Subscribe to Blog (RSS)June 28, 2014
When the Institute of Management Accountants asked me to be their pianist for their Awards Banquet at the Minneapolis Hilton, they informed me that I would need to play each state song as the award recipients came to the stage to accept their awards.
I visited the Hennepin County Minneapolis Central Library and found just what I needed -- a book with the sheet music for each state song!
Music was an important role in the Awards Banquet. Not only did they have me perform award music and piano dinner music, but they also had the Macalester College Pipe Band lead the procession of guests in to the banquet hall for dinner!
A week earlier I had been hired to play at the Edina Country Club for a private event. The organizer informed me that many of the guests were former University of Minnesota graduates and he knew they would love to hear the U of M Rouser. I knew the chorus but thought there must be more to the song, so I visited the library and found just what I needed in a book, 'Minnesota Songs'.
The 'Minnesota Songs' book turned out to be a hit at the party. During the reception I received a request to play 'Hail Minnesota'. I flipped open the book right to that song. As soon as I started playing, the guests joined in singing with gusto. When I played the U of M Rouser, they really belted it out! The guests were a fun and spontaneous group of people. The book from the library made their event extra fun!
I have found the Minneapolis Central Library to be a great music resource when looking for piano music. The Music Department is on third floor where patrons can find sheet music files, as well as song books, and recorded music. It has a lovely enclosed piano room. Library patrons may reserve the piano for an hour. I LOVE the Hennepin Central Library!!
For further reading on the music resources and piano room at HCLIB I invite you to read a wonderful post by Christina Endres, 'Library as Incubator'.
