Greetings from Istanbul (newbie needs advice!)

[Organon]

Dear all,

Greetings from Istanbul. I am more or less an absolute beginner to music. I used to play the transverse flute some time ago, but I never was very good at it: I could only play some very basic tunes. I am 24 years old.

Right now I am trying to decide whether I should continue with the flute or aspire towards another goal, the mighty pipe organ. I do love the flute, and it is definitely the more practical/realistic option for me, but I also feel a very strong desire to play the latter. Since the pipe organ is impossible to tackle without prior keyboard experience, or so I have heard, I have been considering getting an electronic keyboard. Would that be a good idea? Any recommendations on this subject would be very much welcome. I could assemble a Hauptwerk digital set in a few years, hopefully.

Another problem would be the availability of teachers. Flute teachers are aplenty here, but I doubt I can find an organ teacher. At any rate, there are only a few churches with functional pipe organs in Istanbul. I will be moving aboard in two years though, so maybe I can pick up some keyboard experience first? I am very much aware that playing the pipe organ would be a lifelong ambition! I do not aim for perfection, let alone a professional career, but it would be nice if I could play a basic and humble repertoire.

Thank you beforehand for all suggestions and advice!

 

[teddy]

Hello organon and welcome to the forum. You have certainly choosen the right forum as there are many tal`ented players h`er`e. I wish you luck with your p`roject


teddy

 

[Mat]

Hi Organon,

I'm not an organist myself but I do enjoy using Hauptwerk every now and then, so I hope I can offer you at least a partial advice. We have Electronic Organ and Music Equipment sub-fora, which you might wanna check out. Not sure what price range you're thinking of, but for ~ 200 USD you can have a decent, brand new keyboard (semi-weighted, 61 keys). Download a free version of HW, then find a free sample set (Enigma springs to mind) and you are ready to go. This setup should be a good start to your organ journey. Of course, you'd also need a pedalboard but, unfortunately, they are insanely expensive.

Should you have any technical questions on choosing the equipment, feel free to start a thread in the appropriate sub-forum.

I can't help you with other aspects of your problem, but we have lots of experienced organists (and probably a flautist), who will be happy to give you some advice.

Good luck.

 

[Organon]

Thank you, Teddy.

 

[Organon]

Dear Mat,

Thank you for your help. Would you recommend an electronic, 61-keys keyboard as a good way to begin? Should I start with a single keyboard or get multiple from the beginning? 200 $ is very affordable. I can invest a lot more than that for the whole set, including perhaps the pedalboard, but gathering a full set without an organ teacher would be pointless I think. Does Hauptwerk come with a sample set of its own or is that feature excluded from the free version?

 

[Mat]

200 USD was more of an estimation, really. You could get a used keyboard for half the price, and some deluxe model for twice the price. It's up to you. Have a look at the photos here: http://www.pcorgan.com/FotosEN.html and at the website itself - lots of great HW setups.

I think that you would profit more from getting a keyboard and a pedalboard, instead of just two keyboards. Having a pedalboard will open a lot of opportunities for you, repertoire-wise. Plus, you'll get to practise the hands/feet coordination from the very beginning. Of course, a teacher would be of great help to guide you through the learning process, as you point out.

I'm using free version of Hauptwerk 4.0 and AFAIK, it comes with a default St. Anne set, which is a decent, two-manual set. Look here for more.

 

[JHC]

Hello organon and welcome to the forum. You have certainly choosen the right forum as there are many tal`ented players h`er`e. I wish you luck with your p`roject


teddy

teddy whats wrong with your PC ?? why all the hyroglifics ? noticed on this and other posts ???
And welcome Organon.

 

[Organon]

Thank you for your suggestions, Mat. A pedalboard would be great, but I do not if I can get one. I do not mind paying for the pedalboard itself, but the exorbitant prices for shipping are deterring me. There are some DIY models out there, apparently, but I doubt I could build one.

 

[Organon]

I just discovered that there is a huge organ in my university... I wonder if I can get a tutor!

 

[Corno Dolce]

Welcome aboard organon - You've arrived at a supergreat site with superfab members all. I would think that a tutor in organ could be had at the University - He/she might also be a proficient pianist also, which is all the better, although one can learn the organ without ever having played piano - I did so, and then I discovered how much piano music can be adapted for the organ.

 

[Organon]

What about an electronic keyboard, Dolce? Is that a good way to start, too?

 

[Corno Dolce]

Just be sure that it has an 88-note keyboard - Why? The music of Liszt and Rachmaninoff are conceived on pianos with so many notes. Personally, I would never play those composers, or any other composers on an electronic keyboard. Get an electric piano like a Yamaha, even used ones are pretty good. Of course, organ keyboards usually have 61 notes or 58 notes or 56 notes - Some even have 49 notes. Some might say that they will never study Liszt or Rachmaninoff - Of course, they only display ignorance with such a statement. Some scholars argue that playing the Harpsichord is a good preparation for organ study. Methinks that the jury is still out in deliberations on that question. And when you do start organ study - Get the John Stainer method - It gives a good foundation.

 

[Organon]

Thanks for the advice. I got my flute back -- my old love is kindled!

 

[John Watt]

I'd be reluctant to plunge into one main instrument, for any keyboard desire.
I recommend used Korg components, two octaves with two synth functions.
The Hammond B3 clone has three octaves and the favorite stops to use.
Getting the bass pedals from a home entertainment organ is what a lot of bands used.
Tweedle or twiddle, it's up to you.