At the end of the day …. “Jon Schmidt’s: Game Day”!!

~~November 4, 2015~~ 

JON SCHMIDT’S GAME DAY

A beautiful way to end a long day

… under the spell of Jon’s magic hands and the awesome keyboard which he masters.

I believe this is one of his early compositions before “The Piano Guys” became the YouTube sensation they currently are.

I had the pleasure to watch them live, in concert.

It was an unforgettable evening.

I just found this video today.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

HortyRex©

The Piano Guys are an American musical group consisting of Jon Schmidt, Steven Sharp Nelson, Paul Anderson, and Al van der Beek. They gained popularity through YouTube, where they posted piano and cello renditions of popular songs and classical music.

Schmidt and Nelson‘s music is accompanied by professional-quality videos shot and edited by Paul Anderson and formerly by Tel Stewart.

Paul Anderson owned a piano shop in St. George, Utah. He met musician Jon Schmidt as the latter walked in to ask if he could practice there for an upcoming concert. Months later, Paul Anderson and Tel Stewart (then just for fun) started making videos together with Jon Schmidt. It was not too long after that they did their first collaboration with Jon Schmidt, Steven Sharp Nelson, and Al Van Der Beek as the studio and music technician. After the five of them started collaborating the group really started to take off, producing a music video each week and posting it to YouTube.

… and the rest is history!

“As it appears in …. full read/full credit”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Piano_Guys

~~GRAPHICS SOURCE~~

Google Images

MEMBERS

Jon Schmidt

Steven Sharp Nelson

Paul Anderson

Al van der Beek

~~GALLERY~~ 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

~~SOURCES~~

Home

Videos

About

GAME DAY

/http://thepianoguys.com/thepianoguys/our-beliefs/

Jon Schmidt (born 1966) is an American pianist currently residing in Bountiful, Utah. He describes his style as “new-age classical.”

He was born to German immigrants who acquainted him with the works of such composers as Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin. He began songwriting at age 11. To date, he has released eight albums and seven piano books containing transcriptions of original arrangements.

He works with Steven Sharp Nelson – The Piano Guys – which has gained fame via the internet.

(as if you didn’t know this already)

#AtTheEndOfTheDay #PianoGuys #MusicalTalent #Photography #Videography #TeamEffort #JonSchmidt #StevenSharpNelson #PaulAnderson #AlVanDerBeek #GameDay #MagicHands #AwesomeKeyboard #Pianist #Songwriter

#WeAlllAreOne #ItIsWhatItIs #DrRex #HortyRex #hrexachwordpress

~~Game Day~~

ThePianoGuys

~~Uploaded on Mar 16, 2010~~

We ALL are connected through MUSIC!! 

We ALL are ONE!! 

At the end of the day …. “The Piano Guys: This Is Your Fight Song”!!

~~November 2, 2016~~ 

THIS IS YOUR FIGHT SONG …. AMAZING GRACE

Piano Guys combine ‘Fight Song,’ ‘Amazing Grace’ in unlikely Scottish mashup

By Alex Johnson, Deseret News

Published: Friday, Oct. 30 2015

The Christian hymn “Amazing Grace” and Rachel Platten’s contemporary hit “Fight Song” may seem like an unlikely pair, but the two songs have one thing in common: a message of hope.

Although the The Piano Guys are known for playing entertaining and uplifting music in unusual locations,their latest video isn’t just fun to watch. The group combined the songs “Amazing Grace,” “Fight Song” and short interludes from “Scotland The Brave” to create an anthem of strength.

“This song and video for us was a struggle but a beautifully defining one,” according to the video’s description.

“We all struggle.

Not in the same way, nor at the same level, but we all want a fighting chance,” The Piano Guys wrote.

“And we all share in one gift: the will to make the most of our lives.

To take what we’ve been given and turn it into something better could be considered the sentient measuring stick of success.

But to do so seldom is simple and more often requires we fight.

Not against each other.

But against the current threatening to drown the ambition in us.”

The video was filmed at the Eilean Donan Castle in Dornie, Scotland, where the group collaborated with members of the Wasatch and District Pipe Band.

