Hello everyone! Howard from our podcast transcription team can't do transcriptions anymore. We had three people on the team with him but four would be better for rotation.
So we are looking for two people who can type fast and transcribe our conversations from MP3 file. In exchange for their work they will get subscription to Total Organist. If you know our format, are able and interested to do a couple of transcription episodes per week, please let me know over the weekend. And while we are at it, we are also looking for two people who could transcribe fingering and pedaling from the slow motion videos in exchange for Total Organist subscription. We have 4 people on this team but I have more videos lined up and having two more people to do this would speed things up and help you provide the practice faster. We work with DocHub program which lets edit PDF files and add text markings and numbers to the scores. DocHub is a free program which is connected with Google Drive. So please let me know over the weekend if you would be a good fit to do podcast transcriptions or fingering/pedaling transcriptions in exchange for Total Organist.
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Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
Ausra: And Ausra. V: Let’s start episode 398, of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Hanna, who is our Total Organist student. And, she wanted me to send missing emails for some of the courses—Organ Playing Master Course Level 1, and Pedal Virtuoso Master Course, several weeks. And I’m wondering how that could have been. Sometimes, our MailChimp service that provides emails service to us and sends those messages to the subscribers but they end up in the spam folder. But, in Hanna’s case, she writes that she has checked her spam folder, and then she asks me to send them manually. And sometimes it happens. I’m not sure why, but it’s good that people write to us, right, Ausra? A: Sure. You always can contact us and this will help you. V: Mmm-mmm. Those emails are always setup in advance and the system sends us, for us, automatically, and I just have to go in and fetch some weeks, some contents from these emails, and send it to you manually. Then if you miss a week or two, it doesn’t, it’s not a big deal. And don’t wait for one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight weeks, Hanna misses mainly… A: Yes, you need to contact us sooner. V: Sooner, yeah. If you have a, if an email is supposed to come on Tuesday, and you don’t get that email on Tuesday next week, then maybe on Wednesday you could write us. A: Sure. Because even technology is so advanced nowadays, we still mess up things... V: Yes. A: Time after time, so, sometime. V: Mmm-mm. But it’s easy to fix because we can manually send them to you. A: Sure. V: So I will do that after we record this conversation to Hanna, but Hanna also wants to know something else. She writes: When you send a music score by email, it says it is free to Total Organist students, but doesn't let me download it. Do I have to go into Total Organist after signing in, and find the music score on the list of available music, then download it there? V: And that’s a good question, right, because when, for example, we publish a new organ composition with fingering and pedaling and people get this message in their email inbox, they click on the link, and they are directed to the page that asks them to buy, right? A: Yes. V: It’s our Shopify store. But it’s free for Total Organist students, which means that people who belong to Total Organist students, have to just simply sign in either to their Total Organist profile, or Basecamp profile, and then fetch the scores from there. A: Sure. Seems very simple. V: If it’s total organist profile where they should sign in, then it’s very easy because those scores are listed in the dashboard right away. But if it’s Basecamp they prefer, because for some people Total Organist is problematic to login because of browser issues—I don’t know, sometimes why. So they should go to Basecamp as a backup source, and go to place called ‘Message Board’, I think. Let’s see…yes, when they sign in, you will see their dashboard, and the first thing they see is ‘Message Board’. But in Messages, there are several folders, and on the list downward is ‘Total Organist Training Materials’. If they click there, it’s a backup file for all those training programs and practice materials that we have in Total Organist. So they could click and subscribe and download easily from Basecamp too. A: So I guess it would be smart thing to have both those accounts, on the Basecamp and… V: Yeah. That’s what I’m doing... V: On the Total Organist. V: For Total Organist, for people who prefer to do it on our website, and for people who like Basecamp and communication channels like answering questions and checking with other members, supporting each other, motivating each other—and then it works on Basecamp too. Wonderful! Very specific question and I guess very specific answer is needed here too. A: True. V: So if you have any other questions like that, don’t hesitate to ask us. We will be glad to help you out. This was Vidas. A: And Ausra. V: And remember, when you practice... A: Miracles happen!
Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
Ausra: And Ausra. V: Let’s start episode 382 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast and this question was send by Hanna and she writes: “Dear Vidas, I started with the Virtuoso pedal course. It took me 30 minutes to do the 10 reps each and was very hard for me with my short legs. After struggling for a few months, unfaithful practicing, I decided to switch to this course (Organ Playing Master Course Level 1) because it was easier. Interestingly, the Virtuoso 30 minute exercise had an effect on my brain. It was like my brain had been formatted after I practiced. I am 69 ½ years old, female, struggle with short-term memory loss to some degree. But after this rigorous organ practice in the morning, for the rest of the day I could remember things in order and functioned with much more calmness. Sadly, I don't get this effect from the master class. I am out of state babysitting for my daughter for the next 10 days. But I am resolving to do both when I get back home. Work on this beginner one to get the scales down better in my mind, then challenge myself to do the virtuoso. I might do the easy one in the evening, and the virtuoso in the morning when I'm fresh and need to format my brain. Thank you for the challenge and this unexpected health benefit. -Hanna” V: Well Ausra what do you say? A: Well it’s amazing how organ can help you to improve your life, but actually I wasn’t really surprised by what I read in this letter, in Hanna’s letter because let’s say I know it from myself that playing organ is very beneficial for people that have neurodegenerative diseases. This is the right way to say it because it’s when you are playing with your hands and your feet it means that you coordinate things in your body and it means that your brain needs to work too and I think that it slows down all kinds of bad diseases and keeps you going. V: It’s in a way it’s like physical / mental therapy too. A: Yes. I think it’s very, very beneficial. V: Because it’s all body experience, body and mind experience. A: Of course, in cases like this when you have certain medical issue you need to find what works for you and what does not. V: Umm-hmm. A: Maybe not all kinds of practicing will help you but I’m sure that you will find something that works for you. V: And a good thing that Hanna can easily switch between the easy and challenging courses because in our Total Organist group and you can easily pick and choose what works for you. We have organ repertoire, we have courses with exercises and some people like those, some people like repertoire, some people like improvisation, everything is different here and we cannot force everyone to do just one thing according to their level, right? It’s the taste that matters too and the choices and the goals and dreams that matters. Some people like hymn playing, right? A: True, I like to do that myself. V: Umm-hmm. A: Sometimes when we came back from the United States we brought with us a few hymnals. V: Yeah. A: And sometimes that what I do. I just put a hymnal on the organ and sight-read hymns. V: I sometimes put the hymnal in front of me and put the melody in pedals, pedals in the soprano, and alto in the tenor, tenor in the alto… A: Yeah, you are very creative and you like to improvise but sometimes I not such an imaginative person so sometimes I just play straight through the hymns and it’s very refreshing. V: And calms you down, right? A: Yes, true because I think that music affects people in a positive way and because when we sit on the organ bench we play, perform music it has that sort of positive affection but also you have to move because as we talked before, you have to move your hands and feet and I think it’s a very good thing. V: Umm-hmm. It’s wonderful. You know people of all ages can listen to organ music and sometimes younger generations don’t like to do that because they think organ is a thing of the past and they are forward looking but sometimes there are young people who get hooked with the organ too but for senior people it’s very refreshing to listen to the organ music but organists have another privilege, they sit and play and actively participate in the music making which it’s much more immersing experience than just listening to the organ music I would say. A: Yes, but definitely playing organ and in general making music I think makes you feel better and live longer and healthier. I have heard stories that even very old people in the retirement home that they cannot remember their name even or have such a great dementia that they can still sit at the piano and play some tunes from their childhood. V: Right. A: It’s unbelievable how the human brain works. V: I remember when Dr. Faulkner and Dr. Ritchie took us, entire organ studio I think, to one of their retirement homes near Lincoln. A: Not Ritchie and not Faulkner took us there. We went there with our music director from our church. V: Sarah Schott. A: Yes, so we were performing a recital for the elderly people. V: Uh-huh. I think that was a very moving experience. A: Yes and some of those old ladies were so excited and thanked us and we told that we are returning back to Lithuania in a month or so because I think this was the very end of our Doctoral studies. V: Um-hmm. A: And they were so upset and said “Oh no, we need you here” and actually that retirement home had that very beautiful Bedient organ in the chapel and it was very nice to play. V: French style two-manual instrument. A: Yes, very, very nice. V: Wonderful experience for everyone involved, from us who played and obviously for listeners who attended the event. As Ausra says “they might not remember even what they ate for breakfast but they have those long-term memories from their childhood perhaps, the hymns that they want to sing or love to sing, and when they recognize the tune someplace then it has a wonderful effect I think.” It eases their experiences in the retirement home when maybe they feel they are neglected perhaps, they don’t have anything to do and that’s why its so important when you are reaching retirement age to find as much to do as possible, volunteering work, work with your hobbies, when you no longer need to go to work sometimes people feel like empty, like your life is finished, but it’s simply not true. A: That’s right. Nothing is finished until you are really dead. V: It’s not over until it’s over. A: That’s right. So keep going, keep practicing. V: And thanks so much for sending those wonderful questions, we love helping you grow. And remember, when you practice… A: Miracles happen.
