How Did You Get To Play The Organ? Options

[Cyrilla]

then I played an occasional service in Selsdon (where we lived) and Coulsdon in Surrey.

I might have heard you play then - Selsdon is just up the road from us.

Eeeep!!! Would this be St John the Divine, by any chance???? Him Indoors was organist there for some time in the 90s.

It's where we both live (Selsdon Vale). What a small world!!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Deborah]

then I played an occasional service in Selsdon (where we lived) and Coulsdon in Surrey.

I might have heard you play then - Selsdon is just up the road from us.

Eeeep!!! Would this be St John the Divine, by any chance???? Him Indoors was organist there for some time in the 90s.

It's where we both live (Selsdon Vale). What a small world!!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

The previous vicar of Valhalla Parish Church left us about two years ago, and headed up the A23 to - you've guessed it - St John The Divine, Selsdon.

Looks like the world just got a bit smaller!

[sbhoa]

Do you mean how did I first get the chance to play it, or how did I get to play for services?

Are we talking organ lessons here, or just "having a go on the organ "?
Sorry to ask so many questions !

In my case I changed piano teachers when I was 12 and my new teacher was the parish church organist - it kind of followed on from there.

to play for services

they were desperate....... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

[Cyrilla]

then I played an occasional service in Selsdon (where we lived) and Coulsdon in Surrey.

I might have heard you play then - Selsdon is just up the road from us.

Eeeep!!! Would this be St John the Divine, by any chance???? Him Indoors was organist there for some time in the 90s.

It's where we both live (Selsdon Vale). What a small world!!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

The previous vicar of Valhalla Parish Church left us about two years ago, and headed up the A23 to - you've guessed it - St John The Divine, Selsdon.

Looks like the world just got a bit smaller!

Blimey - not someone with the initials IB???? Seems a very nice person - we're on the Selsdon Residents' Committee together! He is constantly trying to persuade HI to go back there - he is tempted to do so because IB likes decent music, but the organ is (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) so he won't go!

As you say, the world just got smaller...weird...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[mrbouffant]

Ah, I just spent a very wet and windy two days traipsing around the woods around the Selsdon Park Hotel. It's a small world. I should have popped round, Cyrilla, and come to dry my smalls.. LOL

Back on topic, I played the organ from age 10 after being in the quire and asking about how the instrument worked. I was about gr4 piano so it was a good foundation. As I got older, I was never allowed to play for a service for some reason, but got given what I perceived as the "plum" opportunity to play the recessional at the big services: Xmas, Easter Day etc.

Then we started doing cathedral trips and altho again not allowed to play for services (not trusted I suppose) I got at least one slot in the week to play a very loud recessional.

After falling out with some of the burghers of the parish (married the daughter of an ex-churchwarden and then subsequently divorced... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)) I was forced onto the open road and plied my trade at numerous village churches around these parts. Some of the instruments are rank but I think it makes you appreciate the better ones when you get to play those.

One of the larger churches I used to deputise at had a falling out with their organist, and since they couldn't recruit anyone via the normal means, I got given the gig. Seven years later, I'm still there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Ironically, said parish where I became persona non grata after the divorce had need of a new DoM recently. I was the only applicant and they still didn't give me the job! I think I got the message that time.

[Deborah]

Blimey - not someone with the initials IB???? Seems a very nice person - we're on the Selsdon Residents' Committee together! He is constantly trying to persuade HI to go back there - he is tempted to do so because IB likes decent music, but the organ is (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) so he won't go!

Yep, that's him! The Sunday morning after Manchester United won some football competition, he wore his Man U scarf instead of his stole (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

Ironically, said parish where I became persona non grata after the divorce had need of a new DoM recently. I was the only applicant and they still didn't give me the job! I think I got the message that time.

Their loss (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Cyrilla]

Ah, I just spent a very wet and windy two days traipsing around the woods around the Selsdon Park Hotel. It's a small world. I should have popped round, Cyrilla, and come to dry my smalls.. LOL

You can come and dry your smalls round at mine whenever you feel the urge, mrb (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) - I'm only a mile away from SPH and of course it's only just over the road from St J the D where HI was organist/Deborah's ex-vicar now is/fsharpminor used to play!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

Blimey - not someone with the initials IB???? Seems a very nice person - we're on the Selsdon Residents' Committee together! He is constantly trying to persuade HI to go back there - he is tempted to do so because IB likes decent music, but the organ is (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) so he won't go!

