Pipe Organ Exams

[JONESEY]

Pipe Organ Exams ... good thing or not?.
I've been playing for some years now and am seriously considering taking some.

Just wondered what your opinions are.

No doubt I've picked up more than my fair share of bad habits, especially using the pedals - and maybe some formal exam practising etc would help.

[methodistgirl]

Are you talking about checking out the organ or being tested yourself?
judy tooley

[JONESEY]

Hi Judy,

Formal pipe organ exams for myself.
Just like I did on the Piano ... The Associated Board of the Royal School of Music do these exams, along with others.

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Ms. Judy,

Our Colleague JONESEY would be/might be given a set of questions, asked to play some works from different periods in organ literature, improvise on a given theme, maybe submit an arrangement for organ, conduct a choir, arrange a work for choir and organ.......A real test of his abilities to be judged by a jury. Depending upon what professional certification he's seeking will determine what he has to do in order to achieve said certification.

Here in the states, the American Guild Of Organists(AGO) administers such professional certification. Here's what hoops you'll have to jump through in order to receive the different certifications:

http://www.agohq.org/education/docs/certchart.pdf

Cheers,

VADM Corno Dolce

[methodistgirl]

Sorry I never had the chance to go through that.
judy tooley

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Ms. Judy,

If you were to ask your organist to work with you, I'm sure he/she would be willing to help you achieve a certification but it will take a goodly amout of blood, sweat, and tears to achieve the different certifications.

Cheers,

VADM Corno Dolce

[Krummhorn]

Spot on, Corno Dolce ...

I've had often thought about getting the Service Playing Cert from AGO ... Lord knows I've got the years of experience under the belt, but going through another adjudicated "competition" this late in life is doubtful ... but not completely on the back burner - yet!

I've know many of my fellow colleagues who have gone through most of the AGO exams for organ ... they all have the same words to describe the experience: "tough" & "exhilarating".

[Contratrombone64]

I hate to be a wet blanket but I think music examinations are a thorough waste of time. I was forced to undertaken them as a student (and did very well I might add) but it seems to be, looking back, that my entire learning experience (I'm talking viola here not organ) was devoted to the music I had to prepare for the exams and not much else.

On the other side of the coin, if you're going to stretch your playing ability and want to learn pieces that are roughly the same level of difficulty, the examination syllabuses are the way to go. Unfortunately in the Pipe Organ world in Australia there are no grade books. Piano violin flue and clarinet and some brass instruments yes. This means that you can purchase a complete collection of works at that level.

I've got an AMEB (Australian Music Examinations Board) syllabus from about two years ago, I'll try and remember to bring it in and share some of the organ pieces (and scales and stuff). The grade system goes from preliminary (very basic) to 8th grade (competent) and then to three level of diploma: associate, licentiate and fellowship. Now that based on the Australian model. I understand Trinity College London has a very similar system. I hold an LTCL from them, but it was on viola and years ago.

[JONESEY]

Hi Everyone - thanks for your thoughts.
I see your point CT - but the main reason for me doing the exams is indeed to stretch my ability and give me a focus to learn the pieces to a deadline.

I think it will be the best way for me to increase my repertoire ... it's all too easy for me just to sit and play the pieces I've played before and not learn new ones, as I only get to play the Organ a couple of times a month right now.

Congrats on the LTCL - holding a diploma is a great achievement.
I did grades 2-8 inc on the Piano with the London College of Music, but missed out on the ALCM diploma by 5 marks after some years of studying.

I think however it will be the Associated Board for me ... they seem to have more study books published, and as some of this will be self taught, having study books will be very helpful.

[methodistgirl]

I will be going through something simular as a guitar player because
I'm taking a class in it. I know that there would be a test of some
sort to see if I can play certain chords which right now I don't think
my fingers will let me. Some of them are hard.
judy tooley

[jvhldb]

Hi Ms. Judy,

Our Colleague JONESEY would be/might be given a set of questions, asked to play some works from different periods in organ literature, improvise on a given theme, maybe submit an arrangement for organ, conduct a choir, arrange a work for choir and organ.......A real test of his abilities to be judged by a jury........

Yike! May I never go through ANY of these tests.

[JONESEY]

The exam consists of:

3 set pieces, chosen from a list
Scales (keyboard and pedal)
Arpeggios
Sight Reading
Transposition (grades 6-8)
Aural Tests

[Krummhorn]

Hi Jonesey,

That list, sans the scales & arpeggios, is what I have gone through auditioning for a few church positions over the years here in the states. It can be unnerving for some, but the experiences of having endured those definitely bolstered my playing skills.

Do you know what the 3 set pieces are?

[JONESEY]

Hi Krummhorn - depending on the grade I take, they differ.
Would you be interested in a link to the syllabus?.

[Contratrombone64]

Jonesey - what syllabus will you be working off?