Monique is taking organ lessons.....

[Pianist84]

Hi Everyone,

      I recently started taking organ lessons from my piano teacher. At the next session, I will be playing two songs on the organ for her. Well, earlier this week, I practice on the organ and I had difficult time with the foot pedals at first but I just kept practicing and I got better with the foot pedals. It was hard getting use to the foot pedals. In the past, I tried to play the organ but I couldn't get use to the foot pedals and plus I was more focus on piano (well, I'm still focus on the piano) but I'm starting to love playing the organ though.  But while playing on the organ, I have been letting my left foot be the independent bass, I use my left hand for chords, and my right is used for the melody. I have been thinking of more chords to play with my left hand too. Well, I don't have an organ in my dorm room so I go to the church around the corner to practice on the organ and piano. The church that I practice at does not have a Hammond organ... . They just have two pipe organs and one electronic organ that's not good. (But it's better than nothing.) But I'm improving and I will come to the organ room on LGM more often to ask you all for advice though. I want to know what other chords can be played with the left hand and I also need some tips on how to master the pedalboard. I'm interested in learning to use both feet on the pedalboard while playing. Well, if you all have any other tips on how to play the organ, please share them with me.

Monique 

[rpking]

It looks like you are on the right track.  You just have to keep going, practicing chords over the foot pedal and praying......you'll be straight. 

[Pianist84]

It looks like you are on the right track.  You just have to keep going, practicing chords over the foot pedal and praying......you'll be straight. 

Thanks! I will keep practicing and praying. I wasn't comfortable with playing the organ at first but I'm getting the hang of it now. 

[2tight]

It looks like you are on the right track.  You just have to keep going, practicing chords over the foot pedal and praying......you'll be straight. 

co sign

[Big T.]

Playing the organ is mostly about feel. The more you practice and play, the more in tune with the organ you will become. There is no real set theory as chords vary according to the musician. Always be your self and don't try to imitate anyone else. Be patient and it will come to you. Be blessed.

[ddw4e]

It looks like you are on the right track.  You just have to keep going, practicing chords over the foot pedal and praying......you'll be straight. 

What he said!

[amandaag]

pray and practice. You will get better...trust me    Keep it up with the lessons! You can do it

[Pianist84]

pray and practice. You will get better...trust me    Keep it up with the lessons! You can do it

Thanks! I will. 

[h313w]

hey Monique you read music also right ? i have a few copies from this beginner organ book for you. Developing that left hand is going to be the key too. like this.. . read it across :

Foot                        Left

D                          Gb   C
                           
G                           F   B
                         
C                          E  Bb

F                           Eb   A

Bb                         D    Ab

Eb                        Db    G

Ab                        C    Gb

Db                         B    F

read left to right. Just a few circle of 5ths for the bass pedals by letteres, and not notes for now.

[Pianist84]

hey Monique you read music also right ?

Yes, I read music but I'm working on trying to develope my sightreading skills. I have a habit of trying to memorize music.

[Pianist84]

i have a few copies from this beginner organ book for you.

Also, I would like to see a copy of that beginners' organ book that you have.

[Pianist84]

Hi Everyone, I have been doing pretty good on the organ so far. My last organ session went well. But the problem that I'm having is that sometimes I don't make the organ sound as smooth. At the last piano session, I played a song on the organ and I made the organ sound bumpy without even realizing it. But I'm working on that. I have two beginner organ books that I'm working out of. I'm doing well with playing the basslines with my feet but I have trouble going from D to G on the pedalboard. I always keep hitting F. But I will keep working on that. Also, I thinking about posting a video of me playing the organ so I can get some feedback from all of the organist on LGM but I'm camara shy but I may post it though.

[trinatrine]

Hi Monique.  It seems that when you e-mailed me the last time, things were going great and I'm glad to know that you are STILL holding on!  I would like to co-sign on everyone's comments about technique but like we discussed before, it's not an overnight thing.  People think that I got instant success like that and that's totally not true.  I've been playing since three so that's mostly all of my life!  You got this thing girl....just go ahead and do that thang!!!!!

[Mysteryman]

Something I do at home to keep the organ from sounding choppy is practice piano without a sustain pedal. Sounds like you might be trying to keep time with your hands on organ.

[Pianist84]

Hi Monique.  It seems that when you e-mailed me the last time, things were going great and I'm glad to know that you are STILL holding on!  I would like to co-sign on everyone's comments about technique but like we discussed before, it's not an overnight thing.  People think that I got instant success like that and that's totally not true.  I've been playing since three so that's mostly all of my life!  You got this thing girl....just go ahead and do that thang!!!!!

Thanks Trina! Thanks for all of your advice. I learned how to be more patient with myself. This week have spent an hour practicing on the organ and an hour practicing on the piano. Now I know that it will take a lot of practice and hard work to become skillful at the organ.  My goal is to become an accomplished pedal player on the organ so I will be practicing more with the bass pedals. I like to play the bass pedals.

[Pianist84]

Something I do at home to keep the organ from sounding choppy is practice piano without a sustain pedal. Sounds like you might be trying to keep time with your hands on organ.

Good Point. I think I will try that tomorrow.

[2tight]

im glad u r holding on.like everybody said b patient and pray.stay encourage.

[Pianist84]

im glad u r holding on.like everybody said b patient and pray.stay encourage.

Thanks! I will do that

[Pianist84]

Yesterday, I finally got a chance to play the pipe organ at Auburn United Methodist Church and I realized that the notes on the pipe organ have to be play more smoothly since it's a classical instrument. But I had fun playing on the pipe organ yesterday and I'm interested in playing all three types of the organ: the pipe organ, electronic organ and of course, the Hammond organ.

[Pianist84]

Here are some pictures of me playing the pipe organ at the Methodist church. I have a video of me playing the pipe organ but it wouldn't upload on YouTube because it was over 100MB......