I'm an established, versatile pianist/keyboard player, with a reputation for sensitive, expressive playing and going the extra mile to tailor everything I play to the client's brief - from including requested tunes (or excluding disliked ones!) to making sure I've colour co-ordinated my outfit! I've got a wide & varied repertoire in a whole library of styles to suit weddings, functions, memorial services, corporate entertainment or private parties - but if your choice(s) aren't already in my playlist, I will do my best to learn and include them! Randomly, I have 2 specialist areas, which are playing for silent movies, and Regency/Victorian dance events (in costume). I love history, so would be delighted to work with clients on historical themed events and supply music from the period. (I've played at English Heritage properties, and with The Austen Allegros have recorded for the Historical Dance Society and played at events and summer schools. I can arrange, transpose and transcribe music, so if the not available, and I can work from a version that's copyrighted, I'm happy to prepare your choice. Just in case you need it, I'm a good sight reader too - very useful at events/functions where friends or relatives want to perform their party piece.
Gail made our ceremony so special. Nothing was too much trouble, she happily learnt some new pieces that we requested for when guests were arriving. The music for waking down the aisle, signing the register and the recessional were played beautifully. Couldn't have asked for more.
We had the pleasure of having the wonderful Gail play the piano during our Wedding cocktail reception. Gail played absolutely beautifully and our guests mentioned that she was the perfect addition. Her repertoire of songs was endless and she was prepared to learn any song that we had requested. From the moment we booked Gail, she was polite, friendly and professional. We would definitely recommend Gail at your wedding or any event.
Mr & Mrs Sykes
"""If you haven't heard Gail Ford, you haven't heard music as it should be played"".
Alan Calverd, 70th birthday celebrations, Cambridge. 2013.
""Wow that was amazing!!!!! You took my breath away. Everyone said how fantastic you were and how it made the service even more special"".
Langlois Family, Wedding, January 2009
""I am ever impressed by your huge and varied repertory - and played from memory! - thanks for a delightful programme"".
Carolyn Winfield, Curator, Saffron Walden Museum, Fund Raising Event, March 2008.
""You did an amazing job and made the whole ceremony so much more memorable for everyone there. Harry and I will never forget dancing to The Muppets Theme Tune for our first dance as a married couple"".
Danielle and Harry Anderson, Wedding, Hengrave Hall, August 2017."
Anything up to three hours - with breaks, agreed beforehand with client
Have my own PA (amp) but not lighting
Yes. Public Liability Insurance through the Musicians' Union, and if using my keyboard and not a piano or keyboard at the venue, I have up to date PAT tested equipment.
Enough space for a 60 key keyboard, a piano stool or chair without arms, and some clear space between the equipment & clients, so that the instrument isn't in danger of being moved, damaged, or is too loud for clients' comfort.
Any breaks taken reflect the total playing time (if an hour or less, I don't take a break), and will be no longer than 10 minutes.
I will always work with the event organiser to include as much specially requested material as possible.
Professional standards in dress as well as music - for specialist events, such as performing in stately homes, I play in dress appropriate for the event/period.
Yes - and they can contact me prior to the event if there's anything they want to discuss. However, any rehearsal time would be added to the fee.
No, I regularly play in London and throughout the UK. I'm also happy to play abroad, travel costs being added to the price of the engagement.
Yes, I have a professional full register Korg keyboard, which also has harpsichord & church organs sounds. Costs of porterage to & from venue required in addition to fee.