Yep, that's him! The Sunday morning after Manchester United won some football competition, he wore his Man U scarf instead of his stole (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

Ah - everybody I know says, 'Oh, he's such a good bloke - apart from being a Man U supporter, of course...'

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Edit - thanks for the PM, fsharpminor!
Edit - apologies for going off-topic but just fascinated by this 'small world' business!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Dulciana]

Edit - apologies for going off-topic but just fascinated by this 'small world' business!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Me too. When I started using the forums I was amazed to find myself having a discussion with somebody who played the organ in a church up the road, and who went to my best friend's mum for piano lessons!

[guilmant]

I'm afraid the organ world is the smallest of all of them. I bet we can all link ourselves to each other by no more than two, and probably one organist!

[Oddball]

Indeed. I seem to remember mrbouffant's pedalboard has a connection to a church just down the road from here.

[mrbouffant]

Indeed. I seem to remember mrbouffant's pedalboard has a connection to a church just down the road from here.

Not quite that, but certainly the whole of my West Organ (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[sonataform]

In response to the original question: someone asked me to. When organists are in short supply, pianists are considered a suitable alternative on the basis that they probably know the difference between the white notes and the black notes.

I played at my first church service since the last Ice Age but one on Sunday. Someone came up to me afterwards and asked me if I could play the Widor Toccata for a wedding. Answer: get lost! I'm way out of my depth here already.

[organista in Milano]

Many, many years ago I was a girl guide leader, one who did not take seriously the duty to God part of the promise. Well, some of my guides had me on about that, so I decided maybe I should go along to church. It happened that there was a new priest (RC) who wanted to have songs at all 4 Sunday masses and asked if there was anyone out there who could play the piano. So I volunteered. There was an electronic organ in the church, and one of the guide's parents used to sit beside to tell me when I should come in with the different parts of the mass.
Eventually I gave up guiding and have lived in different countries because of my husband's job, and as there always seems to be a shortage of organists in the catholic church, I have kept playing. I enjoyed it immensely from the start.
Our five kids are all into music and have done the exams in various instruments, but it is only since I came to Milan that I've had the time to have lessons and practise, am delighted to have now reached grade 8 which I hope to sit this year in June. Practising like mad at the moment to learn the pieces.

[Dulciana]

It seems that a large proportion of us have got there by default! Personally, I wouldn't change a thing, and I only wish I had more time to practise. (But if you'd told me ten years ago that I would be an organist - and love it - I'd have had a kitten!)

Good luck, organist in Milano!

[Peter_Newcastle]

Hello and a warm welcome to all Forum Users! I had been looking for a specific Forum thread that deals with introducing oneself, but since apparently there is none, I thought I might as well do it here.

I am a 21 year old organist from North Tyneside, have been playing the organ at church survices for over four years, had previous 10 year experience with electronic keyboard instruments. Unfortunately, my fascination with the organ came rather relatively late(I was about 16 - 17 at that time), so obviously I knew I was not going to be able to achieve proficiency at playing, so I just told myself: "Just try to do best what you can do" and I learned the basics of playing from various experienced organists who showed me the way, as it were. afterwards I became, out of necessity, self taught.

I also have a mobility problem connected with the illness I went through during infancy, so my fingers, hands and legs are not as flexible and 'fast' as they normally would be. All that prevents me from playing larger musical pieces, so I have to settle for shorter forms. Now, as things are, the most important thing for me, given the circumstances, was always to be rather a liturgical organist than a concerto one, if one is ever allowed to make such division. That was back home, on the Continent

Now that I find myself in England I thought I might buy a hymnal and learn to play at English services, which I am trying to do now. It would be great to play for the people again, especially that in my parish they have a decent organ, and the only thing missing is somebody to play them:)


I would still like to obtain some organ qualifications, but am not sure if given my disability it is at all possible.
Maybe there is an option of doing a specifically tailored programme(or maybe even starting degree in 3-4 years time) that I would be able to do?(of course theory is not problem at all, I can learn) only playing might be impeded)? I still feel I could do more, be a better organist, but frankly do not know where to start.

I would welcome any suggestions, questions etc.

Take care