THE CONFIDENCE OF A TOP-NOTCH ORGANIST!

[changedman]

Since our musician has been gone (02/07), I have been doing a lot of playing at the church.  Mind you, I STILL do not want the position but I do want to get better and better at it every time I sit down.

CHECK THIS...weekend before last at the James Hall concert for the Convocation, they put Chrystal Rucker on to sing.  She did not have a musician.  All it took was for her to say "I don't have a musician" one good time and this guy (sitting right in front of me in some jeans and a jogging suit top like bruh-man from Martin) just got up and walked to the organ.

I don't think many people knew him, but after that man got through every other choir wanted him to play along with them.  He was just an "average joe attending a musical" at first!

That's how I wanna be.  I don't desire to be a church musician full-time, but when I do play I want to be one of the top-notch, most preferred.

That "practice every day" crap doesn't help me.  How am I to learn anything new by practicing by myself everyday.  Practice is then only limited to repeating what I already know, leaving me feeling like I really didn't get anywhere.

I'm interested in success stories that may help...

[drebeatz]

That "practice every day" crap doesn't help me.  How am I to learn anything new by practicing by myself everyday.  Practice is then only limited to repeating what I already know, leaving me feeling like I really didn't get anywhere.

 
Ummm.............I could be wrong so dont quote me on this, but..........HUH?!?!?!?!?

If dude killed like you say he did, you can be sure that unless he is one of those Ben Tankard stories, he PRACTICED, DAILY!!!!!!! Thats the only way you can get to that level. I understand what you're saying about practicing the same thing over and over. It can be discouraging, but you have to keep pushing. Try finding a good instructor. Someone you can be accountable to. That way you dont short change yourself. If not an instructor....find someone whose style of playing you like and pick their brain. If not that.......then listen to music that you like and try to imitate what you hear. But unfourtunately for it will take PRACTICE...EVERYDAY!!!!!

Just my opinion!

God Bless

[Pianist84]

Ummm.............I could be wrong so dont quote me on this, but..........HUH?!?!?!?!?

If dude killed like you say he did, you can be sure that unless he is one of those Ben Tankard stories, he PRACTICED, DAILY!!!!!!! Thats the only way you can get to that level. I understand what you're saying about practicing the same thing over and over. It can be discouraging, but you have to keep pushing. Try finding a good instructor. Someone you can be accountable to. That way you dont short change yourself. If not an instructor....find someone whose style of playing you like and pick their brain. If not that.......then listen to music that you like and try to imitate what you hear. But unfourtunately for it will take PRACTICE...EVERYDAY!!!!!

Just my opinion!

God Bless

Ditto to everything drebeatz said. If you want to get better, you have to keep practicing everyday even if you don't see any results right away because the hard work will pay off.

[MackyT5]

i hate practicin to man but you gotta do it....its like a must and then just sittin around playin with the keyboard will help alot too.....and thats my 5 cents











ALREADY

[amandaag]

I always try to remind myself that the only way to get better is by practicing. I understand your situation; you basically want to "kill the keys". But how are you going to do that without practice? Besides, practicing does not necessarily include playing the same thing over and over or playing by yourself; practicing can be more than that. It can include learning new songs and playing with other professionals.

I understand that sometimes you think you practiced enough but no results came about. It's okay. We all have our starting points in life, especially in music (well except some people who are gifted).

If you really do want to be good like the man that you saw at the concert, just spend time practicing. That is the only solution. One day, you will be the same man, sitting in the audience in a concert, wearing ordinary clothes, and when musicians are requested, you can just step up and go to the organ and play at the best of your ability. 

[T-Block]

I hate to say this to ya Herm, but getting better on the organ (or any instrument) WON'T come w/out some serious practice.  There is no way around it.  Anything short of that is psychobabble!!!

[sjonathan02]

I hate to say this to ya Herm, but getting better on the organ (or any instrument) WON'T come w/out some serious practice.  There is no way around it.  Anything short of that is psychobabble!!!

He knows that, already.


If he went into it the way he 'allegedly' goes into getting a choir ready, then he'd see some marked improvement. 

[themidiroom]

You definately have to get that practice in, even if it's just time to learn new songs.  I didn't even play gospel music and a drummer I did a spoken work show with told me his church didn't have a musician and asked if I would be interested in playing.  I had many reservations, but I gave it a try.  I didn't know any of the songs but I struggled through it.  They had an organ there and one day I decided I was going to learn to play it.  The rest is history.  While I don't consider myself top notch, I have come a long way and did get a chance to play for Fontella Bass and David Peaston.

[TwinkieClarkFan]

Yes Practice does make perfect...sometimes while practicing I can hit a chord that I didnt mean to hit and the chord sounds tight and I think of ways I can fit that chord into a song, so thats basically how I learn new chords.

[under13]

when I do play I want to be one of the top-notch, most preferred.

That "practice every day" crap doesn't help me.  How am I to learn anything new by practicing by myself everyday.  Practice is then only limited to repeating what I already know, leaving me feeling like I really didn't get anywhere.

I'm interested in success stories that may help...

It sounds like you need some motivation, Buy some DVDs + talk to other organist in your area or take some lessons. If you do those things then you will have plenty of NEW stuff to play

you can also get ideas from organist on youtube
I wanna be on that level too and like others said it will take LOTS of practice prayer and some patience

[T-Block]

He knows that, already.


If he went into it the way he 'allegedly' goes into getting a choir ready, then he'd see some marked improvement. 

IRT the small print, so true.

[Metronome]

Yeah dude..practice...............and LISTEN.  I just keep a steady stream of some sort of music around me all day (radio, ringtones, xbox, tv, computer) and try to pick up ideas form everything. I got some stuff the other day from this dumb lil christmas carol thing wit mice on it lol!!!!!!!

[brodonny]

yes always practice but do it for the lord not for people to ooo and ahhhhh because doing it for the lord they're gonna ooo and ahhhh anyway stay prayful

[musallio]

I think I'll stick to the piano..It's enough to keep me busy 4 the time-being..
But i like 2 a lesson or two from the organ..

[bishop424]

To be a top-organist you have to do the following.

Practice, practice, practice.
Listen to Music, Videos, and if you can Read Sheet Music

Because in order to go to the next level you have to practice.

I've been playing for 15 yrs and it pay off

[Big T.]

It is what is man, ya gotta practice.