Pipeorgan music practise ... best method

rebiersteker

New member
Hi and greetings from Abbotsford BC. Canada ....
I am 62 and started playing the organ at 60. I DO know music as I play Classical guitar, 5 string electric bass as well have a Gibson 'HowardRoberts' fusion guitar.
Sooo ..... I made a 3 manual Haupwerk console with full 32 note pedals .... Anyway all works great! Use the midi interfaces from Roman Sowa. Very reasonable and they work well.

I have a lot of Clasiscal organ music ... but always struggling to get the right width/spacing of fingers in playing double and triple stops! I can read music well and the synchronisation between hands and pedal is getting pretty good. BUT... I can't wait to just be able to 'pick a piece' and play it without going over it many times, left hand, then right hand then each of these individually with 'pedals'..Then finally putting it all together ....
Is this still the best way to practise??
I also use Flor Pieters old booklet ... but it is pretty dated. Futher I know chords well so often I 'jot down' the name of the chords over the stacked notes on the staves.
Thanks for any ideas or suggestions regarding ... "best method " to learn.
I also read many of your posts and find it very interesting.

Robert
 
Krummhorn

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
:) Hi Robert, and welcome to our forum :)

Congratulations on taking up the organ at a wonderful age. I am also 62 years young, but have been playing in church since I was 12.

The best way to tackle learning hand/foot coordination is to ... practice, practice, practice, and when you think you are done practicing, practice some more.

Starting with the manuals is great ... then try playing the pedals alone, then add one hand then the other. You can also play the hands on a dead manual (no stops drawn) while learning the pedal notes, and vice versa. Basically, whatever works the best for you, is the way to go about it, but a teacher or tutor will be extremely helpful, too.

What you describe is called "Sight Reading", a learned skill that is taught best by a teacher or tutor - I was taught that very early on, and have retained that skill ever since.

There are a couple resource books that may help you:

  1. Harold Gleason, Method of Organ Playing
  2. John Stainer, Complete Organ Method
The Gleason piece is quite pricey, especially for the latest edition. Cheaper version can be found for lots less, and an earlier edition will be just as helpful as the new edition, imho.

I learned the Gleason method, and have since 'converted' to the Stainer method, which in some cases allows greater freedom when it comes to pedaling.
 
teddy

teddy

Duckmeister
Hello Robert and welcome to the forum. You will be in very good company here.

teddy
 
Corno Dolce

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Welcome aboard robert,

I can only heartily endorse Krummhorn's sage advice - I learned with the Stainer method - IT WORKS!!! :):):)

Please do now feel very much at home on this most august of forums with superfab members all.

Best,

CD :tiphat::tiphat::tiphat:
 
wljmrbill

wljmrbill

Member
Welcome to the forums. I know you will find much enjoyment learning and playing the Organ..and you are never to old to learn.( In my yoiunger teaching days I had many older students and they all did well) Practice is the key no manner what methods, you may use.
 

rebiersteker

New member
HI ... and thanks for your reply ...Sorry that was an awful long time ago. WE moved in the meatime and did all the building/planning myself except for framing. I totally forgot about Magle Int.!! I would like to reply yet, to 'Krummhorn but don't know his email. He gave quite a lengthy response ...very helpful.
Take care

Robert
 

rebiersteker

New member
Thank you for your welcome ..... and again I apologize for the late response. a lot has happened to us since!
I am still playing and use a lot of C.Trevors .. " Old English Organ Music ....etc. " My playing is still Quite slow but is gradually improving.
I use Hauptwerk Virtual Organs and am working on installing my own 'real' pipe organ in our home this summer --- hopefully!

Robert
 

rebiersteker

New member
Hi and greetings from Langley BC Canada .... Wow Moscow ... a lot happening there! Thanks for you input ... I think I have been following the advice of Mr. Krummhorn already for some time .... I just have to learn to be patient! ha ha ha ha ....

Robert
 

rebiersteker

New member
Hi and thanks for your welcome! ... If you read the other posts I replied to ... You will notice why I have been so long in responding. another thing is .... I thought a person would get notified when there is a response to a post via email .... so since I never read anything I also ignored the sight! .... I realize now, one has to log in once in a while...

Robert
 
Krummhorn

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
rebiersteker said:
HI ... and thanks for your reply ...Sorry that was an awful long time ago. WE moved in the meatime and did all the building/planning myself except for framing. I totally forgot about Magle Int.!! I would like to reply yet, to 'Krummhorn but don't know his email. He gave quite a lengthy response ...very helpful.
Take care

Robert
Click to expand...

Hi Robert,

Feel free to post right here if you wish ... if you wish to reply privately, send me a PM (he did already :))
 
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