How/when did you learn the organ.

[Flute'n'Pedal]

Thank-you all for your congratulations. I think I was unusually fortunate, and I feel a bit inadequate and overwhelmed. But there were other applicants; so I couldn't have been all that bad. I know I owe a lot to my wonderful teacher.
The two organs are both small, but otherwise they're quite different. The one is an old Troels Krohne, with tracker action and 12 stops, and an enormous sound. The other is a newer Marcussen, with 10 stops and a tiny but fine sound. Right now I find it confusing to change from one organ to the other, and yesterday at the services I made some funny goof-ups with the stops. I probably should write out all the registrations before-hand, taking into consideration the differences between the organs.
Part of my job is organ maintenance. That will be assigned to my better half, who is a physicist and a real whiz at cars and bikes and computers. Already I can see there are some small problems--but on a small organ, any problem is serious. If any one knows of some web-sites or books about organ repair that my husband could look at, please let me know.

[John30507]

I started out playing keyboard for uhhh... two weeks? Then my instructor showed me his organ. I was in awe! He started teaching me organ instead. I was in 4th grade when I started taking lessons (about 11 years old). I am 13 now. I have not had lessons in about a year, so I am going to start back ASAP.

[Udyret]

My story as an organ-player is a mix of traditional and odd. I, like most others, started at the piano having my first lesson as a 7-year old, and kept on playing. Then, as a 20-year old, I graduated from the danish equivalent to high-school, and didn't know what education I should take. By a maddening coincidence my dad works at a labour union, and had to make a plan to get a job for an unemployed musician. The musician's plan involved studying the organ, and my dad said; "hey Peter, you should give that a go!" I just thought: "ok," and at my first lesson I fell in love with the instrument right away, and started getting serious and working as a "stand-in" organist. Then, 2004, I was appointed organist at the church where I still work, and this year I was admitted into what in Denmark is known as a conservatory of music (highest musical education) with the organ as my main instrument.
Five years with the organ as the focus, I can hardly wait...

[methodistgirl]

The first organ I played was a chord organ and at the church I went to
back then had a hammond. I kinda grew up with this organ at church
until I left and claimed Madisonville as my home. I have been on about
four different organs and keyboards until I began playing the pipe organ
at this methodist church. Right now, I'm taking a break learning the
guitar. This little instrument is taking up my time now.
judy tooley

[Krummhorn]

. . . Five years with the organ as the focus, I can hardly wait...

Hi Udyret,

The wait is worth it ... I also started out young - age 6 with piano lessons, then on to organ lessons at age 12. I'm still just as excited with this whole aspect 48 years later - still playing every week in church and loving every minute of it.

I sincerely hope you do keep up with the lessons - We need more young people like yourself to eventually take over the positions that us 'older' musicians have been playing at for lots of years.

[Udyret]

Hi Krummhorn

Glad to hear that you still love the queen of instruments. I always will, and since i'm gonna study it full time at the highest level in Denmark now, there's no way to ruin my relationship to the queen.
Start of the study is August however, and that's a bit hard to wait for,
but evererything comes to he who is patient. You have my word that only the two d's Deafness and Dementia can make me stop playing the organ, hope you feel the same way.
I'm just curious; what kind of organ and what size do you usually play? I'm lucky again, the church I work at was recently given a brand new 13-stop P.G. Andersen og Bruhn organ, and to say the least they did well. You can play anything on that organ.

[John30507]

Hi Krummhorn

Glad to hear that you still love the queen of instruments.

Correction: King of instruments

[Krummhorn]

Hi Krummhorn . . . I'm just curious; what kind of organ and what size do you usually play?

Hi Udyret,

I play on a 9 rank M.P. Möller pipe:


The organ is situated in a side gallery above the sanctuary floor - my view to the left looks down on the Altar, which is centrally located. The choir sings from this gallery.

The organ is capable of a plethora of literature ... despite its relatively small size, my annual concerts have featured the likes of Sonata I of Mendelssohn, Chorale No. 3 in A Minor of Franck, as well as Prelude, Fuge et Variation of the same composer.

The blue tables in front of the pipes are for our handbell choir. The church acoustics are deader than a doornail ... passed pews, carpet in the aisles, etc. The pew pads cannot be removed - they are one piece integrated into the pew's construction. So we have to look at other alternatives to improve the acoustical properties - one idea we are researching is sealing the block walls and/or adding glass baffles at certain locations.

[methodistgirl]

Krummhorn, the organ in your picture looks like it's the same size as the
one at my church. The only difference is the name of the companies
who constructed them. The organ in my church has 24
ranks.
judy tooley

[Udyret]

Hi Krummhorn.

Thanks for the info, good to hear that you play a versatile instrument. Sad thing about the acoustics though, but I don't know what do about that.
You play an almost danish organ per chance, since M.P. Möller was actually an imigrated danish coach builder. It's a small world for sure... Keep up the good work KH.

With the kindest regards Peter

[Krummhorn]

Thanks, Peter ...

The Möller pipe organ company (Hagerstown, Maryland) went defunct about 1992. The family had sold out to a group of investors who tried to cut corners and refused to re-invest in the company ... then there were the labor disputes and the eventual fold of the entire company.

Allen Organ Company (Macungie, Pennsylvania) bought up the "remains" of the MP Möller company, not to build pipe organs, but to use the name along in conjunction with their business to build augmented instruments adding their digital technology to existing pipe organs that need "enhancing" and face budget constraints where adding additional pipework is impractical due to space considerations or impossible for lack of finances. My church can do neither ... we have the space, but no possible way to fund more ranks, digital or otherwise, not even a console upgrade.

[methodistgirl]

Believe it or not I never took organ lessons. I just sat down and
started to play it. I still do that today at the pipe organ at the
church I go to now. I will play by ear and read music.
judy tooley

[criptlyon]

Hello!
(Refreshing this thread)

I just started to learn in February 2009 (on a Viscount Cantorum VI) with a learning book made for "keyboard rookies", by a French organist. It's very well done for me, as it was clear for me that I didn't want to do anything with piano before learning organ.

[Cosmosa]

Hello
I started the piano at 7yrs and used to accompany church services when I was a teenager. I then took it up again seriously in my 50s and took exams for the first time, going up to grade 8. Then like many pianists I was cajoled into playing the organ and given a handful of lessons from an inspiring cathedral organist and I became obsessed. This was when I was 60. He told me that unless I added pedal notes into the hymns straight away I would never have the courage to do so and so I have never looked back. However, I have had to spend so long on hymns since I play often several services per week that it has taken me 6 years to reach grade 5 which I take in a couple of weeks time. I have just occasional lessons and also go to master classes organised by a local organist association.
I have taught myself mainly from Anne Marsden Thomas books and CDs. I also record myself and now at long last have an organ at home. Apparently I have already ruined the lounge with my piano, so the organ had to be smallest one available from Wyvern that would fit in sideways in the utility room. Thus the door can be closed, headphones insisted upon and then everything can appear as normal.

[Bagnew]

I started piano lessons at 5, and a few weeks ago started teaching myself organ (Playing Hymns, a Buxtehude Fugue in C, Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, BWV 565 (still haven't got very far into the fugue yet, but practicing!) and anything else I can find). I'm playing a little Allen Digital Computer Organ, which is quite nice, and I do have the opportunity (but I haven't taken it up yet) to play a 2m/P Pipe Organ made by the Aplin Organ Company, here in New Zealand.