“As it appears in …. full read/full credit”

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865640295/UTubers-Piano-Guys-combine-Fight-Song-Amazing-Grace-in-unlikely-Scottish-mashup.html?pg=all

~~GRAPHICS SOURCE~~

Google Images

~~GALLERY~~ 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

MEMBERS

Jon Schmidt

Steven Sharp Nelson

Paul Anderson

Al van der Beek

~~SOURCES~~

Home

About

Our Beliefs

#AtTheEndOfTheDay #PianoGuys #MusicalTalent #Photography #Videography #TeamEffort #JonSchmidt #StevenSharpNelson #PaulAnderson #AlVanDerBeek #FightSong #AmazingGrace #ScotlandTheBrave #ScottishMashup #EileanDonanCastle #Dornie #Scotland #WasatchAndDistrictPipeBand #RachelPlatten #ScottishCover

#WeAlllAreOne #ItIsWhatItIs #DrRex #HortyRex #hrexachwordpress

~This is Your Fight Song~

Rachel Platten Scottish Cover

~Published on Oct 29, 2015~

Meaning/Story behind the song

When we first heard Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” we were inspired by its message. In a world where we too often talk about our differences, we have at least one thing in common. We all struggle. Not in the same way, nor at the same level, but we all want a fighting chance. And we all share in one gift: The will to make the most of our lives. To take what we’ve been given and turn it into something better could be considered the sentient measuring stick of success. But to do so seldom is simple and more often requires we fight. Not against each other. But against the current threatening to drown the ambition in us.

There is tremendous purpose in struggle.

It is when the struggle becomes so fierce that we must fight to swim or sink. John Newton, who penned “Amazing Grace,” worked on a slave trader ship and condoned inhuman atrocities. As his ship was on the verge of being torn apart in a violent storm he called out for Grace. Once his feet were again planted on firm soil he determined to change. His covenant was written into these words,

“I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind, but now I see.”

Grace is the defining moment when we face and fight a monster poised to define us or destroy us.

This song and video for us was a struggle, but a beautifully defining one. We chose the Scottish culture to depict the dichotomy between Grace and struggle. Who else is tough enough and yet delicate enough to don a kilt in battle? And the Scottish pipe and drum are the ultimate conveyors of melody and cadence. One represents Grace, the other the indomitable fight.

Our dream was to film one of the most iconic castles on the Earth, Eilean Donan Castle in Dornie, Scotland.

Grace somehow made this video possible. We had to postpone our trip to Scotland several times, and when we could no longer postpone we had to leap in faith because just before we left everything had fallen through. It wasn’t until we were in the moment and had to let go of our pride and anxiety when everything Gracefully came together.

We recognize that this video is far less important than a fight for one’s life. We hope this music will serve as an anthem for those that are in the fight of their lives. We have people close to us who inspire us every day with their grace in the face of such a struggle.

This video is dedicated to them.

The superheroes in our lives that don’t wear capes, but wear a smile under villainous pressure — those that have been through so many defining moments that they are intimately acquainted with Grace and know it to be close cousins with hope. We pray “Grace will bring them safety through.”

CREDITS

Fight Song written by Rachel Platten & Dave Bassett
Amazing Grace (traditional) – lyrics by John Newton
Scotland The Brave (traditional)

We ALL struggle!! 

We ALL are ONE!! 

To start the day …. “The Piano Guys Behind ThePianoGuys”!!

~~May 24, 2015~~ 

Many of those who stop by “It Is What It Is” may know that I am an ardent fan of The Piano Guys.

I learned about them through a dear friend who asked: Have you seen The Piano Guys’ videos?

I hadn’t. Who are they? Susan knows I play the piano and how much music means to me. She introduced me to them as we watched “Michael Meets Mozart”, then “Peponi”, then “Beautiful” … I was hooked!

Since then I’ve started following them. I’ve bought their CD’s and I was able to see them live in concert in Melbourne, Florida.

An unforgettable experience. They are really down to earth. They called themselves “nerds”. To me, the most important things are that they have an incredible sense of humor and an amazing talent.

I really enjoy The Piano Guys.

I hope you enjoy this clip!

HortyRex©

Have you ever wondered how the ThePianoGuys move the grand pianos on top of mountains, Great Wall of China, trains and other crazy locations?

Meet The Piano Guys Behind ThePianoGuys.

~~SOURCE~~ 

http://thepianoguys.com/portfolio/studio-c-behind-the-piano-guys/?portfolioID=2668

~~GALLERY~~ 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

~~The Piano Guys Behind ThePianoGuys~~

~~Published on May 11, 2015~~

Video features ThePianoGuys (Jon Schmidt, Steven Sharp Nelson, Paul Anderson, Al van der Beek), Matt Meese, Mallory Everton, Whitney Call, Steven Meek, Stacy Harkey, James Perry and Jeremy Warner.

Have you ever wondered how the ThePianoGuys move the grand pianos on top of mountains, Great Wall of China, trains and other crazy locations? Meet The Piano Guys Behind ThePianoGuys.

