If you are like most people the wedding music that will be used during your marriage ceremony is very important to you – but you may not have a clue how to go about selecting your wedding songs!
Beautiful wedding music performed during your wedding ceremony and reception will sweep your guests into your event and make them feel part of it all. Choosing proper wedding music can be a difficult task. There are many types of music to choose for your wedding. Trying to please all will be hard because not everyone shares the same taste in music thus leaving you in an awkward situation. Pick music that you like.
Before you begin searching for the best wedding musicians it is recommended that you first develop a storyboard of any wedding music that you feel will capture the right mood of each step of your wedding as it happens, and make a list of those songs you want to play during each phase of the wedding.
Many couples select music that will enhance a special theme that they have chosen for their wedding such as Baroque, New Age, Classical, Jazz, 1920s etc. Often chateau wedding brides chose baroque music and sometimes to carry the theme through they have the musicians dress in baroque costume. It is a very nice touch and incredibly romantic.
Brides who are marrying for the second time or more often select a less formal musical selection. The music you choose can, depending on the formality of your wedding, be an additional means of expressing your feelings for each other.
An important factor in choosing your wedding music is the setting for your ceremony. The music you choose will be determined by the nature of your event (religious or civil; formal or casual), your own musical tastes, the attitude of your officiator and the abilities of your musicians.
If your ceremony will not be in a religious setting, you can choose just about any kind of music you like — although you will want to stay within the bounds of good taste! Popular songs can date very quickly. So ask yourself: Will the music I choose from my wedding today be the memory I want in the years to come?
On the other hand, if your ceremony will be in a church or synagogue, or conducted by a clergy person at another location, you will probably need to stay within guidelines set by the clergy person or the church. Some churches limit music choices, so before you start choosing music, check with your clergy about any restrictions that may be in place. Most religious denominations consider a wedding ceremony to be a form of worship service.
For this reason, churches generally do not allow “secular” music (non-religious popular music) during a wedding. Some will allow secular music while the guests are being seated, but not during the ceremony itself. Check with the church where your wedding will be held for its specific guidelines.
What about the instrumental-only music for your wedding ceremony? Your choices here may include a string quartet, a harpist, the church organist or pianist, or other instrumentalists.
A string quartet is a perennially popular choice for larger weddings, and with good reason. The great attaction of a quartet is that they have a very wide repertoire ranging from classical to jazz and, requiring no electricity, can easily be moved from place to place – useful if the weather turns! For something different you could ask for them to be dressed in baroque costume which would be stunning if you are hiring a heritage property like a wedding chateau.
You may be allowed to select some pieces for the prelude, one piece for the processional where the bridal party enters, another for the bride’s processional, and another for the recessional.
Prelude:
This is the music played while the guests are being seated and sets the mood as people arrive, and is usually soft background music.
Processional:
The processional music is played while the wedding party and bride walk down the aisle. If the wedding party is large, some brides opt to have 2 pieces–one for the wedding party, and one for the entrance of the bride (such as the traditional ‘Here Comes the Bride’). The first notes of the processional music announce the arrival of the Bride and inform the guests to stand! Music for the entrance of the Bridesmaids is usually more formal, and presented at a higher volume than the pre-ceremony music.
The best processionals are pieces that can be performed at a even walking tempo and that can be easily ended at various points during the performance. This allows for different sized wedding parties, the length of the distance they have to travel, and the speed at which they walk.
Here is a tip.Try the processional music out at home. Measure the distance from the back of the aisle to the altar and practice walking the length with the music playing. This way you will know if your selected song is a bit too short or way too long. You don’t want to find yourself standing at the altar waiting and waiting for the number to finish any more than you want to have the music run out while the bridesmaids are still making their entrance.
Some of the most famous of wedding repertoire include such pieces as Mendelssohn’s Wedding March, Handel’s joyful Arrival of the Queen of Sheba and Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel. These all sounds great on the harp, or a string quartet or violin and cello duet and can be easily tailored any length necessary. Their mood is gentle and flowing.
