18 ideas for introducing pipe organ to children

By Vidas Pinkevicius (get free updates of new posts here)​​​​​​

The other day I had an inspiring podcast interview with Lydia Vroegindeweij from OrgelKids and Erin Scheessele from OrgelKids USA (look forward to this transatlantic conversation on February 26). Afterwards I thought about various ways to introduce pipe organ to children.

Here are at least 18 possibilities:

1. Let them see the organ
2. Let them see the inside
3. Let them hear the organ
4. Let them play the organ
5. Let them assemble the organ
6. Let them blow the pipes and make music
7. Let them draw the organ
8. Let them treat the bellows
9. Let them tune the organ
10. Let them conduct the music being played on the organ
11. Let them make an organ pipe
12. Let them dance to the organ music
13. Let them count the pipes
14. Let them fix ciphers
15. Let them turn pages
16. Let them draw stops
17. Let them sing to the organ hymn/songs
18. Let them lie on their backs on the floor to hear the rumble of the organ

So if you want to take some action and create really unforgettable experiences for children, call the music teacher at your local school and offer to take the class of 8-11 year-old kids (or older) to the organ of your choosing (if you aren't a church organist, you'll have to ask local church organist first).

Did I miss something? What else would you do with children at the organ?