StudioC’s ThePianoGuys Documentary/Rockumentary

Thanks to ThePianoGuys (Jon Schmidt, Steven Sharp Nelson, Paul Anderson, Al van der Beek) and make sure to subscribe to their channel

Also, Special Thanks to “the real Piano Guys behind ThePianoGuys.”
Jeremy Crawford, Shaye Scott, Addison Foote, Danae Tumanuvao, Kyle Fisher and countless others!

#ToStartTheDay #ThePianoGuys #BehindThePianoGuys #HowDoTheyDoIt #MichaelMeets Mozart #Peponi #Beautiful #ArdentFan #FollowThem #LiveConcert #MelbourneFlorida #TopOf Mountains #GreatWallOfChina #Trains #CrazyLocations #JonSchmidt #StevenSharpNelson #PaulAnderson #AlVanDerBeek #MattMeese #MalloryEverton #WhitneyCall #StevenMeek #StacyHarkey #JamesPerry #JeremyWarner #Documentary #Rockumentary

#WeAllAreOne #ItIsWhatItIs #DrRex #HortyRex #hrexachwordpress

We ALL are ONE!! 

At the end of the day …. “Eight Days till Christmas”!!

~~December 17, 2014~~ 

Christmas is fast approaching. There are eight days left before the holiday is upon us. This has been quite the year. As it comes to an end, we hope that this new coming year be better in many aspects.

“It Is What It Is” will feature a special song every night as the countdown approaches.

Here is another song from one of my favorite music performers. I love these guys!

The Piano Guys play ‘Angels we have heard on high’

With Thanksgiving officially over now, we turn our attention to the series of celebrations primarily associated with the month of December. What better way to kick off this holiday season tour de force than with a visual and auditory musical feat, featuring The Piano Guys?

(That’s a rhetorical question, there is no better way!)

Watch this Christmas cover of “Angels We Have Heard on High,” performed by Paul Anderson, Jon Schmidt, Al van der Beek and , on one single piano to feel the festive spirit come alive.

“As it appears in …. “

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/02/the-piano-guys-angels-we-have-heard-on-high_n_4373673.html

~~GALLERY~~

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

~Angels We Have Heard on High (Christmas w/ 32 fingers and 8 thumbs)~

ThePianoGuys

~~Published on Nov 29, 2013~~

We wanted this to be a fun music video full of “Christmas Spirit.” While the video primarily presents the “fun” side of Christmas (complete with cameo appearances by Christmas icons which “helped” us film), we wanted the music to portray what, to us, is the true meaning of the Holiday season. As we wrote it we imagined the “shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” And how the Angel appeared to them, announcing the humble birth of the Savior of the World. How incredible it would have been when, “suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!” (Holy Bible, Luke Chapter 2)

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. We love you!

#AtTheEndOfTheDay #ThePianoGuys #AngelsWeHaveHeard On High #JonSchmidt #StevenSharpNelson # AlVanDerBeek #IncredibleSpiritualPowerful  #LightAndLife #ChristmasSpirit

#WeAllAreOne #ItIsWhatItIs #DrRex #hrexachwordpress

We ALL are ONE!! 

To start the day …. The Piano Guys: “Ants Marching/Ode To Joy”!!

~~November 13, 2014~~

I know, I know … I ended last night with a Piano Guy post and video. However, the included video is brand new, right off the presses. It’s a new video from the “Wonders” album. It’s a fun piece and I’m looking forward to post in. These are awesome performers and musicians beyond compare …. in my humble opinion.

The best way to start a day!! 

(It’s so “fresh” that there aren’t many new images out there)

“Ants Marching/Ode To Joy”

… “a mash-up that incorporates melodies from Dave Matthews Band’s huge hit “Ants Marching / Beethoven Ode to Joy…. ”

Many thanks to St George Tourism who helped make this video possible. 
Like them on Facebook: http://https://www.facebook.com/St.GeorgeZion

We would also like to thank Tuacahn for their generosity in allowing us to film at their beautiful amphitheatre.

What began as an experiment and then exploded into an Internet phenomenon has now evolved into an incredible success story. The Piano Guys, four talented dads from Utah, released their fourth studio album entitled Wonders (Portrait/Sony Music Masterworks) on October 7th. In an incredibly competitive week of major music releases, the album makes its chart debut at an impressive #12 on the Billboard Top 200.

This marks The Piano Guys’ highest debut and biggest opening sales week of their career.

