by oldwp | Jun 30, 2011 | Uncategorized
White Christmas – Click here for some music to get you in the Holiday mood!
This year's party will be Wednesday, December 7, 2011 - Can't wait!
To read about this event –
http://triblocal.com/schaumburg/community/stories/2010/12/schaumburg-township-hosts-annual-holiday-party-for-seniors-and-disabled-residents/
When booking entertainment for your holiday party there is a general rule of thumb: the earlier the better! Having performed for over 5,000 events, I have heard from my audience time and again that booking music for their event is the easiest and most stress-free part of the whole party process and the performance is the most memorable part! Avoiding repeating past parties not being planned ahead of time is what causes the most stress. When you wait until October or November, you will discover that entertainers that have been highly recommended are no longer available. I already have 12 engagements booked for December 2012 and based on past years, I will probably play between 30 and 35 and turn down almost as many.
In order to help with your entertainment options, here are some of the events that I have and will be playing for –
“A Christmas Carol” – Do you remember what you received for Christmas last year? Do you know what you bought for everyone else? I offer one stop shopping, no hassels yet so much more! This is the most affordable, enjoyable and memorable present for everyone. I supply the violin, songsheets and quick change outfits and will customize the performance with family favorites, as well as a version of “The 12 Days of Christmas” that will never be forgotten. This is a 30-45 minute performance and there aren’t any gift wrapping or shipping fees. Prices are based on availability, day of the week and time of day.
“It’s A Wonderful Life in the 12 Days of a Strolling Violinist” – My most popular program of the true stories behind our beloved holiday songs – not just Christmas – an introduction to the viola, quick change outfits and provided songsheets. This program is most suited for clubs, service organizations, altar guilds, etc.
Strings of Silk Music – different ensembles to provide background music during cocktails and when possible, strolling table to table during dinner. This selection is the most popular for holiday dinners and galas, luncheons and even 7:30 a.m. breakfasts!
by oldwp | May 30, 2011 | Events, Uncategorized
The Downtown Neighborhood Association’s Elgin Harvest Market is kicking off its eleventh season with Chicago’s favorite strolling violinist, Jennifer Silk. She will be performing on opening day, Thursday, June 2nd from noon – 1:30 p.m. A new member of the association and Elgin resident, Silk’s entertaining strolling violin repertoire is filled with popular and classical favorites as well as taking requests from her audience. She will be seen and heard at the market’s new location on the southwest corner of Kimball Street and North Grove Avenue.
For more information, please contact Harvest Market Coordinator Jennifer Benson at (847) 488-1456.
by oldwp | Apr 25, 2011 | Uncategorized
The Day in the Life of a Strolling Violinist is filled with a week of musical variety…
Wednesday, April 27th – Administrative Professionals Day celebrations will be greatly enhanced with a personalized violin serenade. Please call or email to schedule one today (224) 856.1144 or jennifer@jennifersilk.com
But wait – you would have to schedule around a performance later in the afternoon…
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Tea time performance strolling for the residents and guests of the Belmont Village in Buffalo Grove. For more information, contact Lori Walocha Activity Director, (847) 537-5000
Thursday, April 28th – “Gerhard Night” at Verdandi Lodge 6 p.m. You’ve heard of Jenny Lind the “Swedish Nightengale”? Well, “Jenny Silk” is the designated Swedish Violinist for this annual event. For more information, contact Ralph Daehn member of the Independent Order of Svithiod, (630) 497-8297
Other privately held performances will be at the Lyric Opera House, Trump Tower and at the Hilton and Towers of Chicago.
The next public performance will be on Friday, May 6th for the Metropolitan Family Services Gala of Dupage County. This will be the Strings of Silk’s 8th year performing at this wonderful event!
For more information, contact: http://www.metrofamily.org/events/DuPage-Gala/default.aspx
by oldwp | Dec 7, 2010 | Uncategorized
Somewhere My Love/Lara’s Theme from Dr. Zchivago
Being a strolling violinist means that yes, I can walk and play at the same time. I just can’t chew gum while doing it…
What being a strolling violinist really means is that I have all of my music memorized and I take requests from the audience. I stopped counting just how many pieces of music I had in my repetoire when I reached 500. People ask me all the time, “How do you remember them all?” I wonder the same thing myself sometimes!
In all of my music studies, I was never forced or instructed in how to memorize. When I started strolling, I thought if I just played each song a million times, that it would do the trick. Then I realized I could memorize more songs with less time in 3 different ways: visual, aural and kinesthetic. There are times when I will use one or the other or some kind of combination. For example, visually means that sometimes I see the sheet music in my mind’s eye – when you look at a piece of music a million times, trust me you can see the music in your sleep! The phrase “playing it by ear”, means I have never laid eyes on the sheetmusic. I may have only heard it on the radio or tv. I start hearing it in my head, sort of singing along and presto! The fingers follow along.
The most challenging way to memorize a song is by touch or feel (kinesthetically). The challenging part is that once your fingers are trained to play in a certain way (some people call this muscle memory), you can never play the song in the original or transposed/different key. “Clair de Lune” was one of those songs. It was originally written for piano in a difficult key for the violin. I started by playing it a million times (visually) but unfortunately, I had never even heard (aurally) of this song before. It was taking forever to memorize this beautiful but lengthy piece. In order for me to “feel” my way through it, I changed the key so that my fingers felt comfortable on the fingerboard. I am the only strolling violinist in Chicago with this song memorized…as long as it is in the key of C!
As for the “taking requests” part of being a strolling violinist, I just hate to be stumped by the audience. On the rare occasion that there is a request for a song I don’t know, I will look it up as soon as I get home. My motivation is strictly based on having fallen in love with so many of my audience’s favorites.
My claim to fame as “Chicago’s Favorite Strolling Violinist” is supported by the fact that there are only three songs I don’t know. What are the three? If you happen to pick one of them, I’ll be sure to let you know!
by oldwp | Dec 3, 2010 | Uncategorized
This has been a year of music making like no other. Oh sure, some of the highlights include performing with the top tribute Led Zepplin band, being featured on Channel 7’s Wedding Special, pre-game entertainer for the Chicago Bulls and over 200 other engagements. What I would like to post today is about a special performance. It brings to mind the saying, “I use to think that forever was a long time and now it doesn’t seem long enough”
I was asked to perform for a Persian wedding ceremony for a young couple in love on Monday, October 11th at the Peggy Notebaert Museum. The music selection process takes place with the bride and groom at least 2-4 weeks ahead of time. This wedding was different – the groom, Nick Schmidt, was in and out of the hospital for cancer treatments, so there just wasn’t time. “Just play Behar’s Persian wedding processional, “Mobarak Baad”. Nothing else seemed to matter other than they had one more day together. Nick passed away on Wednesday, December 1st. I have performed for thousands of weddings and this one will live in my heart forever.
My wish upon this wedding is for all of us to be inspired by Behar and Nick’s beautiful love story.