Just a quick reminder about the poll we are having where we would like to know your opinion about our new Secrets of Organ Playing Contest. If you haven't voted, please do so by the end of this week in this post.
Also we'd like to congratulate Nancy and Lev who recently took advantage of 50% Christmas discount of Total Organist. We're sure they will learn a lot and advance much faster than they would on their own! And now let's go to the podcast for today.
Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
Ausra: And Ausra. V: Let’s start episode 363 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Leon and he writes: “Dear Vidas and Ausra: I had a mild case of the flu from Saturday through Tuesday. Seemed like a cold for the first two days, but "the grippe" was there when I awoke Monday. Thanks to the flu shot in September all was able to be treated with symptomatic meds, and no fever. So when I got back to practice yesterday, I decided to retry the OrgelBuchlein. I was able to do No. 1 at half speed with only two mistakes. And rediscovered that I had done the 15-step method on them all from November 2017 to March of this year. I'd completely forgotten that, but the penciled in evidence is there on the music - computer-printer copies from IMSLP. So, an unexpected early Christmas present thanks to you two. Merry Christmas! Leon” A: Very nice letter. V: Let’s start with the flu. How are you feeling by the way today, Ausra? A: I’m a little bit sick and I have a little bit of fever since last so I might be getting flu as well. V: Let’s hope that it will pass like Leon’s case. A: Let’s hope for it because I also got my flu shot in October. V: Umm-hmm. A: So I’m sort of ready for flu season. V: And then he writes that he practiced OrgelBuchlein No. 1 at half speed with only two mistakes. That’s a good evidence that he’s progressing with his organ playing don’t you think? A: Yes, I think that’s a good sign. V: In general I think that when people are stuck and doing things step-by-step they are not really noticing their own progress and that’s OK. We all are in this situation so then we suggest that after three or six months that you go back to some previously more difficult pieces that you even didn’t play but just played as a sight-reading exercise and try it out now and chances are if you were diligent in your organ playing and sight-reading over the course of six months that this particular piece would go much easier this time. A: Yes, in general I think that when we practice on a daily basis often we cannot notice our progress but if we do a break and then we come back to it then we can see it more clearly as it was in Leon’s case. V: Do you like the 15-step method Ausra? You know what I am talking about, right? Solo parts, then two-part combinations, then three-part combinations, and then four-part structure, if the piece has four parts of course. A: Yes, I know this system, I think it’s excellent if you have patience and if you have enough time. V: But it’s not for everyone, right? A: True. V: For example right now I’m practicing Sonata "Ad Patres" by Bronius Kutavicius, a living Lithuanian composer, and my recital is coming up in January and this is a playable piece, not too difficult except for the middle section, quite virtuosic, but this section is kind of repeating itself sort of like 13 times and if you learn one or two repetitions you learn the entire thing. So what I’m doing now I’m not playing 15 step combinations but I’m gradually expanding the fragments by starting every quarter-note, every half-note, every measure, every two measures and so on, doubling the length of each fragment. A: I think that this approach of 15 steps I think it’s very worth trying if you are learning pieces by J.S. Bach. V: Polyphonic music. A: Polyphonic music, yes. V: Umm-hmm. A: Because for some pieces there might be other things you need to work on. V: Right and plus it depends on your level of advancement. A: That’s right. V: Maybe I would do 15-step method on a very complicated fugue but not necessarily on a Orgelbuchlein chorale. A: But if you are a beginner then I think this approach would be useful to probably any piece. V: Obviously. Yes, definitely, 100 percent correct. And if the piece is not polyphonic but has a few layers, right-hand, left-hand and pedals, three layers, then we need to look at it from a different perspective, maybe work one hand at a time, that would be right-hand alone, left-hand alone, and pedals alone, also in fragments and then two-part combinations would be right-hand and left-hand, right-hand and pedal, left-hand and pedal and only then the last combination all parts together. So 7-step method here would be possible to do if the music is not polyphonically created but again it depends on your level of advancement. A: That’s right. V: Umm-hmm. So it seems like Leon is having a great time