Howard and Jamie - March 14, 2009

What an honor and joy to play and sing for friends whose desire was for a ceremony that pointed clearly to Christ! If you're interested in a similar ceremony, their song choices may give you some ideas.

Seating of the Family - Pachelbel's "Canon in D"

Entrance of Wedding Party - I sang and played "How Beautiful," by Twila Paris. This also works well just played on the piano, but they really wanted the meaningful words to be sung. I took the key parts of the song and worked it so that I was able to finish it close to the time that the last attendant was stepping into place.

Bride's Entrance - I sang and played "Knowing You," by Graham Kendrick. Jamie walked really slowly so I had time to sing two verses of this great song.

Congregational Worship - I led in singing as I played the piano on "Be Thou My Vision" and "The Power of Your Love," by Geoff Bullock.

Unity Candle - they had two other friends sing and play guitar for this, a version of a Psalm.

Recessional - "When I Think About the Lord". They played the Shane and Shane recording of this song as they all left. Once the song was done, I played piano as their guests left.

Brian and Nicole's wedding - March 28, 2009

A beautiful wedding at the Baughman Center on the UF campus!

They picked most of their songs from my complimentary Wedding Ceremony Music Guide and Nicole also had a unique request... She asked that I check out the song "River Flows In You" (a song that was in contention to possibly be "Bella's Lullaby" on the Twilight movie). She wanted to know if it would make a good entrance song for the wedding party (all but the bride). After I tweaked the ending a bit (to make it have a joyful end, rather than a dark/sad one), it made a BEAUTIFUL entry song. As always, I make entry songs end just as the last person is stepping into place, so they "fit" exactly right. I did a little research on this song: it was written by Yiruma, a South Korean composer, and you can find it all over the internet because so many fans of Twilight wanted it chosen for Bella's Lullaby (it wasn't, but works much better for a wedding entry song than the one in the movie would).

So, here are their choices. Maybe you'll get some ideas for your own ceremony:

• Prelude music (as guests are being seated, beginning 30 minutes before the ceremony) - my own mix of great love songs and classical songs, with something for every generation and from several different musical styles.
  
• Seating of the family - Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, by Bach
  
• Wedding party entrance - River Flows in You, by Yiruma
  
• Bride's processional - Canon in D, by Pachelbel
  
• Recessional (as wedding party exits) - traditional Wedding March from Midsummer Night's Dream, by Mendelssohn

Great mix of classics and contemporary! Thanks, Nicole, for the great song idea - I'll be recommending this song for other weddings, too!

Church Wedding Music

I've played piano for many weddings, and some of my favorite ceremonies have been explicitly God-centered. I particularly enjoy leading wedding guests in congregational singing. Since the focal point of a marriage between Christians is their vow before God, it is an especially appropriate time to worship the One who brought them together.

My repertoire of Christian music includes great old hymns as well as more modern praise and worship songs. I can weave these songs together as I lead in singing from the piano. I can also play worship songs as part of the prelude, and help you plan a ceremony that honors Christ. It is my honor and very great joy to point folks toward God as part of a wedding between believers.

Remember that if you're getting married in a church, they may have requirements in place about only allowing classical and Christian songs. If so, I specialize in putting together songs that both honor God and are beautiful.

Planning Wedding Ceremony Music

Choosing your wedding music can be a daunting task! Especially if you haven't been to many weddings, or aren't a "music person". I've recorded a Wedding Music Planning Guide with lots of tips and samples of favorite wedding songs to help couples plan the flow of their ceremony and select their wedding music. (It's helpful to know what some of the traditional selections are called!)

I make this Guide available to anyone for no charge. Lots of couples have told me that the Guide was incredibly helpful to them, and simplified the planning process for them.

I am a professional piano player, and travel throughout the North Central Florida / Central Florida area to play piano for weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, and other special events. If you're looking for an experienced wedding musician, please contact me to check my availability for your special day! You can find all my rates on my website, http://www.redmondmusic.net/.

I recorded this Guide on a digital piano, which has the full, rich sound of a grand piano, but is portable. I can bring a similar one to your wedding if your ceremony is outside or at a venue that doesn't have a piano (or at least, not a good one!).

Consider live piano music for your reception and/or rehearsal dinner as well. My style is elegant and warm. I play songs from many eras, so all of your guests will hear something familiar, from your young friends to your grandparents. I love playing the piano, and my arrangements of favorites throughout the ages has been well received. I would love to be a part of making your special day memorable!

Piano Teacher Makes House Calls

As a father of five children, I know how crazy family schedules can be! I can take some of the "crazy" out of your schedule by teaching piano lessons at your home for one or more students. Some of the families I serve have as many as 5 children taking piano lessons each week without ever leaving the comfort of their own home.

For homeschooling families, like mine, I teach in clients' homes during the school day, helping parents incorporate music instruction into their children's curriculum. I can provide documentation of your children's progress for their evaluations too, if you wish.

Playing the piano is such a joy for me. I'm a professional musician, and I love to teach others to master the piano as well! A child is ready for lessons when he or she can read. And you're never too old to learn, either! Some of my favorite students have been senior citizens who had "always wanted to learn".

I teach my piano students how to read music, play by ear, read chord charts, arrange, and even compose original music. Talk with me about your goals for piano lessons, and I'll gear our lesson time to furthering those goals.

I have clusters of piano students that I travel to in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Keystone Heights and Melrose right now. If you're interested, you can hear me play (and sing), read my lesson policies, and find out more on my website, http://www.redmondmusic.net/.

Some of my students have students of their own now. I guess that makes me a "grandteacher"! :-)

Have piano, will travel!

Whether you're planning an outdoor garden or beach wedding, or holding your ceremony indoors at a venue with no piano, you can still have beautiful live piano music!

I have a portable digital piano that has the full, rich sound of a grand piano. As long as you have access to electric power, I can provide elegant live piano music for you. My portable piano comes in handy for rehearsal dinners, receptions, and corporate events as well. Along with my digital piano, I have speakers and microphones that I'll be happy to make available for use by officiants or other participants in your event.

My home is in Gainesville, FL, but I travel to Ocala, Orlando, Starke, Lake City, Steinhatchee, Tampa, St. Augustine, and other destinations in the North Central Florida or Central Florida area to perform for special events. (Venues more than an hour away from my home will have a travel fee.)

Visit my website, http://www.redmondmusic.net/, to hear me play and sing, find information about my rates, and read reviews from my clients.