Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast

This question was sent by Neil, and he writes: “Hello Vidas, I’ve recently changed careers from working in IT to now a freelance organist/pianist. My dream as an organ player is to be able play to the best of my abilities playing pieces from Bach to modern composers but also learning to improvise.”

Today’s question was sent by Neil, and he writes that he finds it hard to think of chord progressions and keep on sticking to a few major and minor keys.

Today’s question was sent by Neil, and he writes: “I don’t have a home organ so practising is on my Roland piano but I have access to an organ at my parish church.”

Welcome to Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast #122! Today's guest is a Swedish composer and organist Thomas Åberg (b. 1952) from Stockholm. Most of his works are written for the organ and are characterized by their rhythmic joy, simplicity, and humor. He has stated that "music must bring enjoyment, without abandoning reverence," and as such his style often uses the most basic of musical materials to...

Today’s question was sent by Neil, and he writes that his challenge is with confidence: “I do suffer with nerves and when I have a service to play I try to make sure all hymns and service music feel OK.”

Today’s question was sent by Neil. He writes: “My challenge is with concentration - practicing a voluntary is one thing but when playing the piece at the end of the service I feel under pressure and can make mistakes even though the run-through before the service went OK.”

#AskVidasAndAusra 114 - How Do You Deal With The Organ Loft Getting Cold In Winter by Vidas Pinkevicius

#AskVidasAndAusra 113 - He Is A Very Poor Sight - Reader And And Learned By Ear by Vidas Pinkevicius

#AskVidasAndAusra 112 - Please Tell Me How To Use The Both Feet by Vidas Pinkevicius

Welcome to Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast #121! http://www.organduo.lt/podcast Today's guest is an American organist, carillonneur and choir conductor Dr. Mark Konewko. Mark has been carillonneur at Marquette University since 1999 where he began as Interim Chorus Director in fall 2010. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University as well as a Masters of Music Degree in Organ Performance from...

Today’s question was sent by Robert. He writes: Hi Vidas. Robert here from Vancouver, Canada. I was wondering if it is possible to find the booklet from August Reinhard Op. 74. Heft I (so first half). I have the second half. In German it's "50 Übungs und Vortragsstücke für Harmonium”. As I mentioned I have the second half but it would be nice to get the first half too, to complete the set. It's gr...

Today’s question was sent by Kevin and he writes: Thanks for sending the week 2 materials for Prelude Improvisation Formula. I have enjoyed working through week 1 modulation exercises. My goal was to start Descending Sequence 2 and keep going until I passed through all the closely related keys without stopping! This goal was a little too ambitious at first. I made progress taking one modulation at...

Today’s question was sent by Barbara, and she writes: Dear Vidas and Ausra, You are very welcome. Your emails have already answered many questions -- some I didn't even know I had -- everything from why some of your fingerings are so different to how to hear inner voices to how to deal with injuries. Thank you! And thank you very much for the Boellmann toccata. I actually learned it many years ago...

This question was sent by Andrew, and he writes: “Dear Vidas, thank you for your email particularly since you must be very busy judging by all your posts! In reply to your question, I’m currently working on the Franck Final, and hoping to move on to Stanford’s “Rheims” from the second organ sonata, hopefully in time for Armistice Day 2018.. I visited Rheims last year. What do I struggle with? Earl...

Today’s question was sent by Brice, and here is how it sounds: “When I learn a piece of music depending on its difficulty I can learn it in several hours, or several days, several weeks or 1 to 2 months. Don't mind taking a lot of time to learn to music, but I'd like it so that I can get myself up to the level where I read simple pieces of music down to less than an hour if not 30 to 20 minutes to...

Welcome to Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast #120! http://www.organduo.lt/podcast Today's guest is Dr. Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra who is an American organist, international performer, composer, liturgical musician, scholar, and pedagogue. She returns to our show to introduce our listeners to the newly published Vol. 2 of her treatise "Bach and the Art of Improvisation". Here's our previous conversation...

This question was sent by Collins, and he writes that he needs the Hallelujah Chorus by Handel, with sheet music and fingering... for piano. http://www.organduo.lt

Welcome to Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast #119! http://www.organduo.lt Today's guest is Nicholas Papadimitriou, an organist, pianist and composer originally from Greece but currently studying and working in the Netherlands. Born in June of the year 1993, he started studying the piano at the age of six with his first teacher Domenica Mikaits. Two years later he joined an orchestra for young child...

Today’s question was sent by Dan. He writes: “Hi Vidas, I’m curious as to what the piece is that you have at the opening and ending of every SOP podcast? It sounds quite interesting. Is it something which you’d improvised? If so, that’s very cool. Take care. Dan.” http://www.organduo.lt

Today’s question was sent by David, and he writes: “To answer your question, the most important thing for me, in playing organ, is to learn how to read music well. I handle up to 4 flats, and up to 3 sharps with little effort. Beyond that I have never learned to read music well at all. The second most important thing for me is to learn how to count well and consistently. I know what you will say:...

Victoria asks if fingering is important in organ improvisation. http://www.organduo.lt

Today’s question was sent by Paul, and he writes: “Dear Vidas Pinkevicius, thank you first for your good and precise advice. I spend 2 weeks in Italy, so it was not possible for me to answer immediately to your question. My dream: playing in such a manner, that people, who listen to it, will like to hear this kind of music in the future.” http://www.organduo.lt

Today’s question was sent by Paul, and he writes that his challenge is mainly his age, because he is 75 years old. http://www.organduo.lt

This question was sent by Paul, and he writes that he is a slow learner. First of all, let’s celebrate, a little bit, our small achievement: 100 podcasts of simply helping people to grow in organ playing, answering their questions. http://www.organduo.lt

Welcome to Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast #118! http://www.organduo.lt/podcast Today's guest is Angela Kraft Cross, San Francisco Bay Area organist, pianist and composer. She graduated from Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music in 1980 with bachelor's degrees in Physics and Organ Performance. She then earned her Doctor of Medicine degree at Loma Linda University, where she subsequently compl...