Classic songs and music from the 30's, 40's, lounge jazz, music theatre, light classical, pop and commercial standards - Nat King Cole to Adele. Sample song list below. Classical
Air On A G String (Bach)
Andante from Piano Concerto No 21 (Mozart)
An Die Musik
Arabesques Nos 1 and 2 (Debussy)
Arioso (J.S.Bach)
Barcarolle (Offenbach)
Beethoven Pathetique Sonata (Slow Movement)
Benedictus (Karl Jenkins)
Blue Danube (Strauss)
Concierto de Aranjuez (slow movement) Rodrigo
Claire de Lune (Debussy)
Elgar Chanson d’Amour
Elgar Salut d’Amour
Emperor Waltz (Strauss)
Faure Pavane
Fur Elise (Beethoven)
Gymnopedie No 1 Erik Satie
Gymnopedie No 3 Erik Satie
Humoresque (Dvorak)
If (David Gates/Bread)
Impromptu Op 90 No 3 (Schubert)
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade)
Elevazione (Zipoli)
Elgar Chanson d’Amour
Elgar Salut d’Amour
I Giorni (Einaudi)
Laudate Dominum (Mozart)
Libertano (Astor Piazolla)
Meditation (from Thais) Massenet
Moonlight Sonata (slow movement) Beethoven
Morning (Peer Gynt) Grieg
Nocturne in Eb, Op 9 No 2 (Chopin)
Nessun Dorma (Puccini)
Notturno (Grieg)
Ode To Joy (Beethoven)
O Mio Babbino Caro (Puccini)
Pavane (Ravel)
18th Variation (Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini) Rachmaninov
Reverie (Debussy)
Rondo Alla Turca (Mozart)
Song To The Moon (Rusalka) Dvorak
Spring (Four Seasons) Vivaldi
Theme from Spartacus (Onedin Line theme) Khachaturian
Traumerei (Kinderscenen) Schumann
Waltz in A Minor Op34 No 2 (Chopin)
Popular/Jazz/Ballads/Commercial
A Groovy Kind Of Love
Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone
All Of Me (John Legend)
Angels (Robbie Williams)
Angie (Rolling Stones)
Ashokan Farewell
At Last (Etta James)
Begin The Beguine (Cole Porter)
Bridge Over Troubled Water (Paul Simon)
Butterfly Waltz (Brian Crane)
Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
Dream A Little Dream Of Me
Earthsong (Michael Jackson)
Eternal Flame
Feelin' Groovy (Simon & Garfunkel)
Fever (Peggy Lee)
God Only Knows (The Beach Boys)
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Happy (Pharell Williams)
Hello (Lionel Ritchie)
Here There & Everywhere
House Of The Rising Sun (The Animals)
I Believe In Angels (Abba)
Imagine (John Lennon)
In My Life
Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
Killing Me Softly (Roberta Flack)
Kiss From A Rose (Seal)
Life On Mars (Bowie)
Love Is All Around Me
Michelle Night & Day (Cole Porter)
Misty (Erroll Garner)
Moonlight Serenade (Glenn Miller)
New York State Of Mind (Billy Joel)
Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
Nights In White Satin (Justin Heyward)
Promise Me (Beverley Craven)
Right Here Waiting (Richard Marx)
She
Someone Like You (Adele)
Somewhere Only We Know (Kean)
Summertime (Gershwin)
Stardust (Hoagy Carmichael)
Starlight (Muse)
Supertrouper
Take My Breath Away (Berlin)
The Air That I Breathe (The Hollies)
The Man I Love (Gershwin)
Time After Time
Total Eclipse Of The Heart
Unchained Melody (Righteous Brothers)
Uptown Girl (Billy Joel)
When I Need Love (Leo Sayer)
White Cliffs Of Dover
Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton)
Yesterday (Beatles)
Musical Theatre/Film/TV
A Thousand Years (Twilight: Breaking Dawn Cristina Perri)
Amelie (Yann Tiersen)
Avatar (James Horner)
Beauty And The Beast
Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Lion King)
Cavatina (Theme From The Deerhunter)
Don’t Cry For Me Argentina
Dr Zhivago
Everything I Do (I Do It For You)
Gabriel's Oboe (Morricone)
Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
Ladies In Lavender
Les Miserables Medley
Let It Go (Frozen)
Memory (Cats)
Music Of The Night (Phantom)
Losing My Mind (Stephen Sondheim)
Makin' Whoopee (Fabulous Baker Boys)
Moon River
Nobody Does It Better (The Spy Who Loved Me)
Never Enough
One Hand, One Heart (West Side Story)
On The Street Where You Live (My Fair Lady)
Pride & Prejudice (Theme) Carl Davis
Send In The Clowns
Skyfall
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Song From A Secret Garden
Theme from Titanic
The Entertainer
Think Of Me Only (Phantom)
Walking In The Air (The Snowman) Howard Blake
What I Did For Love (Marvin Hamlisch)
When You Wish Upon A Star
Weddings
(N.B. Full church organ sound available if keyboard is being used)
Air On A G String
Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba
Bach/Gounod Ave Maria
Flower Duet (Lakme)
Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring
Mendelssohn Wedding March
Pachelbel Canon
Schubert Ave Maria
Sheep May Safely Graze
Trumpet Voluntary (Jeremiah Clarke)
Wagner Wedding March