Noel Stookey, known professionally as Paul in the folk duo Peter, Paul and Mary, wrote "Wedding Song (There Is Love)" in 1971. The song became a standard at ceremonies across North America and remains one of the most recorded wedding songs in American popular music. Stookey's gift for accessible, emotionally direct songwriting made this tune a cultural touchstone for generations of couples.
Why we love this
This arrangement captures the warmth and simplicity that made the original so enduring without requiring advanced technique. Piano students get to play a song they've likely heard at weddings, which creates genuine motivation and context for their practice.
What to expect
Warm, intimate, and unrushed. The song carries the gentle optimism of a moment that matters, with straightforward harmonies that let the melody shine. Even in an easy arrangement, the emotional core remains intact.
Who it's for
Piano students at the early intermediate level who want to play meaningful repertoire beyond etudes and classical standards. This works well for students preparing for recitals, weddings, or community performances who appreciate contemporary music with real emotional weight.
How to get the most out of it
Keep the tempo steady and unhurried; this song benefits from space and breath rather than rushing through phrases.
Shape the melody with gentle dynamics, letting it rise naturally on the verses without heavy-handed accent work.
Pay attention to chord voicings in the accompaniment; smooth voice leading will enhance the song's intimate quality.
Consider the pedal carefully to blend harmonies without muddying the texture, especially important in the quieter sections.
How to use it
Feature this at a spring or early summer recital, or use it as a lighter selection that balances more formal classical repertoire on a mixed program. Students often enjoy performing it for community events or composing their own introductions and arrangements once they've mastered the basic version.
Skills your students will build
Playing sustained melodic lines with consistent tone quality
Managing pedal use in pop-rock ballad arrangements
Maintaining steady tempo while conveying emotional expression
Reading and executing straightforward chord-based accompaniment patterns
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