practicing, hopefully next year will pass without flu. A: Yes, let’s hope for that and let’s wish everybody good health because it’s sort of a mean thing to everybody. V: Umm-hmm. And when we receive messages like that when he writes “an unexpected early Christmas present thanks to you two” it’s really very pleasing to read, right Ausra? A: Yes, then I feel like Santa. V: You are Santa? A: Yes. V: Oh no, I thought Leon was Santa. Maybe you are right and I am right too, maybe you both are Santa’s to me (laughs.) Again, we give presents all the time, right? We give advice freely and for people who take the advice and apply them in their practice this becomes a present. Not only advice but something that they can apply in their lives and improve their lives. A: True. V: Hopefully sometimes not even organ playing but sometimes other things. So those people like Leon who practice diligently will I think sooner or later reap results, don’t you think Ausra? A: Obviously, yes. V: If you are just banging your head against the wall then sooner or later something will break (laughs.) A: You are making rather funny comments. V: That’s good. A: That’s usual. V: So wonderful, thank you guys for sending those questions and please continue to do so even in the next year because next year maybe will be a new beginning to you. Maybe you will start to look at your own organ playing activities from a different perspective. Maybe you will have something like New Years Resolutions but I don’t really believe in New Years Resolutions don’t you Ausra? A: Well, me too because usually it doesn’t work. V: Yeah, it works for two weeks. A: Because when we attend our gym we always notice that before New Years and right at the beginning of New Years there are so many people attending the gym but then in the middle of January they are disappearing. V: Yes, they say “Oh I will start losing weight” or “Oh I will start going to the gym every day” or “Oh I will lift the weights every day” and this is too much. It’s better to say “Oh I will practice for 15 minutes a day” whatever it means practice, doing push-ups, or taking a walk or running or swimming. For organ playing the same, you don’t need to practice for 3 or 4 hours like some of our students do obviously at the beginning, maybe later you will have the strength to do that but first you have to get the stamina and the best way to do that is step-by-step maybe gradually increasing the length of practice time by ten percent a week. A: And if you want to watch something funny for New Years Resolutions you can watch Bridget Jones movie, the first movie. V: Bridget Jones Diary. A: Yes, where she gives New Years resolutions. V: Oh, (laughs) we will not say anything more. A: True, I hope you will enjoy it. V: No spoilers. Thank you guys for listening, for applying our tips in your practice, please keep sending us your wonderful questions, we love helping you grow and remember, when you practice… A: Miracles happen. Ausra and I hope everyone had a great Christmas day with plenty of food, music and celebration.
The New Year is not far away and 2019 can become your new start in organ playing. That's why we are offering Total Organist Christmas discount until January 1st. Monthly or yearly membership is 50 % off. Check it out here Here's what some of our Total Organist students are saying: Jeremy: I have been a member for about a year now, and have used several of the courses to my sight reading, transposition, Bach articulate legato, hymn playing, and improvisation. Also, I have really enjoyed learning historically informed fingerings. Ruth: I like it very much. It is inspiring, informative, and encouraging, I believe, not only to me but also to organists of all levels. I have been learning about composers and periods of music in a variety of countries. Merci pour tout! Thank you for everything. Anne: I love Total Organist. The work that Vidas and Ausra have put into it is amazing. I like having access to all the classical music that they have edited and videos they post. The fingerings and pedal markings are very helpful when I start a new organ piece. I especially like being able to read how other organists from all over the world are solving problems in playing the organ. It's very helpful to me in my journey to learn to play this magnificent instrument! If you have been thinking about starting your Total Organist journey, until January 1st is the best time because besides 50 % discount you will also get the 1st month free: Check it out here Just a short post today... off to the church to practice organ. But before I go, I wanted to let you know that because of Black Friday-Cyber Monday, you can get Total Organist with 50% discount and the same goes for any score or training on our Secrets of Organ Playing store. Good time to start to your training now if you don't want to wait until Christmas....
Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
Ausra: And Ausra. V: Let’s start episode 278 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Dineke, and she writes: Dear Vidas, Glad with the quickly received materials, and the bonus, for the pedal virtuoso course start. Although most things went automatically, I wish you to say my thanks. Admiring your lots of work and your knowledge in digital ways. Kind regards, Dineke V: Well, Ausra, It’s so nice to receive a message like that. A: Yes, it’s very nice, although I don’t see that it’s a question, so what will we talk about? V: Maybe Dineke, we have to know, is a student of later age in life, and she wants to improve her pedal technique, but not only. But, she is our Pedal Virtuoso Master Course student. So, she started studying this course a while ago, and I guess now, she needs to stick to the schedule of playing those pedal scales regularly. What do you think, Ausra? A: Well, I think it’s sometimes hard to stick to the schedule. V: Do you have your permanent schedule, Ausra, like, for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and so on? A: Well, I have some things that are permanent, and I have some things that vary time to time. V: Mhm. I have my little notebook where I put the things on my calendar, but they’re not regular. Right? Not like on 10:00 AM everyday, I will do this thing. So, I have to find practice time in each day separately, most of the time. Is that hard, Ausra, for you? Finding practice time? A: Oh yes. It’s very hard. V: Now that the school will start soon, it will be even a bigger challenge, right? A: True. V: I guess for Dineke the challenge is to stick to the schedule not only because of a lack of time, but also because of rigorous material, because people who start this course, do not always finish. And those who don’t finish, don’t see the improvement in their pedal technique. But Dineke, hopefully, is a persevering student, right Ausra? A: Well, I hope so. V: So, in order to play those scales everyday, rather dry and unmusical exercises with your feet, what kind of motivation would you like to have, Ausra, if you were in Dineke’s shoes? A: Well, just to know that if you will be able to learn all those scales you can play a nice repertoire, too, and have no problems with the pedals. V: Sometimes, when you’re in the middle of the challenge like this course, which runs like 3-4 months, it’s hard to see the progress day by day when you practice. A: Well, so, you never have to work on one thing only. For example, if you will be only exercising pedaling for those three or four months, of course it will get boring, and I don’t think many would have the courage to finish it. But, practice something else, too! You don’t necessarily have to play only pedal scales. Work on some repertoire simultaneously. V: It would be like a healthy meal with a variety of foods throughout the day, not one kind of food all the time, right? A: Of course, you don’t have to eat oatmeal only every day three times a day. V: Unless you are on an oatmeal diet! A: Unless you are a horse! V: A horse! Yes! So, do horses complain, Ausra, about this? What’s your idea about this? A: I don’t think so. V: Do they say to their master, “Oh give us some pancakes with blueberry?” A: I don’t think so. V: So, obviously, Dineke is practicing something else, because she also is studying with her own organ professor, and he gives her material to practice. So, I’m sure she has a variety in her repertoire, and exercises. And our course, Pedal Virtuoso Master Course will supplement that material. That’s very nice. Another thing in this course that is challenging is this flexibility of an ankle. At first, when people do this, the ankle is a weak spot for people to play with their heels and toes, and slide from pedal to pedal smoothly. What are your thoughts on that, Ausra? A: I think it’s just a matter of adjusting and getting used to it. It shouldn’t be as hard. If you can walk, it means you can play pedals, too. V: Mhm. Sometimes, your position is not comfortable, right? A: Yes. V: You have to adjust your bench, sitting position on the bench, and…. A: ...shoes of course, which we have talked about many times before. V: Shoes, when playing with heels are tremendously important, because, if you have heels, higher heels, about 2 or 3 inches, then you don’t need to move your ankles so much. A: Yes, it saves time and it saves energy. V: Right. You can be a little more efficient with playing with your feet. Have you seen organists play with socks and heels? A: Yes, I have seen those. V: And I’ve seen them, too, and some of our colleagues do this, and it’s much more energy consuming thing, because you have to constantly bend your ankles in order to play with your heels. Why do you think people stick to socks sometimes? A: I think maybe they cannot get or find comfortable shoes, or maybe they are just so used to it that they cannot learn to play otherwise. Or maybe they just want to save some money, not buy organ shoes. Well, there could be a variety of reasons why you do it, and maybe another reason would be that you don’t want to carry your organ shoes with you, and you are always wearing socks, so you are always ready to play organ pedals. V: Right, you don’t know where you will find this organ, right? Maybe the organ is around that corner, or around that corner, so you carry your socks in