AVA154: Today I Practiced As You Taught The C Major Scale. But How Do I Learn Not To Look Down?

Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.

Ausra: And Ausra.

Vidas: Let’s start Episode 154 of #AskVidasAndAusra podcast. This question was sent by Shirley, and she writes:

“Hi Vidas, I have piano only to Grade 6 but am just starting the organ. Today I practised as you taught the C Major Scale.  But how do I learn not to look down! Would you please tell me the order in which I should watch your videos? Blessings, Shirley.”

Uh...Ausra, do you think that people should really watch our videos?

A: Well, it’s up to them. But I don’t know. I would spend that time practicing.

V: It’s better to start playing right away.

A: Yes.

V: If you are struggling with a specific problem, right, you Google it online, and you come across our videos. So of course take a look, and watch, and apply. But then, right away, come back to the organ bench, and practice what you have just watched.

A: Sure, because you know, just watching will not make you a great organist.

V: “Oh, I thought it would make myself a great organist! I would rather watch 100 videos than practice, let’s say, 100 hours!”

A: Well, but I think it’s better to practice 100 hours.

V: But it’s easier to watch 100 videos!

A: I know it’s easier, but the result will not be the same.

V: Umm...Do you mean that watching videos is not beneficial at all?

A: Well, it’s beneficial to some point, but I think it’s more beneficial to practice. Let’s say if you...It’s like 1 to 10: let’s say if you watch a video let’s say for 5 minutes, yes, then go to the organ and practice for I don’t know, 50 minutes.

V: I thought of another way of explaining this, too. You’re saying a good idea, but I think people should understand that watching random videos on the internet will not teach you a system, right?

A: Yes.

V: Of playing the organ. What Shirley is probably meaning here, is she would like to know the order in which we would recommend her to watch our entire video library, right? And she hopes, probably, to learn a system that we use from this. Is it even possible?

A: I don’t know. What do you think about it?

V: You see, these are videos designed for public use, right? For everybody. And they’re not created as a course from the easiest to the most advanced materials, right?

A: That’s right.

V: Like these podcasts, right? People send us questions, and we are answering them and helping them grow (hopefully). But they’re not necessarily from the easiest to the most advanced level, right?

A: That’s right, yes.

V: Sometimes they’re in random order. And if you want some video courses and system which go gradually in advancing order, then of course we recommend our training materials. We have other videos like that.

A: That’s right, yes.

V: But Shirley has to ask herself, what is her goal in organ playing, right? Because we have many, multiple courses for multiple goals.

A: That’s right.

V: For example, for Bach playing, we have a course on 8 Little Preludes and Fugues, and they go from the first to the last, and preludes and fugues are discussed, and it’s very gradual. They learn harmony, right?

A: Yes. And hymn playing…

V: And improvisation.

A: Yes, and sightreading.

V: Sightreading...Do we have videos on sightreading? I don’t think so. I think we have PDF materials on sightreading.

A: Yeah.

V: The same with pedal playing. It’s a PDF format.

A: Yes, that’s right.

V: So, you have to ask yourself what is your goal, and then see what kind of materials you need from us.

A: Yes, and talking about that: C Major scale, she asked if how to not look down. I think it’s okay, at the beginning, for starters, to look down at the pedal. I think your goal is that eventually you could play that scale without look at the pedalboard. What do you think about it?

V: Yes.

A: I think it’s fairly okay to watch your feet, when you are just a beginner.

V: Sure. So guys, I think if you are in Shirley’s situation, also spend more quality time on the organ bench, and just occasionally glance at some videos, which are not part of the course, of course. That would be more beneficial. Ausra, would you think that watching videos is good for inspiration, by the way?

A: Yes, I think it’s good for inspiration.

V: Like if you have a specific organ piece that you want to master, but you don’t know how to play.

A: That’s right, yes. Or sometimes you don’t know which piece to play; then it’s maybe also good to watch some videos, and hear some music, and then to decide what you want.

V: To broaden your musical horizons, right?

A: Yes, that’s right.

V: Sure.

A: But it wouldn’t be good to pick up a video that you like, for example, and try to copy it, just by watching or by listening.

V: Yes. Thank you guys, this was really fun. Apply our tips in your practice, and...we cannot guarantee, but we almost can guarantee that in a few months, you will see the results slowly developing, right?

A: Yes. These things take time.

V: For each, the time is their own, and it varies. As they say, “Your mileage might vary.” With cars, right?

A: Yes; so the same with playing, and achieving progress.

V: Excellent. Please send us more of your questions, we love helping you grow. And remember, when you practice…

A: Miracles happen.