My freshman high school english teacher wants me to play at her wedding....even "Here Comes the Bride" which i mentioned to her SHOULD be played by an organist....well she wants me to play at her ceremony....and at her reception for an HOUR. And my repetiore consists of excerpts....and can occupy an audience for a maximum of ten minutes. I know, this is pitiful.

She says she wants me to play "quiet jazzy music". I dont know much jazz but I think i know the kind of classical mood to set. pieces like Claire De Lune, Canon in D (one of the harder versions) and pieces like that. As some of u may know by know i cant sight read well and i depend on memoirzation. I will go back to my 9 hour practice session and try to learn as much as i can until May 6th. Do any of you have and other pieces relating to the ones I mentioned? Any other advice on how to deal with this situation would be helpful

I played for my piano teachers wedding, and he'd arranged some earlier graded pieces for flute and piano. It wasn't very difficult, but it sounded impressive. If it's jazz stuff, could you just play some of the C pieces or some pieces from microjazz or something?

At the reception, noones listening very much, so it wouldn't have to be too difficult!

QUOTE (ConcertPianist @ Mar 18 2005, 12:08 AM)

My freshman high school english teacher wants me to play at her wedding....even "Here Comes the Bride" which i mentioned to her SHOULD be played by an organist....

It really ought to be played by an orchestra.

Two of my horn-playing friends got married in a civil ceremony in an old and beautifully renovated secular building, which had no organ, so I arranged it for five horns and a bassoon, all of the players being friends of the principals. It sounded much better than an organ would have done, IMO.

A close relative...bro...got married recently.Very expensive Do to say the least.They got married in the hotel and I have only just thought...they didn`t have any music at the actual ceremony.

During the meal they did hire a pianist...he got paid quite a bit for not doing much.He used sheet music and played for well over an hour...and no requests...

I think you must discuss what the couple wish you to play...after all it`s their big day...if you don`t feel happy about playing "Here Comes the Bride"...I usually dash off to the little girls room when I hear it....suggest they use a recording of it.Touch wood not one of Rick Wakeman and Bill Bailey`s versions...(but wouldn`t it be fun) and then play the pieces though for them and see if they are happy with the versions.

I think they are after "Cocktail" versions...easy listening...of jazz. You should be able to rattle them off by May 6th.

Popular Piano Solos...Wise Publications...are quite good.

Are you based in the US....it was just the word freshman which is an American word? Are they getting married at their home?

Faure`s "Sicilienne" Op.78 is usually very popular for weddings....originally for cello and piano...but there is a nice solo piano version...Faure`s Favourites.... Publishers....Leonard,Gould & Bolttler. This is sight-readable...

My best wishes to the happy couple....

PS and Please! No Richard Clayerman nor Sir ALW`s...err...."comp-re-positions..."

QUOTE (ConcertPianist @ Mar 18 2005, 07:08 AM)

I will go back to my 9 hour practice session and try to learn as much as i can until May 6th.

Do you really practise 9 hours a day? Do you do something else? You only have 15 hours left minus 7/8 for sleeping. If you really practise that much then you can master a lot of wedding pieces in a short time!