Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast

Today, I would like to read a comment from Jeremy and Alan in the conversation, and then Diane later on joined, and Laurie, and Danielle. All of those students are from our Total Organist group. And let’s start with Jeremy. Jeremy writes: Jeremy: Concentrating during preludes and postlude. My congregation (and minister) tend to see this time as social opportunities rather than as part of the servi...

Today we’d like to review our 2018 year, and let’s see what 2019 might bring.

This question was sent by Nancy, and she writes: Thank you for the information, Vidas. I have followed the suggestions on the link, and I think all is well with my subscription. You asked about my playing now. There are two issues that I am dealing with: (1) The first, and most important, issue is my physical limitations. I have been muddling along as best I can, playing almost exclusively on manu...

This question was sent by Ariane, who is our Total Organist student. And, she writes: I’ve been sight-reading some hymns from Bach‘s Christmas Oratorium. Why are his hymns just so special? They always give me goosebumps.

This question was sent by Ariane, who is our Total Organist student, and she writes: I have just started a new job and I find it extremely challenging to focus on anything else.

This question was sent by Luke and he writes: “Hello, I just enjoyed playing very much your fingered edition of "Variations on Dances" by Samuel Scheidt. I was wondering if you have any other fingered editions of other pieces by north German baroque composers, such as Scheidt, Scheidemann, or Sweelinck, or if you were planning to make any more. My skill level is somewhere between beginner and inte...

This question was sent by Rob. And, he writes: Hi Vidas and Ausra, 1: My dream is to play two or three pieces very well. I’m currently working on Gigout’s Toccata; and, thank you for the excellent fingering. There were a couple of measures that I just couldn’t figure out! 2: a) time, I’m a 45 year old at-home organist with some college organ performance training with a Johannus coupled to Hauptwer...

This question was sent by Damian and he writes: ” Thanks for today's podcast, I have to admit that everything you talk about works in my case. ​ As far as memory is concerned, usually, I know the words of the first few verses of hymn, and thanks to that I have a little easier in most hymns. Your comments about the divisibility of attention and "disturbances" from other people are very accurate, ex...

This question was send by Hanna and she writes: “Dear Vidas, I started with the Virtuoso pedal course. It took me 30 minutes to do the 10 reps each and was very hard for me with my short legs. After struggling for a few months, unfaithful practicing, I decided to switch to this course (Organ Playing Master Course Level 1) because it was easier. Interestingly, the Virtuoso 30 minute exercise had an...

this question was sent by Gena, who is our Total Organist student. And, she wrote in the Basecamp communication channel as a reply to the question, ‘What are you struggling with the most this week?’ And she wrote: Forcing myself to practice slowly to be very accurate

This question was sent by John, and he writes: Hi Vidas, Thanks so much for the podcast and chat today, you are incredibly inspiring! I feel so motivated after that chat. As we discussed, I really want to go to the next level with my organ playing, but you are right this needs to be part of a balanced lifestyle, I have a full time job, I play hockey plus training, and Eliza and two young boys to c...

This question was sent by Ariane and she writes: “I have been working on chord progressions in F Major and tried to find the right chords for hymns in the same key. I need to recognize the patterns, so rather than playing the progressions in all sorts of keys I try to stick to one at a time.”

This question was sent by May. And, May writes: I was working on BWV 605 and BWV 613 yesterday. I find it quite challenging to bring out the melody of BWV 613 and other similar compositions by Bach in the Orgelbüchlein (for example, BWV 606, 623, 630 etc).

I’m so delighted to be able to start our 377th episode of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. And, on the other end of the line is John Higgins, from Australia. He’s the organist of Morewell Presbyterian Church in Australia. And he visited Vilnius and our church some months ago, maybe last year in the Spring, I believe in April. And he played a wonderful organ recital in our church. I have to emphas...

This question was sent by Ariane, and she writes: I am only in my first week, but what I like already is the fact that I have some sort of schedule which I can work along. Practicing seems more focused and also, I feel part of something. I certainly haven't regretted joining! Thank you.

This question was sent by Lorelei, and she writes about Basecamp: I logged onto basecamp. When did that start? I don't understand. How does this help me? I'm not sure how to use it...

This question was sent by Damian. And, he writes: You once asked me what is my biggest challenge in organ playing. I play in a church, and in Poland a church organist must play at the same time (hands and feet of course), sing and switch song lyrics that are displayed on the screen. This is the biggest challenge for me to do all these things at the same time, and to do all of them well. As for the...

This question was sent by Emese. And, Emese writes: Dear Ausra and Vidas! Today I've played Das Alte Jahr... as well. It's so nice. Have you known that it has 12 measures and 365 notes. The genius of Bach. I started playing the organ aged 53 (earlier I played the viola)—this means 5 years ago, but we had no proper instrument. This year the renewal of our church came to an end and at last I've got...

This question was sent by Howard and he writes: “Hello Vidas, Happy New Year, and I am wishing you all the best for Total Organist in 2019. I noticed and appreciate the program you did on piston programming for larger modern organs. I have another question inspired by today's topic on "I cannot use someone else's fingerings". This is EXACTLY my problem that is holding me back from becoming a full...

This question was sent by Neil, and he writes: ​​Hello Vidas, My big problem is confidence but last night it went very well probably because I practiced everything and marked up the service booklet and went through the service in my mind. Neil

This question was sent by Jonathan and he writes: “Reaching a third with left foot when above middle C. Here's an example. In the "10 Day Pedal Playing Challenge" in exercise No 3, the left foot needs to stretch for thirds a number of times in the area above middle C. I can barely reach middle C to the E above; this is with toe on middle C and heel on E above. Any higher combinations (and the exer...

This question was sent by Leon. And, he writes: Galsworthy encouraged Streatfeild to know three times more than she needed to about whatever she chose to write. Does it take three times the knowledge of music to be able to compose?

Today we would like to talk a little bit about the recital that we witnessed last week. Our friend Paulius played short, half-an hour recital at Vilnius Cathedral.

This question was sent by Lukasz and he will be visiting us in February so we’re looking forward to it. He is going to try out our St. John’s organ with the very hard key action and he writes now: “Hi, You're touching my favorite problem again ;-). I want to share with you my biggest problem with fingerwork. 1. I cannot use someone else's fingerings - it always is uncomfortable for me. I tried and...

This question was sent sent by John, and he writes: Dear Vidas, I'm lucky that a former pupil will be playing organ voluntaries for me (i) at Midnight Mass (Widor - Toccata) and (ii) at the Carol Service (Joie et clarite - Messiaen). He's just 17 and has won a place at Chetham's school of music in Manchester. I shall re-learn Dupre's Prelude and Fugue in B major in the New Year. I studied it durin...