J# Minor
New member
Well folks, I posted a short blurb in the introductions forum, but it seems that here is where the real action is.
To make a long story short, I've played piano off-and-on for the last 18 years and have always loved the pipe organ from afar. Now I've decided to dive headfirst into this king of instruments.
I had my first pipe organ experience last week. It was an Aeolian-Skinner with 4 manuals, 6 divisions, 95 ranks, and 5557 pipes. I hobbled through half of BWV 565 and really made a mess of it. (I've been working on that piece on my piano for about two weeks.) But it was an exhilarating experience, and I have to say that at this point, I'm hooked.
Here is the organ I played:
http://www.stlukesokc.org/p/6827/Default.aspx
Luckily, I live in the middle of what is called the "bible belt" of the USA. Churches with organs abound, and several local universities have well-maintained organs. That said, I'm still unable to find an organist willing to take on a student for private lessons. I do have some leads I'm currently following, though.
I found a guy in my area who just happened to have a Classic MIDI Works AGO pedal unit for sale. I bought it from him with the intent to build up a Hauptwerk software rig for practice in my home.
Two questions for the forum:
-- If I can't find a teacher, can I develop organ technique on my own?
-- Can anyone here comment on the Hauptwerk software?
To make a long story short, I've played piano off-and-on for the last 18 years and have always loved the pipe organ from afar. Now I've decided to dive headfirst into this king of instruments.
I had my first pipe organ experience last week. It was an Aeolian-Skinner with 4 manuals, 6 divisions, 95 ranks, and 5557 pipes. I hobbled through half of BWV 565 and really made a mess of it. (I've been working on that piece on my piano for about two weeks.) But it was an exhilarating experience, and I have to say that at this point, I'm hooked.
Here is the organ I played:
http://www.stlukesokc.org/p/6827/Default.aspx
Luckily, I live in the middle of what is called the "bible belt" of the USA. Churches with organs abound, and several local universities have well-maintained organs. That said, I'm still unable to find an organist willing to take on a student for private lessons. I do have some leads I'm currently following, though.
I found a guy in my area who just happened to have a Classic MIDI Works AGO pedal unit for sale. I bought it from him with the intent to build up a Hauptwerk software rig for practice in my home.
Two questions for the forum:
-- If I can't find a teacher, can I develop organ technique on my own?
-- Can anyone here comment on the Hauptwerk software?