Here Comes the Bride by Wagner is a traditional wedding march best used for the entrance of the bride only. Its mood is majestic.
Wedding March by Mendelssohn is the another traditional wedding march. It also works on the harp and can be used solely as the bride’s music. Its mood is grand and majestic.
Processional by McDonald As its name implies, this piece was specifically written to be played as a processional and is an upbeat and joyous processional.
Others couples prefer to choose popular music that is meaningful to them. You don’t have to include a march as your wedding processional, you can walk down the aisle to your favorite song if permitted by your church.
Recessional:
The recessional music is played as the bride and groom, wedding party, and wedding officiate walk back out down the aisle. The music is usually upbeat and celebratory, and does not have to be very long. It is often accompanied with the ringing of church bells or chimes.
Mendelssohn’s Wedding March and Processional by McDonald also work fantastically as recessionals and not just as processionals. Recessionals give the ceremony that traditional feel.
You may also have solos during your wedding ceremony. The musical version of the Lord’s Prayer by Albert Hay Malotte can take the place of the congregation reciting the prayer aloud, and can be played solo or as a duet with a singer. Ava Maria is a nice touch when signing the register.
Postlude music is a nice touch if the wedding couple are meeting the guests in a reception line as they leave the church.
Now you have selected what you would like played at your ceremony you need to find the musician/musicians.
Consider:
- ask about their price and how many hours that entails
- ask if you will be charged travelling and their valet parking
- ask about cancellation policy
- their familiarity with the church, chapel and their music protocol and also that at your selected wedding venue, or wedding chateau . If they have never played their before do not be too concerned as all of this can be established with a site visit and a phone call or two.
- what will they wear? Elegant suits for the gentlemen and long gowns are the traditional attire and make them pleasing to the eye as the music is to the ear.
- can you have a recording of their music to sample their style. Some quartets may even provide you with a CD of your chosen wedding music, giving you a wonderful keepsake that can act as a personalized wedding favor or help you relive those romantic special moments.
- how loud will the music be. It should be loud enough to be heard, whilst not being so loud as to intrude upon the conversation of your guests. The “right” choice will depend on your own taste and the number of guests.
- ask for references. First hand knowledge of how an ensemble, looked, played and behaved is the best way to guarantee that your choice is the right one
After the ceremony it is nice to have music continuing throughout the wedding breakfast at your wedding chateau.
Filed under Music by on Feb 18th, 2009. 2 Comments. 
If you really want to learn singing then you gave the first importance to your health because if you will be good your performance will already good. If you feel that your voice is as precious as like gems, it becomes your duty to protect it and make it finer. It will be better for you to talk very less because for learning singing you have to practice for a long time.
You have to take Luke warm water because it will be helpful in keeping your vocal cord loose and warm so that you can sing properly, don’t take icy cold water, ice cream or anything cold which will effect your singing.
Do not take any kind of drugs and do not drink syrups and avoid inhaling because any kind of smoke sticks and burns your vocal cord and will cause problem to your throat. Try to drink juices especially of apple and pear.
Over-talking and over-singing will be harmful to you. Try to avoid eating dairy products which may create phlegm, you can chew a candy or a mint to keep your throat moist.
Do not sing loudly for a long time and move away from the air-conditioner while singing, because it dries your throat quickly.
Can Pure Pitch Method Help You Break That Voice Barrier?
Filed under Music by on Feb 19th, 2009. Comment.
Is playing a guitar one of your frustrations? Have you been wanting to play an acoustic guitar? Do you have hopes and dreams of becoming a professional guitarist in a popular band someday? Is playing for entertainment sake or for love sake?
Information on how to play acoustic guitar can often be hard to find so what you read within this article should prove to be very helpful.
For whatever or whoever that’s motivating you to play an acoustic guitar, this article will guide you through success.
To start with, have yourself an acoustic guitar. You can buy them at pawnshops and garage sales cheaply. You can also, purchase it online like in eBay. If you prefer buying a used-guitar, check out for damages first before considering the purchase. A good conditioned guitar on hand will give you more enthusiasm than a bad one. It is wise to have someone preferably an experienced guitar player with you as you purchase. You can refer from them how good the guitar is with the correct action intonation, and pitch.