The Piano Guys – Steven Sharp Nelson, Jon Schmidt, Al Van der Beek and Paul Anderson – are an American musical group who became an online sensation by way of their immensely successful series of strikingly original self-made music videos. They’ve made over 50 music videos since early 2011, including their breakout hit, an innovative multi-handed version of One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful” and a gorgeous reinvention of the hit song “Let It Go” from Disney’s Frozen.

To date, the Utah-based classical-pop group has released three major label albums on Portrait/Sony Music Masterworks: The Piano Guys, The Piano Guys 2, and the holiday album A Family Christmas.

~~GALLERY~~

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

~~Ants Marching/Ode To Joy in 4K~~

~~Published on Nov 12, 2014~~

Story behind “Ants Marching/Ode to Joy”

Shout out to all the Dave Matthews Band fans out there! Shout out to all the Ludwig van Beethoven fans out there! Now a shout out to all the DMB/Beethoven mash-up fans out there! Introducing … Ants Marching / Ode to Joy!

OK, so this tune started in sound check at one of our shows. We were playing around with that super catchy lick at the front end of DMB’s “Ants Marching.” Using a loop pedal we’d set up the chords then improv on top of them. It then evolved. We did things like mimic the snare hit on beats 2 and 4 using a padded piano bench. We created a unique fiddle-like sound by combining a 5 string electric cello and a bowed piano string (using a disassembled cello bow.) We used a myriad of muted piano and piano percussion sounds. Then we developed the loop effect farther so that 4 guys could play a lot more parts together.

Like most of our music, ALL OF THE SOUNDS YOU HEAR WERE CREATED BY PIANO & CELLO (with the help of a tambourine).

Ode to Joy crept its way in because, well, throwing classical licks into pop tune arrangements is one of the things we love to do, but we also loved that, though the two melodies melded well, the lyrics or “messages” of the two tunes starkly contrasted each other. Poetic irony, right? DMB’s tune talks of everyone doing the same thing (um…like ants marching) and implies a meaningless, despondent and monotonous isolation of human beings from one another, while Beethoven’s “tune” talks of friendship, brotherhood, interconnectedness, meaning, and, of course, joy.

We filmed this in ONE TAKE (meaning no cuts or alternative angles) using an octocopter with an attached gimbal (pivoted support). This allowed us to alternate between fly shots and glidecam-style shots. Jeremy Crawford and Frank Nelson (our “Piano Stunt Coordinators,” in addition to a long list of specialized roles within TPG) would catch, walk with, and then release the copter during the “take.” They wore motorcycle helmets as a safety precaution!

We performed this on one of the most incredible stages on Earth – Tuacahn Ampitheatre! This happens to be in the TPG’s “hometown” of St. George Utah. We were positioned on a rotating island stage surrounded by running water, heavy fog, dramatic lights, pyrotechnics and majestic red rock mountains. Ya. It felt as epic as it sounds.

#AtTheEndOfTheDay #ThePianoGuys #AntsMarchingOdeToJoy #NewAlbumWonders #InternetPhenomenon #AmericanMusicalGroup #YouTubeSensation #DaveMatthewsBand #TuacahnBeautifulAmphitheatre #AllSoundsPianoCelloTambourine #OctocopterAttachedGimbal #StoryBehindVideoSong #MusicVoiceSoul #Jon Schmidt #StevenSharpNelson #Paul Anderson #Alvan Der Beek

#WeAllAreOne #ItIsWhatItIs #DrRex #hrexachwordpress

We ALL are ONE!! 

At the end of the day …. The Piano Guys: “Don’t You Worry Child”!!

~~October 27, 2014~~

What do you get when you mix up a marketing genius that does video, a studio engineer that writes music, a pianist that had a successful solo career, and a cellist that does pretty much everything? The Piano Guys: a miraculous meeting of “guys” with the same intrinsic purpose – to make a positive impact in the lives of people all over the world through music videos.

It all started in a piano store in a little town in Southern Utah called St. George. Paul Anderson, the store owner, was looking for a new, unconventional way to market pianos. The name of the store? The Piano Guys.

… and the rest is history!

“As it appears in … “

http://thepianoguys.com/

The Piano Guys are an American musical group consisting of Jon Schmidt, Steven Sharp Nelson, Tel Stewart, Paul Anderson and Al van der Beek. They became famous through YouTube, where they posted videos of renditions and mashups of popular songs accompanied by professional-looking video shots and edited by Paul Anderson and Tel Stewart. In December 2011, they released their first album, titled Hits Volume 1. Their second album, The Piano Guys, reached number one on the Billboard New Age Albums and Classical Albums charts in 2012.

