August 9th, 2011 — Music
Swedish Singer, Lykke Li, has certainly come into her own with her sophomore album “Wounded Rhymes.” This passionate second album is perfect to carry you out till the end of the Summer. “Wounded Rhymes” is confidant, forceful and modern. Her bold statement songs and my favorites are “I Follow Rivers” and “Jerome.” If your not dancing about to these two… I question your taste in music. iTunes $11.99
July 18th, 2011 — Music
Cults are the latest and greatest boy-girl duo to come out of Brooklyn. By the time the first anthemic opener “Abducted” comes on you’ll have your speakers turned up so high your neighbors will be jamming right along with you. Their music is sincere with sounds of the early sixties and surf rock. “When Cults single “Go Outside” first appeared on the web last year, it spread like wildfire. It was catchy and sweet, the kind of sing-along that felt like it was pulled from the air, with a sentiment perfect for anyone. but its dreamy drift is just one side of a band that proves it has the dexterity and songwriting chops to make a varied and memorable album.” $7.99 on iTunes – Taryn Cox for THE WIFE.
June 7th, 2011 — Music
When I first heard the songs “Skinny Jeans” and “Pack up” By Eliza Doolittle… I immediately thought what great Summer songs perfect for a fun girls night out. So turn up the volume, dance around your room and sing at the top of your lungs! Available on iTunes. – Taryn Cox for THE WIFE
May 16th, 2011 — Music
This critically beloved album “For Emma Forever Ago” was released back in 2008 and is an instant classic on my list. You can tell this album was recorded in Justin Vernon’s cabin 70 miles outside of Vermont, with obvious sounds of isolation and emotion. Although I find the songs quote romantic or perfect for a night in. Either way you’ll find the album completely satisfying, My favorites are: “For Emma” and “Creature Fear”. Available on iTunes for $9.99 – Taryn Cox for THE WIFE.
May 2nd, 2011 — Music, Tips, Wedding
Top 10 Wedding Ceremony Music tips.
I’ve been playing the violin since the age of three and played my first wedding at the tender age of twelve. I’ve played for countless weddings, as a soloist and as a member of a quartet, and my experiences as a professional wedding musician certainly helped me in my professional career as a soloist, arranger, and composer in Los Angeles. It took me years of experience to learn how to maximize my potential as a wedding violinist, and I’d like to share these 10 tips with brides that want to make sure their wedding ceremony music is the best that it can be. – Ann Marie Calhoun for TarynCoxTHEWIFE
1. Choose a group that fits the environment:
When you begin to look at your wedding ceremony music, you need to consider how the environment will inform the group that you choose. Make sure the acoustical environment is appropriate for the group you choose. For example, a string quartet is perfect in an intimate chapel while a brass band will overpower guests. Also, be aware that outdoor weddings create unpredictable environments for fragile instruments. No violinist will be willing to play in direct sunlight or extreme temperatures.
2. Understand the musical moments:
Most wedding music will fall into the categories of prelude, processional, recessional, and postlude. The prelude sets the tone for the ceremony and starts right before guests arrive. The processional is for the seating of the mothers, bridesmaids, flower girls, ring-bearer, and of course the bride. The recessional is for the exit of the newly married couple and the wedding party. The postlude accompanies the exit of the guests. Some couples also choose to have “special music” to highlight moments in their ceremony, such as an intentional moment of reflection or a candle lighting ceremony.
3. Choose appropriate pieces:
While every couple wants their music to be special and unique, it is important to choose music wisely to have appropriate tone and tempo. Prelude music is usually gentle and reflective, allowing for the processional to have greater impact. The processional music should be chosen at a tempo that allows for a natural walk. We are hard-wired to walk in rhythm to music, and a too-fast tempo results in an awkward gait. While it is fine to have one processional piece, it is also highly impactful to choose a new processional piece for the bride to make for a grander entrance. Skilled musicians can suggests processional pieces that cadence and segue logically. The recessional music is celebratory in tone and should also be chosen with a faster exit-walking tempo. The postlude should also be up-beat and energizing.
Most groups will have a demo recording that will aid in selecting your wedding program. It is important to listen to the specific suggestions of your musicians. They have valuable experience and will instinctively know if a suggested piece will be a good fit for your ceremony. If you ask your musicians to learn a new piece for your ceremony, you should aid in providing music (sheet music and recording) and check in on how the piece is going a few days before the ceremony. If the piece doesn’t rehearse right, there is still time to make a change.
When choosing all your pieces, it is also important to factor in the implications of a religious ceremony. It would be inappropriate to play “Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring” or “Ave Maria” at a Jewish wedding.
4. Rehearse your musicians:
Professional musicians do not need to practice and rehearse specifically for your wedding. Most will be able to sight read perfectly on site and are already familiar with the wedding classics. However, it is important that they are familiar with the logistics of your particular wedding. It is a good idea to have a member of your musical group attend the rehearsal and take notes on the number of bridesmaids, flower girls, etc… It is also helpful for the musicians to know the last words of the ceremony so that the recessional music starts exactly on time (it is a disaster if it starts early and awkward when it starts late). If the musicians are unable to attend a rehearsal, make sure that they are given specific instructions when they arrive. Appoint a bridesmaid to run through the logistics of the wedding with the musicians.
5. Check for a back-up plan
Most musical groups factor in a back-up plan in case a member of the group gets caught in an emergency situation. Quartets often sub-out membership so if a violinist drops out at the last minute, a new one fills in. Check for this kind of a back-up plan. If you hire a soloist, it becomes even more important to make sure another musician is on call.
"THE WIFE" is for the timeless wife or elegant wife to be. Whether THE WIFE favors a career working in the corporate world or has dedicated her time and efforts as a housewife, She always maintains a happy and healthy family. THE WIFE is an astounding woman and amazing mother, who proudly makes time for her husband and children. THE WIFE loves to cook, has a passion for party planning, a fondness for etiquette, adores decorating and keeping a beautiful home and of course dressing the part. THE WIFE cares about being "green" and takes the time to make her home environmentally friendly. Finally THE WIFE dedicates her spare time to charitable causes and giving back to her community.
- Miss Taryn Cox