Once you got yourself an acoustic guitar, learn the basics. Learn and familiarize the chords first and the proper placement of your fingers on the strings. Assign a scheduled time for your guitar practice. It’s good that you have someone to teach you through the chords and the finger patterns.
Learning play an acoustic guitar is a step-by-step process so be patient and even more determined.
Honing yourself in playing an acoustic guitar takes time. Knowing how to play a guitar may take you awhile but this should not discouraged you. Be persistent and never stop trying. Those lead guitarist of the music industry now started with the very first step and that is understanding and familiarizing rhythm, strumming and finger patterns. When you get the hang of it, it won’t be for long that you playing your way to stardom. Listen to a variety of music from classic to jazz, rock and so on and so forth. Never settle for one artists. A true artist is versatile in all the genres of music. Learning is endless, limitations are an end to it.
Filed under Instruments by on Feb 22nd, 2009. Comment.
Although Yamaha has only been producing Yamaha electric guitars since 1966, they have more than 100 years of experience in creating musical instruments. Have you ever wondered why the Yamaha logo on your motorcycle is 3 tuning forks? Now you know! Today, when it comes to buying Yamaha electric guitar there are wide array to select from including complete kits which contain a practice amplifier, guitar cable, padded gig bag, 2 single coil pickups and hum bucking pickup, a tremolo bar, and a 5 positioning pickup switch.
In fact, many of the world’s accomplished guitarists would have first used one of Yamaha’s electric guitar kits and one of the most popular being the EG-112PF. As well as being suitable for those who are only just starting to play an electric guitar it can meet their needs as their skills improve.
Yamaha also makes Yamaha acoustic guitars such as Folk Guitar, Classical Guitar, Handcrafted Guitar, Parlor Guitar, and Jumbo Country Guitar.
Guitarists may wish to move on to other models that Yamaha makes. One such Yamaha electric guitar kit that you may want to consider is the Gigmaker EG Guitar Pack that comes with a PAC012 Pacifica solid body electric guitar, a 20 watt 2 channel drive guitar amp, guitar cable, gig bag, guitar strap and Qwik Tune digital chromatic tuner. Plus it also comes with an instructional DVD.
Yamaha’s lowest priced is the PAC012 it is solid body electric guitar. But the quality is not really sacrificed. This reputable instrument with its comfortable neck, fast action, versatile pickup configuration and affordable price is an excellent first time electric guitar.
Yamaha PAC012 Pacifica electric guitar has been one of the best values in electric guitars; providing quality workmanship and outstanding playability at an unbelievable price. Yamaha is now putting that same value into the popular GigMaker series with the GigMaker Electric. With an impressive 15-watt amp, protective gig bag, and a wide assortment of outstanding accessories, the GigMaker Electric is the ultimate electric guitar package. It includes Guitar, Amp, Gig Bag, Qwik Tune Digital Chromatic Tuner, Cable-in, extra Strings, instructional DVD, Guitar Strap, & Picks!
The Yamaha Pacifica 112XJ electric guitar is a double cutaway built with a quality materials and premium features. It is bolt on construction, 25 ½ inches, with Rosewood Fingerboard with 22 frets, Vintage Style Tremolo Bridge, and 2 single coils, one humbucker pickup.
Another guitar, also proving popular, from Yamaha is the SLG100 Silent Guitar that is perfect if you live in close proximity to others. This allows you to connect a set of headphones to it and as you practice you will feel as if you are playing in a concert hall, yet no one else can hear what is happening. Plus you still have the capability to connect it up to a sound system when you want to play your Yamaha electric guitar in public.
The Yamaha electric guitars are very easy to recognize, as the neck of the instrument is set deep into the body of the guitar rather than being bolted on to it. Also they have a patented “T cross system” and “sustain plate” which no other electric guitar has and which provides a powerful but warm tone to the sound they make.
