How/when did you learn the organ.

[LovesBachandGershwin]

I was wondering if you organ players started playing before you went to college, or if you were taking piano lessons in highschool and then started learning the organ in college. I have to taken an organ lesson before when I was at my staying at my Grandma's in the summer, but other than that and playing on my grandma's electric hammond (I think it's a hammond or something else really old) I don't any organ experience except "piano experience"

I was wondering if any of you started taking lessons before highschool, privately or learned by yourself, or when etc etc etc

basically how you learned the organ...

[Krummhorn]

Hi, LBG (can we call you that for short?)

I started out as a child after taking an interest in the piano at home (noticed by my sister) my formal classical piano lessons began at age 6, and I studied privately until I was age 12.

My classical organ studies followed immediately and continued for another 6 years. It was during my 1st year of organ study that I became a church organist, and I've been playing in church every week for 47 years now, a decision I've never regretted - always a high point in my weekly routine .

During my college years, I took another 2 years of organ study, albeit in a group setting which can be lots more unsettling than private study, but certainly helps when it comes to public performance.

I practice fingering on the piano at home ... for organ practice, I use the church instrument (Moller Pipe Organ) where I am the organist.

That's basically it, in a shell

Kh

[Contratrombone64]

It would seem that most people play piano first and then migrate. The school where I learned organ (high school) didn't allow you to learn the pipe organ until you had achieved a grade on piano. This was Grade 5 (under the Australian Music Examinations Board), sort of intermediate ability, not a beginner.

[Soubasse]

Yes, and I've often argued against that one to the AMEB and other bodies. Whilst a start on piano is beneficial, it is by no means mandatory.

Having said that, I started on piano when I was about 7 or 8 and then I saw my father play an organ one day - I decided I wanted to do just that. Taught myself for about a year and a half then got some proper lessons from a former student of Michael Dudman (Sydney-ites should be familiar with him). This chap Ken, made the mistake of going into the priesthood. He's still one of the more formidable players I've known.

Continued through to University majoring on organ for my Bachelor and Honours degrees (was lucky enought to play some Messiaen for Dame Gillian Weir at a workshop - an hour with her was practically a years worth of lessons with anyone else!) and have not stopped playing the thing since. Been playing in churches and cathedrals since the early 1980s.

Meeting, playing for and talking privately with Marie-Claire Alain was also an education.

Matt

[NEB]

I started piano at age 4 and started filling in at my local church when I was a teenager and they were in need of anyone who could play a keyboard to accompany services. Never was a 'proper' organist but learnt what I needed as I went on. That led to an assistant organist position in a much larger parish and study with the principle. Studied properly later at college although not first study which has proved invaluable over the years as I've been filling the gaps left by others now for some 30 years or more in various places.

Now once again, I'm finally getting around to some more serious study and practice since taking up a post last year and having open access to an instrument on which to put in some hard work.

Actually, the most valuable thing to me is well over 30 years experience as a gigging musician (which gives you the ability to think/adapt very quickly on your feet, to busk easily, pick up a tune and work it, and most of all to Know your limitations thus making sure you don't try and do things that won't come off - except in practice sessions of course then you always push the envelope as far as possible ... )

[AllanP]

I became interested in the organ when my neighbor built a Schober kit electronic organ. I built one myself and started organ lessons at age 35. It is a lot harder starting at an advanced age. I am now taking lessons after a gap of 10 years with a teacher who is excellent.

I like to play a wide variety of music ranging from classical to show tunes. I have my own pipe organ installed in my home for practice and entertainment.

[giovannimusica]

I was 4 years old when I first started taking lessons on the organ. My legs were sufficiently long enough so that I could reach all the pedal keys without *extensions*. Had an excellent pedagogue/coach who made it such fun to learn.

Regards!

Giovanni

[LovesBachandGershwin]

Krummhorn, LBG sounds great, I know my title is a mouthful or a "typeful?"

Anyways, thanks for all the feedback, it sounds like most of you started learning the organ at a very young age. Do you think there's any hope learning it at a later age, getting good enough to actually play serious music. I'm very strong on the piano, and but the organ seems pretty overwhelming. I like to think of the complex hand and feet action as combining a piano with a trap set. I'm sure it's great for your left and right brain connection Do you know of anybody who started learning the organ in college? I don't want to major in it, but I might want to minor in piano or organ.

