by strgsosilk1@msn.com | Mar 14, 2018 | Uncategorized
Strings of Silk Music has had the honor and the privilege to provide music at many houses of worship, from High Holy Days to being a strolling violinist during a choir’s spaghetti supper fundraiser. Most of the church music directors have the title of “Minister of Music”. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Musicians, singers, and related workers are employed in a variety of settings. Of those who earn a wage or salary, almost two-thirds were employed by religious organizations…” As a minister of music, you have the responsibility of fostering both the love of music and the love of God in your work.
But there’s more than just making music in the typical job description for a minister of music. The job description of a minister of music puts a high premium on understanding the use of the newest technology in planning and presenting music as part of worship services. A member of the music ministry may direct choirs, sit on the planning ministry to help steer worship goals and objectives, produce and direct lavish performances on a world class scale and hire professional musicians that can compliment church members who play instruments either as students in school or as hobbyists.
What is missing in the job description for the minister of music, the instrumentalists and the choirs is Faith, Hope and Love:
Faith that with a limited amount of rehearsal time and funds, the performance(s) will be an inspiration to the congregation.
Hope that either an unplanned absence due to illness or work/vacation commitments don’t interfere with the performances.
And the greatest of these is Love: love of God, love of music and love of your fellowship.
And visit www.stringsofsilkmusic.com for beautiful music for beautiful occasions!
by strgsosilk1@msn.com | Mar 7, 2018 | Uncategorized
Click HERE for your FREE Irish Song sheet – Happy St. Patrick’s Day 2018!
by strgsosilk1@msn.com | Mar 2, 2018 | Uncategorized
For An Encore Performance!
The best round of applause that professional musicians can receive is to be asked for an encore – not just at the end of the performance but for a repeat engagement. Strings of Silk Music is honored and privileged to receive many, many encore performances! To receive such high praise is never expected; however, it is always greatly appreciated. It can also be noted that repeat performances are based on not just the quality of the performance, but on the professionalism, experience and expertise that professional musicians are known for.
As a result of so many repeat performances, there have been requests from clients (and suggestions from Strings of Silk Music) to customize the very popular “A Day in the Life of a Strolling Violinist”. The musical results include: Jennifer’s Blarney – an audience participation and fun Irish show with a song, a joke and a jig; a music education program from Bach to rock called Rock-n-Bach – a string trio with a symphony of sound! There is the interactive holiday program, “’It’s a Wonderful Life’ in the 12 Days of a Strolling Violinist”; “Sings and Strings” – a classical music appreciation program featuring violin and viola with award-winning Metropolitan Opera singer and cellist Wendy Cotton; and when adding pianist and vocalist Bev Tipps, the trio has a “scary ghoul time” as the very popular “Dead Composers Society Orchestra”.
Then this week the creative juices flowed to create a very unique program for a venue where the audience has heard and enjoyed every program that Strings of Silk Music has performed. The lovely Belmont Village of Buffalo Grove has hired Strings of Silk Music for the past ten years and the next performance scheduled will be at the end of May for a “Strings of Silk Summer Serenade” – popular songs of the summer season. The result was a entertaining and eclectic example of the music, venues and audiences of the next three months in “A Day in the Life of a Strolling Violinist”! And now on with the show…
“We’ll Meet Again”
Michigan Shores Country Club
Somewhere My Love Fascination and Edelweiss – first songs played for W. Clement Stone, founder of the club
Cantata Sunday featuring the choir and orchestra at the First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn
“Spring” from Vivaldi’s, The Four Seasons
Pryme Tymers of Trinity Evangelical Covenant Church and McHenry Villa
Jennifer’s Blarney – When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Danny Boy and Irish Washerwoman Jig
Clare Oaks Birthday Bash
Because of You
Weddings
Requests of Game of Thrones Theme, Moon River, Hallelujah and Almost Like Being In Love
Holy Week
Featuring the viola on: “Three Days” for Good Friday, Sunrise, Sunset for Passover and “Ode to Joy” aka “Joyful, Joyful” for Easter Sunday as well as for New Philharmonic All Beethoven Piano Concerto Concert
West Dundee VFW Auxiliary Spaghetti Dinner
Tarantella and O Sole Mio
Memorial Night for the Swedish Community of Sviethod Lodge #2
Santa Lucia and Halsa Dem Darhemma
Schaumburg Township Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
Requests from the audience of performing at this event for over ten years include: Humoresque, Memory and the Orange Blossom Special
Mother’s Day at The Vines of Elgin
M-O-T-H-E-R, Always and Let Me Call You Sweetheart
Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day
God Bless America
by strgsosilk1@msn.com | Feb 19, 2018 | Uncategorized
What would you like to hear awfully bad or in the worst way?
Being a strolling violinist involves memorizing hundreds (or for Chicago’s favorite strolling violinist…1,000’s!) of songs. Being a professional strolling violinist also involves knowing the type and style of music by “reading” the audience. There isn’t any magic involved with doing so – but is there?
At a recent wedding reception tasting event at the the beautiful Morton Arboretum, the audience was mostly brides and grooms with their parents, and the music was geared to promote bookings for their upcoming nuptials and/or other events. The musical ensemble consisted of harp and violin, so of course the music was gorgeous! Because the audience was under pressure to select from many culinary choices, it was decided they had enough on their “plate” to ask for any musical requests. Having the experience of knowing some of the most popular song selections, that music was played first.
Toward the end of the evening, the ensemble started playing their own requests – either particular favorites or just random selections. It was at this time that not once, not twice, but three times that members of the audience twirled around in excitement, started smiling and whipped out their cellphones to capture the performance on video of their favorite music! This is what is called “psychic requests” – musicians who not only read music…they read minds!
And visit www.stringsofsilkmusic.com for beautiful music for beautiful occasions!