Whether you only just want to learn how to play the electric guitar or have been learning for some time, Yamaha electric guitars are suitable for you. Not only are these types of Yamaha electric guitars is very affordable but also you will find them easy to play. So when it comes down to it, a Yamaha electric guitar will not only meet your requirements but will help to enhance your skills as you play it again and again.
Filed under Instruments by on Feb 25th, 2009. Comment.
My band Kaktooz has been planning to put up an all original album for months now. Our guitarist Jeph has a few tracks on his mind and I’ve got a couple as well. We’ve tried to rehearse some and wanted to record it but somehow, our busy schedules just won’t let us finish what we’ve started. Lately we had an offer to play for three days over at Puerto Vallarta in Mexico and Carlo, keyboardist turned singer suggested that we stay there longer and finish the album. It was actually the right thing to do and so we scouted for a venue where we could both stay at and record at the same time after our performance contract. Two weeks would be enough and we could choose from some Puerto Vallarta condo available. Maybe the money we get from our contract would be enough to pay off the rent for that place.
We tried to ask our client if he had suggestions and fortunately, he’s got a cousin who owns a place we could use and even offered us a staggering fifty percent discount on the rent as long as they could drop by and party from time to time; since they knew there’s likely to be more party than work. It was a done deal. They say that we are lucky because out of the many Puerto Vallarta condos, theirs had one of the most amazing views and only a few steps away from the beach of Los Muertos. There was a build-up of excitement as the days of our departure came near as we all wanted to start and finish our long planned project.
It was off to Mexico after a week upon settling everything. We arrived at the hotel we were invited to and played on the same night at the beach front. We rocked the place for three days and partied hard with some island music of which everyone seemed to dance to and enjoy, thanks to the tequila. In the morning after our last day of playing, we packed our things and transferred to the condo in Puerto Vallarta by the beach and we were in for a surprise. It was a four unit, two-story building with each unit having an ocean view and porch. It had complete amenities and even an outdoor Jacuzzi! The condo was said to have been designed by a famous local architect. Everything was perfect and I felt I was already a “rock star” even without an album out, though I knew it was only for two weeks. We decided to stay in two rooms, set up one room as a temporary recording studio and one room as the party headquarters.
During our first three days we actually visited other condo in Puerto Vallarta when we were invited by some guests and locals but the one we were at was one of the best. Thanks to modern technology, recording equipment now is smaller and so we were able to bring a full multi-track studio packed in just a few boxes. We were set up in a few hours time. It was like a recording studio for the stars since you could actually see the beach while you are recording your tracks.
Since we were going to stay two weeks, we decided to take it easy on the first day. Some locals were kind enough to accompany Richard, our bassist, to a local market where he bought some food supplies. The condo we were at had a complete array of cooking equipment on each unit which we could use. We decided on making barbeque and settled to party at the Jacuzzi area with some friends and the proud owner of that Puerto Vallarta condo.
Before we recorded tracks, we decided to refine some of our old songs first and maybe we could also make some new ones. Upon having breakfast the next day, we stayed by the porch with our guitars and jammed until it was time for lunch. We jammed a lot of stuff and somehow, the place just powers us up to do amazing creative things we could never do when in the city. We decided to record at night and the first takes were just magnificent as everything seemed to fall perfectly into place. On the first night, we were able to finish two full songs, a feat which we were never able to do in two months before.
Days passed, and each one seemed to offer a different light on how our album should be done. It was as if we were driven by an invisible creative force of nature during our stay in that condo by the beach in Puerto Vallarta. One song after another we recorded the tracks until we had ten. The album is done; what it needs now is just to be mixed and mastered by our sound engineer friend Norman once he gets the raw tracks. We were actually ahead of time and still have three days from our two week stay. We were so grateful to our client there and the condo’s owner we even decided to give them a free show at the same hotel on our last night. Now, we are home and the tracks are being mixed, we can’t wait to hear the songs which were inspired by such a beautiful place.
Filed under Composers by on Feb 25th, 2009. Comment.