“Make the people happy.” My 20 year old self blinked incredulously at my father’s comment to my question, “What makes you want to keep being a professional pianist and what are your goals with your music now?” Frank Denke simply smiled and said again, “I just want to make the people happy!” Continue reading “Make The People Happy”
Musicians – here is a post about additional tune requests you may encounter doing that special ceremony!
True Tales from a Wedding Pianist Part 1 discussed the essential tunes a musician needs to play for a no frills basic wedding, and Part 2 was about a wild encounter I had with a last minute call from the Father of The Bride (scrambling to honor his detailed requests for his daughter’s ‘perfect wedding’). Continue reading “Extras for The Wedding Pianist: True Tales Part 3”
Playing the organ both fascinates and terrifies me! I must admit knowing a bit about this instrument has gotten me quite a few more church and wedding gigs than I would have had if I just stuck to the piano. Perhaps this is because there are so few musicians who are bold enough to play such a powerful and intimidating instrument?
When I was 15 years old my father quickly taught me poor man’s organ from a pianist’s viewpoint Continue reading “Playing the Organ for Pianists”
The phone rang late one Thursday evening. A male voice on the line calmly asked, “Are you free a week from this Saturday at 9:00 am to play a wedding for my daughter at the North Mission, and do you know the Ave Maria?”
“Let me see,” I said as I checked my book. I was surprisingly available. Continue reading “The Father of the Bride and The Wedding Pianist: True Tales Part 2”
Professional jazz pianist, author of several instructional books with audio for jazz/church/various styles of keyboard improvisation. Debbie Denke is a classically trained pianist with a passion for jazz improvisation and a dedicated teacher. Continue reading “About Debbie Denke”