[Krummhorn]

I became interested in the organ when my neighbor built a Schober kit electronic organ.

Wow, that's a blast from the past ... haven't heard the Schober name for decades. I knew they had a pretty good reputation early on - is it still a decent organ for home use?

I was 4 years old when I first started taking lessons on the organ.

Well, Giovanni, you had an 8 year head start before I started organ - but 6 of those were spent in weekly piano lessons

Do you think there's any hope learning it at a later age, getting good enough to actually play serious music. I'm very strong on the piano, and but the organ seems pretty overwhelming. I like to think of the complex hand and feet action as combining a piano with a trap set. I'm sure it's great for your left and right brain connection Do you know of anybody who started learning the organ in college? I don't want to major in it, but I might want to minor in piano or organ.

IMHO, one is never too old to start. I've heard of many people that have started their organ study in college or beyond. I once had an organ student who was 60!
It's all a mindset - how much time you can (and want to) devote to learning the technique and coordination between hands and feet. Eventually your toes develop little eyes (not ) and will "know by feel" - the only reason there is a pedalboard light is for the organists amusement and the onlookers amazement !!
Start with the easy organ pieces ... perhaps the 8 Little Preludes & Fugue's ... and build up from there.

Lars

[PraeludiumUndFuge]

I started keyboard and organ less than a year ago, maybe 10 months at the very most. BTW I am 22 and as long as you are not over 45 I think your brain is still fully apt for learning. I was really mainly a violin student as a child until abandoned altogether for a few years during my teens (wanted to be an electric guitar hero). Now, back at proper music, the keyboard is where "it happenin". I'm tackling, to put simply, the Bach (add Buxtehude and Pachelbel, Bohm to add to the list as of recent) organ repertoire at the moment. You start your first couple of months on the very simple like the Bach book for W.F. Bach. A set of starter pieces. Once you get a feel for those you get both a feel for both the keyboard and the reading of multiple voices. Move on to a couple of Bach 2-voice inventions, maybe some 3-voice sinfonias. That's enough of a "feel" you will need at the keyboard, at least for 18th century music. Learn and practice some simple chorales (Bach and Bohm) which are also very important (chord playing) . The rest is practice. Don't let the pedal thing overwhelm you. Pedal+manual passages are usually easier than the more difficult manual passages. You practice them, like everything else. You might want some guidance from a teacher on proper ornamentation and, if you're aiming for it, improvisation.

[Danmakine]

I started playing piano at 11, I think, and continued until I was 14 - more or less lustlessly. At 15, our congregation was in dire need of an organist, and I was kind of ready at hand. I played first an electronic organ, and later a formidable piano for six years, twice a month. Organs did not interest me at all, I just played because I needed the money.


After a year at Uni, I came down with a cronical and invalidating mental illness and had to redirect focus. Several unsuccesfull tries led me to an organ school, a part-time education. It was cool! I loved it! I have surpassed almost every other student! I was 23 when I started last summer, and I will switch to full-time ed. this summer.

I live in Denmark, not the US, which is why I do not mention college.

[giovannimusica]

I get really concerned when a dogmatic insistence of acheiving piano proficiency before organ study is *de rigueur*. If an organ student has a burning passion for studying organ, by all means - get them started on the instrument of their desire. Too many have been *stunted* in acheiving their dreams.


Giovanni

[Krummhorn]

I totally agree with Giovanni,

In my own situation, it was the customary procedure and thinking to do piano first, then organ ... but that was in the ... well err uhh let's just say a long time ago ! I've never regretted going that route, and it has helped me in later years as some choral anthems are best suited for piano accompaniment - I mean one can "play" a piano or one can "make music" on a piano .

But, if your real passion is for the organ, by all means, don't delay it one minute ... we need more organists to take over the positions us ... uhh ... umm ... more experienced musicians will vacate in the coming years.

Kh

[Wils]

Well, I started piano lessons at age 53, passed grade 5 aged 56 and now, at 57 am about to start organ lessons ! I bought a small home practice instrument and have been familiarising myself with playing hands & feet together, changing manuals etc etc, to overcome the co-ordination problems before I start lessons - the organ will be a tracker instrument so I'm wondering how I'll cope with that......obviously at my age I'm not going to go very far with this, but leisure playing and maybe playing for services in a few years' time are my current goals.

[Krummhorn]

Congratulations, Wils ... never too late to embark another journey in music. Were you in a music related field before age 53?