88 Keys on the Road - Blog

by Sharon Planer, Pianist for Parties

My phone rang.

The gentleman caller wanted to hire me to play for his wife's wedding anniversary.

This sounded like a splendid idea to me! He explained that every anniversary he has tried to plan something extraordinary.  

The anniversary this year was problematic because his wife was very pregnant and on bed rest.

He realized that whatever solution he came up with would have to happen at home.

While at his local Dunn Bros coffee shop, the gentleman noticed my Pianist for Parties business card on the bulletin board and he was hit with a bolt of inspiration. He could hire a piano player to serenade his wife on their anniversary! I thought to myself, 'What an awesome guy to plan something so special for his wife!' When I arrived at their home, I observed the husband sending his two children out the door with the babysitter and brown bag dinners in their hands. It was a precious sight!

The husband escorted me inside and introduced me to his wife who was reclining on the couch in the living room. Against the wall was an upright piano waiting to be played. I asked her for requests and started my serenade. The husband disappeared into the kitchen. Amid the strains of my music could be heard the clatter of pots and pans. Eventually, delicious aromas emerged into the room. I continued my serenade while his wife rested comfortably. My music concluded when the husband announced that the anniversary dinner was ready to be served! 

I left their home with a happy feeling of having helped make their wedding anniversary a little more special.

Do you have a story where music played a key role in an anniversary celebration? I would love to hear your comments!

by Sharon Planer, Pianist for Parties

A bride recently hired me to provide live piano music for her Wedding Cocktails.

The upbeat jazz standards and pop standards that I often play for a cocktail time were not the atmosphere she was wishing to create. She was looking for a more classical sound.​

A meeting was arranged with the bride and groom at the grand piano at their venue.​ We discussed the festive nature of their cocktail time. I suggested the music of Mozart and Vivaldi to create a light classical feel. They both loved the samples of music I played for them. For a little variety I played music from some new age composers that has a classical 'feel'. This was also a hit with the bride and groom.

​I loved the opportunity to have the bride and groom preview and approve the music for their special day.

We adjourned our time together with the bride and groom excited about my music and I was delighted to have tailored a repertoire to their wishes!

by Sharon Planer, Pianist for Parties

When a Mother and a Daughter have birthdays that are only a few days apart, what do they do to make it special...especially when the mother is celebrating her 80th birthday?

They have a combined birthday party with live piano music!

As the guests entered and shook off the chill from outdoors, I loved seeing their smiles as I greeted them with songs that were familiar to them.​

There was a nice blend of guests in their 50's - 80's that came to congratulate and celebrate with the two birthday 'girls'.  The friend planning the party wanted it to be extra special and decided live piano music would be perfect. I was asked to play music that guests in their 80's would like as well as music that the 55 year old daughter and her friends would appreciate.  It was great fun playing swing tunes of the 40's and pop from the 70's and 80's. 

Being careful not to overpower the party with the resonance of the grand piano, the piano was positioned in the lobby just on the edge of the party room. This allowed music to be enjoyed by the guests in the lobby as well as in the party room.​

​It was an honor to share my music for this joyous occasion. I wish the birthday 'girls' many wonderful years of health and happiness!​