Vidas: Hello and welcome to Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast!
Ausra: This is a show dedicated to helping you become a better organist. V: We’re your hosts Vidas Pinkevicius... A: ...and Ausra Motuzaite-Pinkeviciene. V: We have over 25 years of experience of playing the organ A: ...and we’ve been teaching thousands of organists online from 89 countries since 2011. V: So now let’s jump in and get started with the podcast for today. A: We hope you’ll enjoy it! V: Hi guys! This is Vidas. A: And Ausra. Vidas: Let’s start episode 673 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Louise, and she answers my questions of what is her dream in organ playing, and what is holding her back from achieving that dream. So she writes: “1) My dream is to be able to play well enough that people would enjoy and be blessed by my playing. 2) What is holding me back? A) my age. I am almost 72 yrs old and have not played for nearly 30 yrs; B) I do not have weekly lessons; only when my teacher has time. He is a college professor. I cannot afford tuition. C) brain fog due to a serious illness 6 yrs ago and COVID last year. On the positive side: the Lord provided an organ for me to have at home. 2 manuals; full pedalboard; FREE!! I was a piano major in college and taught piano for 28 years; I love to practice. Thank you so much for your online lessons. I have printed them out so I can better focus on correct practice habits.” Vidas: Wonderful Ausra, right, this feedback! Ausra: Yes! Really wonderful to read it. Vidas: 72 years old, Louise strives to become better at organ playing so that people would enjoy it, and even has an organ at home! Ausra: That’s wonderful! For me, it looks like she has all the… Vidas: ...Tools Ausra: ...Tools, yes, to achieve it. Vidas: Even a college professor. Ausra: Well, and since she cannot take the organ lessons regularly while having an instrument at home and being a piano teacher for herself for 28 years, it means she has a good strong background in music in general! I think she can learn many things by herself. Vidas: Correct! She didn’t write what kind of music she would like to learn, though. What is your guess? Ausra: Well, I guess that music that would fit the church, probably. That’s my guess. Vidas: Yeah, it depends what she has in mind writing that her dream is to be able to play well enough that people would enjoy it. Ausra: Well, and you know… Vidas: And who might these people be? Ausra: Yes, I thought about people in church in her congregation, but maybe I’m wrong. But in general, I think that the main goal for any musician is to please him- or herself first. I think that’s the most important thing, that whatever you are playing that you would enjoy what you are doing and what you are playing, that you would enjoy the process of learning and the result of it, and if you will be happy with your playing, I’m sure the audience will be happy, too. Vidas: What is brain fog? She has a brain fog. Do you know? Ausra: I’m not a doctor. Don’t ask me. But I’ve heard this term. Vidas: ….brain fog meaning… Ausra: It’s often people get it after a stroke… Vidas: “Brain fog isn’t a medical condition, but it’s a term used for certain symptoms that can affect your ability to think. You may feel confused, right… oh… that makes sense… confused, hard to focus Ausra: Dizzy probably. Vidas: Mhmm. Okay, that can be improved, actually, with practice. Right? I’m sure with time it slowly gets better. Right? If you sit at the organ bench, every time you start to focus, and that focus at first is not as strong, but as time passes, naturally, your brain muscles will adapt. Ausra: That’s right. The most important thing is that you will do it on a regular basis, like every day. Even spend a short period of time, but every day. Vidas: Yeah, even 15 minutes a day over the course of a year or more will make a huge difference, actually. Ausra: That’s right. Vidas: And even if you can take a break after those 15 minutes for a few minutes or 5 or even 15 minutes, then come back to the organ bench and practice for 15 more minutes, that’s twice as beneficial. Ausra: That’s right. Vidas: With very little effort. Excellent. So I hope this is useful to Louise. What else can we add? Of course, she doesn’t have regular weekly lessons, so what we could recommend is, of course, joining our Total Organist community. We have a good group of people who are striving to quadruple their organ playing results, and we have those daily questions about what did people work on today, and some of them answering that can probably testify that this fact alone forces them to