• Welcome to the Pipe Organ Forum! This is a part of the open community Magle International Music Forums focused on pipe organs (also known as "church organs"), organists, organ music and related topics.

    This forum is intended to be a friendly place where technically advanced organists and beginners (or even non-organists) can feel comfortable having discussions and asking questions. We learn by reading and asking questions, and it is hoped that the beginners (or non-organists) will feel free to ask even the simplest questions, and that the more advanced organists will patiently answer these questions. On the other hand, we encourage complex, technical discussions of technique, music, organ-building, etc. The opinions and observations of a diverse group of people from around the world should prove to be interesting and stimulating to all of us.

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    Frederik Magle
    Administrator

    Krummhorn
    Co-Administrator

Learning

paxvobiscum

New member
Hello everybody. I've been reading the posts on her for the past few weeks and thought that I would go ahead and post a question.. I've already learned quite a lot just reading the posts on here.. Anyway... I'm currently a college student at Conception Seminary College in North western Missouri and I'm wanting to learn the Organ. I took Piano, about 5 years ago, and played for about 6 years.. Now when I say that "I played" I mean that I memorized songs after SLOWLY working through the music. After all that time I never learned how to read music..I think because I was only 13 or so and didn't really care.. But now I'm really regretting that I didn't try harder. I've been trying to practice for about 2 hours a day for the past month or so and I would have to say that I've improved but not as much as I would like. I'm signed up to take piano lessons next semester and if that goes well enough then I'll move to the organ and finish up my junior and senior year taking organ. My question I guess is this.... What in the world do I need to do to improve my music reading abilities.. In the past few weeks I've learned a few songs but I just can't find many more that are within my level of music reading. Any suggesions, advice, or even just a word of encouragment would help!!

Peace,

Tony
 

Frederik Magle

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Regulator
Hi Tony, First of all, sorry for not answering your post. I have been away and the forums have been running slow for the last 6 months. Hope you get a chance to read this reply some day.

Anyhow, I'm afarid that what I will tell you might not be what you'd like to hear
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You need persistence but also patience. You say you've learned a few new songs in the past "few weeks". Well, for almost any person, it takes a lot longer than a few weeks to improve ones level of musical skills! But don't despair, if you keep going you will become more and more skilled, it will seem slow, but it will happen.

Here's a few suggestions, on the top of my head:
• practice, practice, practice... so continue palying those two hours a day!
• Set a goal of some piece of music you would like to perform and go after that goal, the goal should be "realistic" but currently beyond your capabilities.
• When you listen to music home, read the score along the music
• It seems to me you might need some more tutoring, why don't you call the local organists and ask if they take on students (this could be a financial problem I know...)

Remember learning music notation is like learning a second language. Other people might add more and better suggestions...
 
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