Hello! If you are a pianist who has wondered if you could tackle the organ but feel intimidated, this course is for you! You can totally do this! I am not teaching you all the organ techniques- that would take a LOT longer… This is a crash course on organ for those who need to be up and running quickly. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints so I will be using the hymnbook from our church. This will be most useful to you if you follow along and pause when trying the activities mentioned. Click on Part 1 to get going, and let me know if there’s something you’d appreciate a little more information about!
Here is a demonstration of “spider fingers”- you’ll notice that not EVERY note connects, but I’m aiming to make a smooth sound, and that requires me to move around on the keys differently than I do on the piano. It is more intuitive than you’d guess!
Once you have experimented with playing a hymn at home with spider fingers, you’re ready to try out the organ! Woohoo!
Here is a picture of the organ I play on most often:
Here are some thought about accessing the organ and looking at it for the first time. Don’t play anything yet- I’ll walk you through that in a minute!
As we begin, focus on playing on the lower keyboard. It looks just like a piano! It will feel less intimidating!
Ready to try this awesome instrument out?! Great!
Step 1- Take off your shoes! Make sure you’re wearing socks, or nylons, or tights- something other than bare feet and no street shoes. Did you know there’s such thing as organ shoes? If you have them, use those!
Now it’s okay to touch the foot pedals. Sit on the bench, lean over to the far left side of the organ, and Step 2- turn it on (using the power button):
If you try playing on the keyboards, you’ll realize it still won’t work!
Step 3: You need to push some buttons! Specifically, look for a panel above the higher keyboard that says “Great.” The lower keyboard you’ll be playing on most often is called the “Great” keyboard. You need to “set the organ” in order to make any sounds. Press any one of the buttons on that panel and your keyboard will now make sound. Probably. If it makes some sound, awesome, play around with different combinations (hint: push a second time to turn that selection off).
Step 4: If your organ still isn’t making a sound, we need to introduce you to the volume setting- which you need to know about anyway! So whether you need it now or later, here’s a quick intro to the volume controls:
Take a look down at your feet and you should see something that looks like this (above). Hopefully it will be labelled as well as mine! On the left is the volume control for the “great” keyboard and the pedals (the keyboard at your feet). Put your left foot on it and push it with your toes. It should move, and when it does, you’ll see an indicator near the right side of the great keyboard that the volume is adjusted.
For most hymns, I like to see 3 little lights light up on this volume indicator on the left side (where it says GT/PD) when I’m playing for the congregation, and usually volume all the way down (push on the same control, this time with your heel, until there are no lights showing on the panel) for prelude and postlude.
Step 5: Okay- adjust your volume (don’t worry- if it’s loud it’s extra fun! (as long as there aren’t meetings still going on that you will disturb!), and play on the keyboard. Try playing a hymn or other songs you know (nothing with inappropriate content, but fun songs are appropriate to try out. Try different settings and volumes for the great keyboard. Have SO MUCH FUN!!! When you’re ready for more, keep scrolling down on this page and I’ll teach you the next steps!!
Step 6: Coming soon….
(More videos, photos, and instructions will be posted here in the next week!! Check back once you’re feeling comfortable with the previous steps! This should give you a good start!)
Love, Laura
MELODIES OF LIGHT 