think about their progress and to actually not escape the practice on a regular basis. What do you think, Ausra? Ausra: Yes, true! Plus many people struggle with the same things you are struggling with, so it’s good to know that you are not alone. Vidas: I think people enjoy reading, most of the people would rather read than write, so when you, me, and some other people write, they kind of participate in this discussion just by observing. And that’s a good thing, too. Ausra: True. Vidas: They’re not feeling left alone in the corner. Ausra: That’s right. Plus as I said, because Louise had professional training in piano and taught, herself, for 28 years, I guess she really can do a lot by herself, just by having a guidance for programs as the Total Organist. Vidas: Yes! Today, with the technology, we can connect with people from around the globe much easier, and even though people cannot have physical access to teachers, let’s say, then they can take advantage of online learning, and that goes also true for physical instruments at church. If a person doesn’t have pipe organ access at home, just getting a second-hand midi keyboard and connecting it to the computer is an excellent start while having a decent virtual organ sound at home. Ausra: Yes, that’s a solution, too. Vidas: Wonderful. So thank you so much for your question, Louise, and we hope this was useful to you and others who are in a similar position. Please send us more of your questions; we love helping you grow. This was Vidas, Ausra: And Ausra! Vidas: And remember, when you practice, Ausra: Miracles happen! V: This podcast is supported by Total Organist - the most comprehensive organ training program online. A: It has hundreds of courses, coaching and practice materials for every area of organ playing, thousands of instructional videos and PDF's. You will NOT find more value anywhere else online... V: Total Organist helps you to master any piece, perfect your technique, develop your sight-reading skills, and improvise or compose your own music and much much more… A: Sign up and begin your training today at organduo.lt and click on Total Organist. And of course, you will get the 1st month free too. You can cancel anytime. V: If you like our organ music, you can also support us on Buy Me a Coffee platform and get early access: A: Find out more at https://buymeacoffee.com/organduo In this video, I'm slowly practicing Herzlich tut mich verlangen, Op. 122 No. 10 by Johannes Brahms at Vilnius University St John's church.
In this video I'm practicing Adagio by Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni using Velesovo sample set by Sonus Paradisi and Hauptwerk VPO software. Hope you will enjoy it!
Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/adagios-for-organ-sheet-music/16572019?aff_id=454957 I'm playing this piece using Caen sample set by Sonus Paradisi of Hauptwerk VPO.
Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/... If you like my music making, you can support me on Patreon and get free organ CD's at https://patreon.com/secretsoforganpla... Buy me coffee: https://www.paypal.me/ausramotuzaite My Hauptwerk setup: https://www.organduo.lt/tools.html Total Organist - the most comprehensive organ training program online: https://www.organduo.lt/total-organis... Secrets of Organ Playing - When You Practice, Miracles Happen! https://organduo.lt I'm playing this piece using Caen sample set by Sonus Paradisi of Hauptwerk VPO.
Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/... If you like my music making, you can support me on Patreon and get free organ CD's at https://patreon.com/secretsoforganpla... Buy me sample set: https://www.paypal.me/ausramotuzaite My Hauptwerk setup: https://www.organduo.lt/tools.html Total Organist - the most comprehensive organ training program online: https://www.organduo.lt/total-organis... Secrets of Organ Playing - When You Practice, Miracles Happen! https://organduo.lt I'm playing this piece using Caen sample set by Sonus Paradisi of Hauptwerk VPO.
Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/... If you like my music making, you can support me on Patreon and get free organ CD's at https://patreon.com/secretsoforganpla... Buy me coffee: https://www.paypal.me/ausramotuzaite My Hauptwerk setup: https://www.organduo.lt/tools.html Total Organist - the most comprehensive organ training program online: https://www.organduo.lt/total-organis... Secrets of Organ Playing - When You Practice, Miracles Happen! https://organduo.lt I'm playing these pieces using Rotterdam's Sint Laurenskerk (the main organ) sample set by Sonus Paradisi of Hauptwerk VPO.
Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/... If you like my music making, you can support me on Patreon and get free organ CD's at https://patreon.com/secretsoforganpla... Buy me coffee: https://www.paypal.me/ausramotuzaite My Hauptwerk setup: https://www.organduo.lt/tools.html Total Organist - the most comprehensive organ training program online: https://www.organduo.lt/total-organis... Secrets of Organ Playing - When You Practice, Miracles Happen! https://organduo.lt I have played this piece using Rotterdam Sint Laurenskerk (the main organ) sample set by Sonus Paradisi of Hauptwerk VPO.
Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/... If you like my music making, you can support me on Patreon and get free organ CD's at https://patreon.com/secretsoforganpla... Buy me coffee: https://www.paypal.me/ausramotuzaite My Hauptwerk setup: https://www.organduo.lt/tools.html Total Organist - the most comprehensive organ training program online: https://www.organduo.lt/total-organis... Secrets of Organ Playing - When You Practice, Miracles Happen! https://organduo.lt Last week I asked our readers how they are spending quarantine and today I'd like to share what some of them replied: 5 Comments Frank Mento I spend my quarantine by practicing the organ at home since I have one. I’ve been playing through all my repertoire, plus sight-reading what I never learned, and transposing everything I play into all keys. Unlike · Reply · 1 · 6d Vidas Pinkevicius Thanks Frank! This is really productive way to spend this time... Like · Reply · 1 · 6d Anne Kimball I am practicing on my home organ. I am reviewing pieces from the Bach Orgelbuchlein for now. All my outside jobs are on hold for the next 30 days at least so I have lots of time to practice. I will also be planning music for future services. In addition, I will start looking at new organ music and begin learning it for those future services. Unlike · Reply · 2 · 6d Vidas Pinkevicius Yes, please plan and get ready for the future services... Like · Reply · 4d Frankie Springer The little organ book JSBach, 8 short preludes and fugues, unfamiliar scales and broken chords, time subdivision difficulties, unfamiliar hymns: at home 🏠 on pair of keyboards 🎹. Piaggero N12 Yamaha. Other organ literature. Unlike · Reply · 1 · 5d Vidas Pinkevicius That's a lot of music! Good for you! Like · Reply · 4d Gary Harger I have been learning Pastorale in F by Bach and some other Bach pieces for Kleinorgel on the piano. Also using the mefrontmen more. It has been very helpful. Unlike · Reply · 1 · 6d Vidas Pinkevicius I love Pastorale by Bach! Like · Reply · 4d Marie Therese Feldmarschallin I'm practicing at home in my organ. Trio Sonata 1 by Bach!!! Unlike · Reply · 1 · 5d Vidas Pinkevicius Next Trio Sonata No. 2, maybe? It seems to me that practicing on some instrument at home is one of the best things we can do while locked inside our homes right now. This takes our mind away from the negative news cycle which only brings fear, uncertainty and doubt or FUD.
And as we all know, FUD activates an opposite part of the brain from the one required to be creative.
Vidas: Hi guys! This is Vidas.
