Wedding Pianist in New Jersey and New York City
Julie Schatz plays piano for wedding ceremonies, cocktail hours and dinners across New Jersey and New York City. The music runs from classical processionals to jazz standards and current pop.
Piano for a ceremony or cocktail hour starts at $875. Ceremony and cocktail hour together starts at $1,450. Both include the keyboard setup and sound.
Piano only, or violin and piano
Piano only works well when you want one warm, steady sound from the first guest arriving to the end of dinner. It is a natural fit for cocktail hour and for ceremonies in rooms that already feel formal.
Violin and piano gives the ceremony a lead voice. Julie plays both instruments, so a common plan is violin for the processional and the walk down the aisle, then piano for cocktail hour. That is one musician, one contract and one setup. If you want both instruments at the same time, the two-musician Soul Shades duo does that.
Does your venue have a piano?
If the venue has a piano in good tune and in the right room, Julie will play it. If it does not, she brings a full keyboard setup: keyboard, stand, pedal, bench and cabling, run through the sound system that comes with every booking. The keyboard is also the answer when the ceremony is outdoors and cocktail hour is inside, because it can move.
Let her know in your inquiry which one applies. If you are not sure, the venue coordinator usually knows whether the house piano is available to outside musicians.
Wedding pianist pricing
Piano is priced as its own service because the setup is larger than violin.
| Service | Zone 1 Under 20 mi | Zone 2 20 to 40 mi | Zone 3 40 to 60 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| PianoCeremony or cocktail hour, up to 1 hour | $875 | $975 | $1,075 |
| PianoCeremony and cocktail hour | $1,450 | $1,550 | $1,650 |
| Violin and pianoJulie on both, across the event | $1,550 | $1,650 | $1,750 |
Zones are measured in miles from Brooklyn. Hoboken and Jersey City are Zone 1. Most of Northern NJ is Zone 2. Central NJ is Zone 3. Each additional hour is $300. Beyond 60 miles is quoted individually. Every tier is on the pricing page.
What she plays
Classical pieces for the ceremony, jazz standards and soul for cocktail hour, and pop songs arranged for piano. The list is 255 songs across 13 styles, and up to three requests from it are included with every booking. A song that is not on the list can be arranged for $200, ideally with four to six weeks of notice. You can see the full 255-song repertoire and build your ceremony there.
New Jersey and New York City
In New Jersey Julie plays from Hoboken and Jersey City out through Bergen, Essex, Morris and Somerset counties and down to the Shore. See wedding violinist in New Jersey for venues and logistics, or NYC weddings for the five boroughs. For a non-wedding event, solo violin or piano for events covers private parties and dinners.
Questions
How much does a wedding pianist cost?
Piano for a ceremony or a cocktail hour, up to one hour, is $875 in Zone 1 (NYC, Hoboken and Jersey City), $975 in Zone 2 (most of Northern NJ) and $1,075 in Zone 3 (Central NJ). Ceremony and cocktail hour together is $1,450, $1,550 or $1,650. Each additional hour is $300.
Do we need to have a piano at the venue?
No. If there is no piano, or the house piano is not available, Julie brings a keyboard with a stand, pedal and bench and runs it through her own sound system. If the venue has a good piano in the right room she is happy to play it.
Can you play violin for the ceremony and piano for cocktail hour?
Yes. Julie plays both, and violin for the ceremony with piano for cocktail hour is the most-booked setup. Violin and piano across the event is $1,550 in Zone 1, $1,650 in Zone 2 and $1,750 in Zone 3.
What kind of music do you play on piano?
Classical pieces for the ceremony, jazz standards and soul for cocktail hour and dinner, and pop songs arranged for piano. The repertoire is 255 songs across 13 styles, and up to three requests are included with every booking.
How far ahead should we book a wedding pianist?
For a Saturday in peak season, May through October, 6 to 12 months ahead is typical. Weeknight, Sunday and off-season weddings often book on shorter timelines.
Check your date.
Send the date, venue and which parts of the day you want music for. Julie replies within 24 hours.
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