Secrets Of Organ Playing Podcast

Informações:

Synopsis

Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast and #AskVidasAndAusra.Conversations about all things organ playing. Vidas Pinkevicius and Ausra Motuzaite-Pinkeviciene talk with experts from the organ world - concert and church organists, improvisers, educators, composers, organ builders, musicologists and other people who help shape the future of our profession.

Episodes

  • SOPP686: "As of January, I became the Director of Music, a position I had never expected to hold"

    22/06/2022 Duration: 16min

    This question was sent by Robin, and she writes:  Hello, I am a singer first and a pianist second. . . and an organist very much third! I was asked last September to serve as a short-term substitute pianist for a church whose organist had fallen and injured herself.  The piano playing was easily accomplished with my existing skills.  After a short time, the organist decided that it was time to retire, and the organist job became available permanently, and it was offered to me.  I made it clear that I did not play the organ but that I was willing to learn, and the church was willing to accept me on that basis.  The church's choir had not sung for 22 months because of COVID, and so they had lost their choir director as well.  I offered to cover both positions, as is done in many churches.  So as of January, I became the Director of Music, a position I had never expected to hold.  I'm taking organ lessons as fast as I can with the best organist in town, and I am playing

  • SOPP683: I want to play a full public organ recital on a fine instrument

    25/05/2022 Duration: 14min

    This question was sent by Gena, and she is our Total Organist community member. She has sent me her answer to the question what is her dream in organ playing for the next three months and also what are some of her challenges. So she writes: “Thank you! 1. Full public organ recital on fine instrument here in FL. Program pieces have been gradually prepared over several years. 2. Currently putting all keyboard efforts into the next full piano recital Shall We Dance. Have a professional teacher/coach weekly. Can’t do both goals at once due to poor health, lack of time and organ teacher/coach. Still singing in multiple choirs. Gena Florida and Colorado USA”

  • SOPP681: I plan to buy a used electronic organ

    11/05/2022 Duration: 13min

    This question was sent by Dimi, and he writes about his dreams and the challenges that he is facing. So: “1. I dream to play at my future organ romantic and baroque pieces, but not only that. 2. I plan to buy a used electronic organ (Ahlborn DS series, 2 manual+pedal) and I haven't found the owner manual and the service manual online, I looked on some forums and sent emails to Ahlborn website, but so far no answer. The price is €250. I can (barely) afford it, it is about 39% of my total net income, despite that I am optimistic. I will use my Edirol FA-66 interface and GrandOrgue to test it.”

  • SOPP684: My dream is to be able to play well enough that what I'm playing is recognisable

    04/05/2022 Duration: 10min

    This question was sent by Scott, and he writes My dream is to be able to play well enough that what I'm playing is recognizable. You see, I was once a church organist for 20+ years, until I had my first stroke on January 1, 1999. Two more strokes followed in 2013, so I have had 2 strokes paralyzing my dominant right side and 1 stroke weakening my left side and making it greatly uncoordinated. Now I play for physical therapy, but I can't find any easy music for my left hand and left foot alone! So he writes further: 1. Finding music 2. Adapting existing music 3. Maintaining correct technique while I learn how to play in a new way, and being able to recognize that a given piece is not meant for me to play but to be satisfied with just listening to it being played by another.

  • SOPP682: Since organ playing is my hobby, I can only devote maybe an hour a day to practice (sometimes even less)

    27/04/2022 Duration: 16min

    This question was sent by Martin, and he writes Dear Vidas, I really enjoy receiving your emails and watching your Youtube channel.  From early childhood, I always admired organ music and organists. In church, I would always go up to watch how the organ was played. I grew up in Bratislava, Slovakia, and listening to the organ in the big Lutheran church was quite an experience (4 manual, 62 stops). It was always my dream to play it. Alas, my life took a different path and I now live in Canada. Last year, being stuck at home due to the COVID pandemic, I discovered the Hauptwerk virtual pipe organ. I built myself a 3-manual console + 25 pedal and started to learn. Your Youtube channel and those of other expert organists are an enormous help and inspiration, and I try to follow your tutorial steps as much as possible. One thing I might like your advice on is the following: since organ playing is my hobby, I can only devote maybe an hour a day to practice (sometimes even less). What would be the best way to

  • SOPP680: My dream is to play Buxtehude and Bach reasonably well and to be able to improvise simple but beautiful melodies for the church service

