Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast

Let’s start episode 311 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by David, and he writes that he is dreaming to play organs for fundraising concerts and for worship accompaniment, but obstacles in the way of his dream is a busy life, and that means that he cannot practice as often as he’d like.

Let’s start episode 312 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. Today I’d like to share with you the discussion that was going on our communication channel on BaseCamp between Total Organist students. Annabelle wrote the answer to the question “What is she currently working on?” and “What is she struggling with?” So she is playing Wedding March by Wagner and she writes: Annabel: I'm playing for a wed...

Let’s start episode 309 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Michael and he writes: "Hi Vidas, You're very welcome! I very much enjoy your music scores, and I intend to purchase more in the future. Thank you for making them available for purchase! They are all excellent works. I was hoping you and Ausra might consider discussing the following organ history subjects in fut...

Let’s start episode number 310, of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by C.K. And C.K. writes: C.K. Hi Vidas, 1. My dream is to become a competent, versatile and creative church organist. V: And the obstacles toward this dream are, ​C.K. 2. Modulation skill; improvisation technique; setting registration. Regards, C K

Let’s start episode 308 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Jaco, and he writes: Dear Vidas Thank you for your daily posts - it is really an inspiration! I really like Bach's Toccata in d (Dorian). It is a piece that feels like it has perpetual motion - something always keeps moving in it. It is quite a difficult piece to master, but I decided to learn it. The edition I...

Let’s start episode 306 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Jack and he writes: “Hello Vidas, I practice every day for 1 or 2 hours, sometimes even more. But I make slow progress on e.g. Bach level 1 course. Probably due to my age (71) and the fact that I didn't play for almost 30 years. But the good point is that I ENJOY the practicing now, thanks to your inspiring lear...

Let’s start episode number 307, of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Tamara. And she writes: Hello Vidas– I have been following your Secrets of Organ Playing emails—very helpful, thank you! Do you recommend total legato for hymn playing in any situation? I did learn and follow the 4 ways to render a hymn in the Ritchie book (Chapter 7). It seems that the best, most effici...

Let’s start episode 305 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Alan, and he writes: ​ Vidas, we are back from our travels. I enjoyed the Bach organ tour but the big surprise was how sharp most of the organs were. It wreaked havoc with my absolute pitch and made it very difficult to play. It didn't get easier, but I didn't push it too much as there were others waiting for a...

Let’s start episode number 304, of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Jeremy. In response to my weekly questions in our Total Organist Basecamp communication channel. When I ask ‘What’s the most frustrating thing for you this week, that you’ve been struggling with’? And Jeremy wrote: Focusing. During the postlude at this mornings service, about half way through the fugue o...

Let’s start episode 303 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Michael and he writes: “Hi Vidas and Ausra, Thank you for your recent email, to which I am now responding late (I apologize). My dream for my organ playing is that I would like to apply for, and be admitted into, a doctoral program in Organ Performance. I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in Organ Performa...

This question was sent by Henry, and he writes: I would like to start accompanying the congregation using an electronic keyboard. My question is, when and how do i start learning congregational opening hymns? Please i need your piece of advise on this issue.

This question was sent by Dan, and he writes: Hi Vidas, back in June, i’d tried out a small casavant organ, in a place which is used for people to stay at, they do corporate events there, and other stuff, and the owner of the place, doesn’t really play the organ. She wants me to play it on a couple dates in november. It’s a 1929 Casavant organ, and it’s their opus 1375. ​When I’d tried the instrum...

This question was sent by John. And it doesn't start like a question, but rather like feedback or response to another question that we discussed earlier about improvising alternate hymn harmonizations. So John writes: There are a number of books of varied accompaniment [published by companies such as Kevin Mayhew and Novello], but these are for hymns sung by English-speaking congregations. Eric Th...

This question was sent by John and he writes: “Hi Vidas and Ausra, Thank you for your amazing blogs lately, there's been some great discussions and I value the different perspectives you both bring. I'm wondering if you could please talk about how to improve finger accuracy, especially with fast passages. Specifically I'm trying to play In Dulci Jubilo BWV 729 by Bach, your training videos were gr...

This question was sent by Anne, and she writes: Dear Vidas, Could you help me out a little with registration? I am quite confused about how one should register for many compositions by Bach, in particular his Trio Sonata in E flat (BWV 525). I understand that it was not common practice in his time to list out particular stops one should pull for each piece, and that it depended rather on the organ...

This question was sent by Dineke. She writes: Much pleasure with my pedal course. The first week I was some ill and the printer was new....I am studying with pleasure and it s just have been good I had basic knowledge of Theory..... we continue....beside my usual lessons. Nice you had a good Saturday with books meeting. Many greetings from Dineke. Secrets of Organ Playing: https://www.organduo.lt

This question was sent by Victoria and she writes: “Hi Vidas. I try my best on the church electric Organ as much as I can, but 30 hrs a week no way... Most I work on are hymns since we are a small church. It seems a long way to go for me, even the two part. But your advice is helpful! But I enjoy playing hymns on the Organ at church for practice, can’t do service yet. Hope one day I will be ready....

This question was sent by Anne, and she writes: I started working on Bach Prelude and Fugue in D Major, BWV 532. The opening pedal run is not hard except that I am a short person. The benches I sit and practice on are not adjustable so I have to sit close to the edge of the seat to be able to use the pedal board. ​ In order to do this pedal run using only toes - I have to adjust myself as I go up...

This question was sent by Andrew and he writes: “Mass for Fathers Day this morning went well. Parts of the Mass were sung to the Glendalough Mass by Liam Lawton. The school's REC (Religious Education Co-Ordinator) is a guitarist. I've rigged up a mixer to feed through the organ's amplifier and speakers. He puts his amplified acoustic guitar through it, plus a couple of microphones for the singers....

This question was sent by Jeremy, and he writes that he struggles with finding practice time.

This question was sent by Ruth. She’s our Total Organist student. And she writes: Ruth: My organ has completely broken down and cannot be repaired. So, I have spent quite a bit of time in looking for another. Through my teacher, I found another which is several hundred miles from here. The owner of it is willing to give it to me, but I need to pay for its transportation here. She had several perso...

This question was sent by John and he writes: “Lately I've been having trouble with osteoarthritis in my right hand (and to a lesser extent in my left) so my practice has been restricted to work on the pedals. Simple finger-work is basically fine for me, but holding a note(s) while the other fingers move can be quite painful. Being a pianist my pedal playing has always needed attention but it's di...

This question was sent by Danielle. She writes: Dear Vidas and Ausra, I was an organ major as an undergraduate but had no background in harmony or scales. So even though I could learn organ literature, play for church services, and accompany choirs on organ, I could never improvise. Because I had no mental shortcuts (ie knowing what key the piece had modulated to, etc) the learning process was ext...

This question was sent by Osei. And he wants to become a great organist and a composer, but he struggles with fingering. https://organduo.lt

This question was sent by Neil. He writes: Wow—it is so kind of you and Ausra to reply! I'm honored. My biggest challenges over the last six months have been pedal playing (which I basically have not done, except for harmonic pedal-point use) and registration. My wife and I keep looking for suitable organ shoes, but my feet are wide and I don't know what to buy. So far I play in my left sock for p...