Dear All
I was wondering if you could share your knowledge / experience and let me know if I should practice hands seperately first, hands together and only then, add the pedal part?
Is there a definite best way to practice the organ?
Kind regards,
WDPdars!
Full Version: how to practice the organ
A lot depends on the standard you are at and the piece you are playing. It is some 40 years since I took up the organ and I know I did quite a lot of RH+pedals work then LH+pedals in my youth. In the early days I did many pedal exercises (my teacher used Alcock's book). Roll on 35 years and I would say I work at Bach Trio sonatas in whatever way I see fit - RH + LH (as this isn't always possible on the piano even if you separate the lines by an octave - you sometimes have to have 2 manuals) then each hand with pedals.
Ultimately you will find your own way of working. I know that I was surprised when I took up the organ that the pedals were seldom the source of major problems (inaccuracy, yes, needing careful work) but the manual parts always seemed to demand quite a lot of work.
Ultimately you will find your own way of working. I know that I was surprised when I took up the organ that the pedals were seldom the source of major problems (inaccuracy, yes, needing careful work) but the manual parts always seemed to demand quite a lot of work.
QUOTE(bourdon16 @ Feb 1 2012, 08:01 PM) 
A lot depends on the standard you are at and the piece you are playing. It is some 40 years since I took up the organ and I know I did quite a lot of RH+pedals work then LH+pedals in my youth. In the early days I did many pedal exercises (my teacher used Alcock's book). Roll on 35 years and I would say I work at Bach Trio sonatas in whatever way I see fit - RH + LH (as this isn't always possible on the piano even if you separate the lines by an octave - you sometimes have to have 2 manuals) then each hand with pedals.
Ultimately you will find your own way of working. I know that I was surprised when I took up the organ that the pedals were seldom the source of major problems (inaccuracy, yes, needing careful work) but the manual parts always seemed to demand quite a lot of work.
Do whatever suits you best. I know that some teachers strongly recommend learning hands and feet separately and only putting them together when they are perfect, but that doesn't work for me - it just tends to fall apart again as soon as I try. Presumably I have to learn the co-ordination as a whole.
Instead I prefer to practise everything together. Of course where necessary I'll work on separate parts but only until I have sorted out notes and fingering/footing - then I'll go back to hands and feet together, gradually working up the tempo as required.
This works best for me but everyone is different.
Instead I prefer to practise everything together. Of course where necessary I'll work on separate parts but only until I have sorted out notes and fingering/footing - then I'll go back to hands and feet together, gradually working up the tempo as required.
This works best for me but everyone is different.
"Is there a definite best way to practice the organ?"
Work out the correct fingering and footing first. This is the correct fingering and footing for the eventual speed of the piece, not necessarily that which will work when practising slowly. I always mark the fingering and footing on the score.
Mark in the phrasing and dynamics. Learn the phrasing with the notes. Then practise slowly, until at least all the difficult passages are memorised.
It is very important to get the fingering exactly right for the eventual tempo. So often, organists learn a fingering and footing that works well at a slow speed, but will not withstand the marked tempo.
Then it is just hours of hard work. This involves playing hands and feet together, then separately, etc. There is no short cut. It takes many, many hours to get pieces right.
Do not move on from a passage until you can play it perfectly. Never accept any bar that is less than perfect. Careful analysis of the structure of a piece can save much rehearsal time.
Some people learn the last bar first and work backwards.
If Bach's Trio Sonatas are too hard, try the Rheinberger Trios. These are pleasing little pieces and quite suitable for the beginner. They are effective on even the smallest instruments.
Good luck with your endeavours!
Barry Williams
Work out the correct fingering and footing first. This is the correct fingering and footing for the eventual speed of the piece, not necessarily that which will work when practising slowly. I always mark the fingering and footing on the score.
Mark in the phrasing and dynamics. Learn the phrasing with the notes. Then practise slowly, until at least all the difficult passages are memorised.
It is very important to get the fingering exactly right for the eventual tempo. So often, organists learn a fingering and footing that works well at a slow speed, but will not withstand the marked tempo.
Then it is just hours of hard work. This involves playing hands and feet together, then separately, etc. There is no short cut. It takes many, many hours to get pieces right.
Do not move on from a passage until you can play it perfectly. Never accept any bar that is less than perfect. Careful analysis of the structure of a piece can save much rehearsal time.
Some people learn the last bar first and work backwards.
If Bach's Trio Sonatas are too hard, try the Rheinberger Trios. These are pleasing little pieces and quite suitable for the beginner. They are effective on even the smallest instruments.
Good luck with your endeavours!
Barry Williams
I tend to eschew hands separate because it feels like starting from the beginning again once you put hands and feet (and brain!) together. I must admit I've been forced to do LH + ped, RH + ped, RH + LH, then R+LH +ped today though. 
Ann Marsden Thomas has written a useful little book on practising the organ. It's title is just something like 'Practising The Organ', surprisingly enough, and it is published by RSCM.
ISBN: 0 85402 097 7
Ann Marsden Thomas has written a useful little book on practising the organ. It's title is just something like 'Practising The Organ', surprisingly enough, and it is published by RSCM.
ISBN: 0 85402 097 7
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