your pocket and you are ready whenever you go, right? A: That’s right. V: And, washing socks is more comfortable than washing shoes, right? A: Do you wash your shoes? V: Not regularly, no. A: I don’t think you should wash your organ shoes. V: Nice. So, the last thing that is difficult with this course is for people to move their both feet as one unit, basically to keep their heels together, and sometimes the knees if it’s okay with their physique. What do you think, Ausra, with your physique? Do you feel comfortable holding your knees and ankles together? A: No! I have a hard time, because my legs are short. No. It’s very hard. V: Why do they say that it’s the right way of playing modern pedals? A: I have no idea. Maybe you have? You have long legs, so…. V: Maybe those who say this have longer legs! A: I guess so. V: I guess maybe this comes from an idea of playing with your feet as the third hand, additional… A: Because you know, if I am playing in the middle of the pedal board then it’s okay; I can hold everything together—my knees and ankles together. But, if I’m playing on the left side or on the right side of the pedal board, my legs are not long enough that I could keep them both together. That way I would just fall down on the pedal board, and that’s it. V: And that’s one of those exceptions you can make, if you are playing in the extreme of the pedal board, you can play with one foot. A: But that’s what happens when you are playing hard repertoire. V: What do you mean? A: Well, let’s see… a Vierne Symphony, or Duruflé, or you are playing something where you use double pedal, and what about that? If you are playing double pedal? Let’s say octaves in double pedal. Can you place your knees and ankles together? V: I think that works only up until perfect fifths. The interval of perfect fifths. Wider than the fifths is breaking your knees, probably. A: I know. So, you always need to look at your own physique and at the concrete piece, concrete situation, concrete organ. V: I guess, we should conclude this conversation with an idea: The technique serves the person and not the other way around. A: That’s right. V: Not the person serves the technique. If something doesn’t feel right with these exercises, adjust so that it would feel more comfortable to you, right? A: That’s right. V: Thanks, guys, for listening, and for practicing, and we haven’t practiced yet this morning. Right? And we will do that later in the day at church, right Ausra? A: That’s right. V: That will be very nice to practice organ duets for our upcoming Banchetto Musicale Festival performance. So, we wish you a great day, pleasant practice, and remember, when you practice, A: Miracles happen.
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Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
Ausra: And Ausra. V: Let’s start Episode 253 of Secrets of Organ Playing podcast. This question was sent by Heidi, and she writes: Dear Vidas and Ausra, I am enjoying very much browsing your Course Materials and making downloads. My situation involves the fact that my children are grown, and my grandchildren are grown, the youngest is 14 years. For so many years having children and grandchildren blessed me with much to look forward to on a daily basis and kept me very busy. I am less busy with them now, and so I think God put Vidas in my life to give me the courage to embrace what I love so much, having the confidence again that someone with a special gift for teaching, and one who is qualified on every level is there to guide me. Thank you doesn’t even come close to expressing my gratitude! When downloading the materials, there is one aspect that I am having trouble with. How can I save/download your YouTube videos? Much of your training materials are presented on video, which is great, but I can’t figure out how to get the video onto my computer. Is there a special way I need to login to YouTube to download your training videos?? Will I learn as quickly as your other students??…perhaps not. But for me that is not the point. I will be doing what I feel I was called to do. Here is my all-time favorite quote. I have it printed and sitting on my Johannus Organ at home. I think of it every Sunday as I sit on the organ bench at church. Here it is: “If you are called upon to play a church service, it is a greater honor than if you were to play a concert on the finest organ in the world -- thank God each time when you are privileged to sit before the organ console and assist in the worship of the Almighty.” Albert Schweitzer I humbly thank you for helping me become all I can be in service. Hope you both are having a great weekend! Your friend, Heidi PS In one of the videos with both of you, I think you are sitting in the living area of your home? Anyway, the room looks so cozy! I too have many treasured pieces from my parents born in Germany. Vidas, it touched me to see what I believe were a few of the wonderful paintings by your Father which are hanging on the wall? We keep those we love alive through these treasures, right? A very warm and love-filled home environment! Wow, Ausra. I don’t know what to say. Heidi is our Total Organist student. A: Well, it’s a lovely letter. So, I loved that citation by Albert Schweitzer. Because in general I love Albert Schweitzer. V: Do you love the tempi of Albert Schweitzer? A: I’m not talking so much about tempi--I know he played Bach