Shweta Subram is a multi-lingual Indo-Canadian singer, songwriter and performer. She primarily sings in Hindi, though she has also lent her voice to Tamil and English projects. Shweta is the recipient of multiple awards including the North American Best Singer award from Sangam Kala Group, and Best Singer Award from Shankar Mahadevan Academy’s talent hunt, judged by Shankar Mahadevan himself.

Shweta’s performances consist of popular Bollywood songs and she has performed in over 50 cities around the globe, mostly as a headliner.

“Don’t You Worry Child” is a song by Swedish electronic dance group Swedish House Mafia. It is the sixth and final single released before the group broke up, featuring vocals from Swedish singer John Martin. In the United States, it is the act’s second number-one single on Billboard’s Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart, following “Save the World“. It received a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording in the 2013 Grammy Awards, as did its predecessor, “Save the World“, the previous year.

“As it appears in … “

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don’t_You_Worry_Child

~~THE PIANO GUYS~~

DON’T YOU WORRY CHILD (KHUSHNUMA) LYRICS

(Traditional Hindi Prayer)
Twamev mata ca pita, badhu, sakha, vidya, dravidam
Sarvo mum deva deva
[You are truly my mother and my father, my friend, my kin, my knowledge, and
my wealth.
You are my everything, my God of Gods]
Khushnuma
[Happiness without worry]
Kuch saalon pehle ki baatein, Mujhko yaad aayi
[There was a time years ago]
Jisme mainey kuch galtiya ki thi
[When I first met adversity]
Aur phir jaane kyo, Dil ye rota tha
[My heart cried out in sorrow]
Kyonki nadaani karnaa aasaan tha
[When in my innocence I stumbled]
Mere dil ki hai dua, Khush raho sadaa
[In my heart I pray for happiness]
Na bhoolana… Khushnuma
[Always remember…happiness without worry]
Sun le zaraa… Dil ki dua
[Hear me … the prayer in my heart]
Sun le zaraa
[Hear my heart]

~~SOURCES~~

https://vimeo.com/77576891

http://thepianoguys.com/portfolio/dont-you-worry-child/

~~GALLERY~~

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Don’t You Worry Child (Khushnuma) – ft. Shweta Subram

Swedish House Mafia

~Published on Jul 24, 2013~

Story behind the music and the video
While shooting our video “Lord of the Rings” Steve’s steel cello was damaged. When we reattached the fingerboard the strings were too close to the surface and this caused a buzzing sound when plucked. The Sitello was born — a cross between an Indian sitar and a cello. This sparked an idea. We love incorporating ethnicity into our arrangements …. 

We’d like to thank the Sri Sri Radha Krsna Temple for letting us film there — learn more about their temple here: http://www.utahkrishnas.org/
We’d also like to thank Troy Tasker and Shaun Jeffery for helping us scout out the Little Sahara Dunes and Bryce Payne for loaning us his trailer to make it possible!

#AtTheEndOfTheDay #ThePianoGuys #Don’tYouWorryChild

#MusicVoiceSoul #SriSriRadhaKrsnaTemple #SwedishHouseMafia

#ShwetaSubram #TraditionalHindiPrayer

#WeAllAreOne #ItIsWhatItIs #DrRex #hrexachwordpress

We ALL are ONE!!

~~Don’t You Worry Child~~

Swedish House Mafia OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

~~Published on Mar 26, 2014~~

To start the day …. Going home!!

~~August 15, 2014~~

Today is that day of the week when all has been done. For many, it’s a day to go home. Even though today is just beginning, soon it will be that time to go home.

Enjoy the day, do your best and get ready for the journey back home.

Jon Schmidt (born 1966) is an American pianist currently residing in Bountiful, Utah. He describes his style as “new-age classical.” He was born to German immigrants who acquainted him with the works of such composers as Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin. He began songwriting at age 11. To date, he has released eight albums and seven piano books containing transcriptions of original arrangements.

He currently works with Steven Sharp Nelson on a project called The Piano Guys, which has proven over and over to be more than quite popular.

His work is often described as New Age music with pop elements of hook and melody. His works were also featured on sample discs for the Iomega Hipzip Digital Audio Player with the pieces “Sacred Ground“, “All of Me“, and “Waterfall“. His influences include Mannheim Steamroller, Billy Joel, and Beethoven.

~~Going Home~~

~~Published on Mar 25, 2012~~

From the album “A Day in the Sunset” (1994)

We ALL are ONE!!