    20/04/2022 Duration: 14min

    This question was sent by Rolf, and he writes his answer to my question, What is his dream in organ playing right now, and also what are some obstacles in reaching this dream?  So, 1. Playing Buxtehude and Bach reasonably well and being able to improvise simple but beautiful melodies for the church service. 2. Earlier there were three things: time, money and lack of knowledge. Since I am retired two things: money and lack of knowledge. I can study well on my own and there are plenty beautiful instruments in my house and churches around me. Greetings Rolf

  • SOPP679: "I want to tell you that I am studying this wonderful Praeludium in C from JS Bach, using your tips"

    13/04/2022 Duration: 09min

    This question was sent by Rolf, and he writes: “Hi Vidas Very good wishes for you both! I want to tell you that I am studying this wonderful Praeludium in C from JS Bach, using your tips. Especially the tip cutting the piece in 4 bars and not making any mistake by playing slower, it’s working! In fact it goes faster and it’s giving me a lot of pleasure, thank you very much!! I will support your beautiful work of course. Greetings from Groningen Rolf”

  • SOPP677: Did you have problems with your back due to organ playing, or do you know other people that had the same problem?

    30/03/2022 Duration: 10min

    This question was sent by Miguel, and he is in our Total Organist community plus he takes private lessons with me, and one time he wrote this message: “My back was quite painful, but now I'm fully recovered and practicing again. Part of the problem was sitting for too long, apart from the 8 hours a day I sit for my computer work at the bank. I sit an hour or two on a bench with no back support. The physio also told me that the movements of the legs on the pedals have a toll on the spine. ​So, I've been reintroducing walking that I haven't done for quite a while and also using my height adjustable desk for standing as well as sitting, at least during working hours. Did you have problems with your back due to organ playing, or do you know other people that had the same problem?”

  • SOPP678: I also bought that organ this year but I don't know what registrations you played the music with

    23/03/2022 Duration: 13min

    This question was sent by Hubertus, and he writes, Hello Ausra, Heard your demo of the Alessandria organ with interest. Thank you for hearing you play on that. However, I am 75 and do not yet have enough experience to distinguish what those sounds for registrations entail, because I only started playing about 13 years ago, the total overview is missing. I also bought that organ this year, but I don't know what registrations you played the music with. Is it possible to use the "Simple" screen for a next demonstration instead of the Console, so that it is possible to follow your choice of registrations, in order to be able to try them out by myself, because it sounded very nice, but my knowledge falls short. Hope you can/will comply with my request. Thanks for listening to me. Best regards. Hubertus

  • SOPP675: I want to play easier pieces well... rather than difficult pieces badly!

    16/03/2022 Duration: 16min

    This question was sent by Stephen, and he writes: “I love the Zipoli Pastorale...!!! Thank you... Zipoli is one of my favorite early Baroque composers!” Vidas: I wrote to him, “Thanks Stephen! What other composers do you like?” And Stephen writes: “In a more contemporary "vein"  I am fond of Dale Wood's music.  There are passages in his work that require a legato technique especially with chords...Sometimes I am at a loss as to how best to play them...finger substitution..but which is best..that sort of challenge. In answer to your question, what composers do I like ....Of course BACH, esp some of the Chorale Preludes.  and I intensely care for the Eight Short Preludes and Fugues attributed to Bach but maybe not ?? I think his pupil Krebs may have had a hand in composing these???  I cannot prove that of course. but I love these pieces and I have always played them from the Wayne Leupold Edition...Sandra Soderland, editor.  I prefer to follow her revelations as to style and reg

  • SOPP676: My goal is to be able to play a wide selection of easy to moderate standard organ pieces suitable for service use.

    16/02/2022 Duration: 13min

    This question was sent by Nick, and he answers my question, “What is your dream in organ playing in the next 3-6 months, and what are some challenges along the way?”  So he writes, 1. To be able to play a wide selection of easy to moderate standard organ pieces suitable for service use. V:  and challenges would be 2. Sight reading, sight reading and sight reading!

  • SOPP674: There is a huge part of me who would love to play again in public and there is the other part of me trying to be sensible, logical, and practical.

    09/02/2022 Duration: 12min

    This question was sent by Maureen, and she writes, I have been working on Christmas carols.  There is a Catholic church 26 miles from my hometown needing an organist. I haven't played in public for a long time. Seeing this advert has given me renewed vigour to play with a definite purpose. There is a huge part of me who would love to play again in public and there is the other part of me trying to be sensible, logical, and practical. I would need daily access to the organ and the energy to meet the challenge. I don't drive; I haven't played in years; I don't know whether to let the priest know I can play a church organ with time to familiarise myself with it.  What would you do?