Ausra: And Ausra. V: Let’s start episode 576 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Julie. And she writes, I tend to focus too much on what I am playing on Sunday and don’t make as much progress on the “bigger” pieces that take much longer than a week to learn. Sometimes there isn’t much I can do about that if things are particularly busy at work. V: Ausra, this challenge seems to be particularly common among liturgical organists, right? A: Yes, I think so, yes. V: Who have constant duties at church, preparing hymns, preludes, and other liturgical music week after week. But then, what comes after that is really hard to learn, right? After a month or three months from now, a person doesn’t have enough time. A: True. Although I think there are some solutions that could be applied. First of all, if you are a church organist for more than one year, well, each liturgical year has its own festivities and occasions. And after some time, you will see that, you will notice that the hymns will come back, and you will be playing the same hymns as the last year or the year before that. So I guess after knowing your hymnal really well, it doesn’t take so long to prepare hymns for Sunday. And the same with preludes and postludes. You don’t need to play new things every Sunday. Maybe you can repeat some of older pieces after some time. And you can alternate between them, so that will save time, too. V: This situation kind of reminds me of your schoolwork and preparation for it. How much time did you have to spend in your first or second year? A: A lot. Many hours. V: Many hours. Mm hm. Half an hour for each lesson, class? A: Yes, for when I worked the first year, probably yes. V: And you were teaching, like maybe 20 or more classes every week? A: Yes, around that. I started with 18 hours per week, and then I had more. V: Mm hm. But then the second year, did you notice some things got easier? A: Well, some things. But still, it was quite hard. V: Obviously, because the course was more advanced, right? A: Yes. V: Eleventh grade. You started from the tenth grade, then eleventh grade? A: Well, I have taught since the fifth grades. V: Uh huh. A: When I started to work, so… V: And then the third year afterwards it got even more complex, right? A: True. V: With twelfth grade harmony. But when did you start to notice things to be repeating, and your skill level and experience level helping you out? A: Well I guess after five years, I noticed. V: I wonder how long Julie is working in church, and is she having five year’s experience or not? A: But now it takes me one hour for, to prepare for entire week, so, at the very most. V: So I would imagine with your experience, a person who would play at church for a decade or more, they could simply practice those hymns and liturgical music and preludes one hour in advance, maybe on Saturday evening, right? A: Yes. And when we are talking about problems like this, I just think, how blest are the organists who can improvise. How much time they can save. V: Yes, that’s a great idea. So Julie, I think Ausra is suggesting you to improvise. A: Yes. V: Or do some kind of combination of repertoire playing and improvisation. At first, you will be very, you will feel like you are a beginner at this, inadequate skills. It’s like starting to play the organ from the, from scratch. But little by little, after a year or two, you will get more experience. A: And another thing: If you are working on the larger scale repertoire for, let’s say a recital, you could integrate some of that music into a liturgical service as well. Maybe not to play an entire piece, but maybe just an episode out of it. V: And finish with a nice cadence. A: I know. And that way, you will then go both ways. You will add to your larger repertoire, and you will fill in your service. V: Yes, I know what you mean. It’s like a cycle. Prelude and Fugue has two parts, right? You could play the Prelude in the beginning and Fugue at the end. A: That’s still a lot of music. V: Still a lot? A: Yes. V: So what you could do, to play just the prelude, but split it in two parts, and finish it with a nice final cadence, maybe with extension towards subdominant key at the end and then coming back to the tonic. And then this would be your prelude, half of the actual prelude. And then the other half could be repeated after the service. Maybe starting with some kind of gradual introduction so you could drive into this postlude gradually, musically, in an aesthetically pleasing way. A: Yes, that’s a good suggestion. V: This requires obviously harmony skills, maybe music theory skills, and even a little bit more experience. But the general suggestion could be like this. Incorporate your bigger works into liturgy. A: And of course, when you’re picking up larger pieces for recitals, you could think about that too, if they would strategically fit into the service music. Because obviously there are lots of organ repertoire that could be easily included into the service music. Let’s say partitas, Pachelbel’s partitas or Bach’s partitas. They work just well and these segmented pieces, so you wouldn’t need to worry about making up the cadences. V: And in general, I think you have to gather more and more repertoire, so that when the time comes for you to play in public, let’s say a recital, then you don’t have to learn everything from scratch, but as Ausra says, learn just one or two pieces from scratch, and repeat everything else this time. And next time, you can learn two more pieces and repeat everything else, you see. And you gradually will supplant your repertoire, refresh your repertoire this way, but won’t overextend yourself. A: That’s right. V: Yeah. That’s our suggestions for this question, and they should be helpful for people, right, Ausra? A: Yes, I hope so. V: So please, guys, send us more of your questions. We love helping you grow. This was Vidas. A: And Ausra. V: And remember, when you practice, A: Miracles happen! |
DON'T MISS A THING! FREE UPDATES BY EMAIL.Thank you!You have successfully joined our subscriber list. ![]() Authors
Drs. Vidas Pinkevicius and Ausra Motuzaite-Pinkeviciene Organists of Vilnius University , creators of Secrets of Organ Playing. Our Hauptwerk Setup:
Categories
All
Archives
February 2025
|