…after all, young children need an occasional distraction, right?  The funniest thing about her is that she absolutely hates when I practice.  She doesn’t seem to mind most of my students’ playing, but she hates mine.  I assume it is because either a) she detests violin playing at a professional level or b)on average, when I play, it is much higher and louder than any of my students, and thus hurts her ears more.  In any case, I just wanted to share those pictures–the carpet in the one picture is on the floor in the room where I teach.

I stopped by Target today for a variety of things, and visited “the One Spot”.  For those who aren’t familiar with Target, the One Spot is an area near the front where everything is $1 and is usually just a bunch of cheap junk.  However, for a violin teacher (or perhaps any teacher?) there are often great finds–today I got a bunch of pencils (Toy Story, Hello Kitty, and just random colors) and some stickers.   I loved pencils and stickers as a child, and today’s children do too.

Tomorrow I have two weddings/receptions.  I am playing both with my good friend Ranya, and one with Chris as well, so I’m looking forward to them…as long as the weather holds up!  It looks potentially stormy, and definitely hot.  However, I have learned that an “LBD” is a wonderful item for summer outdoor weddings.  (That’s a “little black dress,” for those of you less inclined to abbreviate things.)  As long as I am out of direct sunlight, I should be fine.