  • SOPP672: I’ve noticed that playing from a tablet, the pages seem to turn by themselves

    02/02/2022 Duration: 13min

    This question was sent by Gerrit, or, I don’t know how to pronounce it.  If he’s Dutch, maybe “Herrit.”  I would appreciate people maybe giving us feedback how to pronounce their names, right?  Would be nice.  So Gerrit writes: I’ve watched and listened to your performance of Duetto, Op. 156 No. 6 of Joseph Rheinberger. Thank you for that. It sounds beautiful. I have a question, maybe somewhat off topic, but I’ve noticed that playing from a tablet, the pages seem to turn by themselves. For example at 1:04. How did you do that? I am working with MobileSheets with the auto-scroll function, but your method is better. Did you turn the pages by yourself or was it another person? Hope that you can clarify this mystery for me.

  • SOPP671: I’m 75, and do know for myself, the very high difficulty of remembering my daily study already the next day.

    26/01/2022 Duration: 11min

    This question was sent by Hubertus, and he writes: “Hello Vidas and Ausra, As for getting informed with your very-very good advice etc. I admire your setup, and do respond to your questions as a moral obligation. As you probably remember from the last mail exchange, I’m 75, and do know for myself, the Very high difficulty of remembering my daily study already the next day. 13 years ago I started from scratch in music and organ play. I generally get only 1 to maybe max. Sometimes 2 hrs time to practice a day, some days even less, for all kinds of reasons, concentration is a hot issue in this all. So, on the moment I’m studied in this past holiday season the BWV 721, and after 2 months now I’m able to play the piece as tempi gives, and still make usual remembrance mistakes, and in between I TRY to replay several pieces I studied recently before, with lots of difficulties in reading. Again, I still like to play and do, especially this Bach piece. So to answer your nr 1; My dream WAS, 12 years ago, to play beaut

  • SOPP670: 10 Years of Secrets of Organ Playing

    05/01/2022 Duration: 29min

    This episode is very special, because this year we celebrate 10 years of “Secrets of Organ Playing” activities.

  • SOPP669: A few years ago, I bought a roll-up piano hoping that it would provide a means for me to practice on my airline trips

    17/11/2021 Duration: 11min

    This question was sent by Chad, and he writes, Hi Vidas, A few years ago, I bought a roll-up piano hoping that it would provide a means for me to practice on my airline trips. I desperately wanted to like it. But I HATED it! There was no tactile feel… No way to tell one key from the other. And the contacts didn’t work very well, so it was difficult to play the notes without tapping them pretty hard. But maybe there has been progress in their construction? Which one did you buy? You must be somewhat pleased with it if you can get it to work well enough to make videos!

  • SOPP668: I would like to master a variety of organ music to be able to give a performance

    10/11/2021 Duration: 16min

    This question was sent by Mike, and he writes: “I would like to master a variety of organ music to be able to give a performance. The most important hurdles to overcome are: Being able to work on a consistent fingering to make passages flow smoothly Interpretation of music, registration, Developing and knowing how to make a piece artistically “my own” instead of just playing notes. Many of your podcasts and notes are extremely helpful. Thank you for providing them.”

  • SOPP664: A lot of times, the instrument will teach you everything you need to know

    06/10/2021 Duration: 10min

    We have to take this saying with a grain of salt, because a lot of people today play at home with some kind of electronic instruments or virtual instruments, and in virtual instruments, the sound might be quite realistic, but the touch might be plastic. And it’s quite different from tracker touch in a real pipe organ situation. People might not necessarily discover on their own when they play their home organs.

  • SOPP666: Can you please clarify when using a thumb on black notes is or is not proper fingering”

    29/09/2021 Duration: 06min

    This question was sent by Bob, and he writes: “I have read in several places that using the thumb on the black notes is kind of frowned upon. The "Organ Playing Master Course" routinely calls for the thumb on a black note, can you please clarify when it is or is not proper fingering.”

  • SOPP667: I'm an advanced organist, but in all my years of studying and playing, none of my teachers has ever taught pedal scales or arpeggios

    22/09/2021 Duration: 13min

    This question was sent by Justin, and he writes, Hello, I am currently subscribed to the Pedal Virtuoso Course. My materials for the week usually arrive on Wednesdays around 11:30 am local time, but for some reason, I didn't receive my materials for Week 5 (not in either my inbox or my spam folder). Could you arrange to have it sent? I've been enjoying the course. I'm an advanced organist, but in all my years of studying and playing, none of my teachers has ever taught pedal scales or arpeggios. So I'm grateful that this material is filling in that gap! Thanks, and all the best,  Justin

page 2 from 48