quite slowly. V: Mhm. A: But in general, I think he was a great man. But not the greatest man who ever lived. V: Remember we were probably first introduced to him in depth in Lincoln, right? A: Well, I had read his book on Bach even before going to the United States. V: Yes, me too; but I guess what I mean is, we took part in the multimedia presentation involving the life and works of Albert Schweitzer. A: Yes, I remember that was a wonderful evening. We all played music by J. S. Bach, and had these wonderful citations from Albert Schweitzer’s works. So, do you remember what you played? V: It might have been “Nun komm’”...Or did you play “Nun komm’”? A: No, I played “An Wasserflüssen Babylon,” with ornamented LH. V: I think I played 2 versions of “Nun komm’” from the 18 Great Chorales, the Leipzig collection--the one with the...not trio texture, but the one with the ornamented chorale in the soprano. That’s the first one. And then the second was, I think, where the cantus firmus is presented with the long notes in the bass, in the pedals--sort of a fugal texture in the hands, with organo pleno registration. I didn’t play the second version with the trio texture. A: Yes, anyway it was a wonderful, very memorable evening; and going back to Heidi’s letter, I think it’s wonderful that now that she raised her kids and her grandkids, she can enjoy playing organ. I think it’s a wonderful hobby. And I’m glad she finds our material useful. And maybe you could answer her question about the technicality--how to download YouTube, and what to do with it. V: You know, YouTube itself doesn’t allow downloading those videos to your computer, because it wants you to stay on the site and look at the ads and other related videos. That’s how they make profit, you know--when you click on those ads. That’s why you have to stream those videos, basically. But there is a roundabout, in doing this: you can simply Google keywords: “download youtube videos,” for example, or “download videos to your computer,” or “youtube to pc converter,” or “youtube to mp3,” if you want to just have the audio version. And I’m 100% sure you will find more than enough services to do that. I’ve used that also. You can do that on your phone, too, if you want to listen and watch on your phone, but not online, but directly on your device. There are versions for Android and iphone, too. Now I think we can talk a little bit about Albert Schweitzer’s quote, right? That the privilege to play in church services is greater than playing a concert on the finest organ in the world. First of all, remember that Schweitzer was a missionary in Africa. A: True, true. V: Not only a missionary, but together with Widor, he edited the complete works of Bach, right? Prepared an excellent edition which is still used by many organists today, although we have some other performance practice understandings today. But he also had, in Africa, a pedal piano, I think--in the jungle! A: Yes. V: And practiced organ works by Bach! A: I think he edited it, you know...the pedal... V: Added it. A: Yes, to the piano, that it would be a kind of, sort of organ. A modified organ. V: Do you think he had an extra set of strings, or just the trackers to play those bass strings on a regular piano? A: I think he might have had an addition of strings. V: Like with 16’? A: And I think it sounded very bizarre. And imagine like in the middle of Africa--people had never heard, at that time, such music. And can you imagine him playing, and what an impression he would make! V: But I’m not sure if he was in that part of Africa where people sing in harmonies, in 3- or 4-part chords. That in itself is a very fine singing tradition. Sometimes in Lithuania we have those polyphonic folk songs, but this is something different--it’s completely, I think, in major keys, and not modal versions like they have in different countries of the world, in different folk traditions. And remember in Lincoln, we had seen this documentary where people really sing on those hills, where Albert Schweitzer probably worked. That was spectacular. A: Yes, I remember that. V: Spectacular view. But as you say, if Schweitzer played Bach in the jungle, so then we can imagine what other people (and animals!) thought about that, too. A: Yes, very spectacular things happened. And about that citation, I think that’s what is so great about the organ--that it can also be played at worship. And I think it gives to the organ such a specific, spiritual feeling that probably no other instrument has. Don’t you think so? V: Absolutely, because a lot of organ works are spiritual in nature...Not necessarily spiritual, but sacred-- A: True, true. V: Based on chorale works, or Gregorian chant. A: And I think even if the piece doesn’t have particular chorale or hymn tune, or you know, Gregorian chant tune, I think even a prelude and fugue by Bach can be very sacred in itself, don’t you think so? V: You’re right, because the style of prelude and fugue by Bach is not different at all from the chorale prelude, or chorale fantasia. A: True, true. V: He uses the same technique. Fugal techniques. Ritornello techniques, like in prelude and concerti. And so, whatever Bach writes, I think it’s elevated in spirit, and might sound like a prayer or meditation for some people, too. So I understand completely what Schweitzer wrote about playing in church service. I just sometimes would regret, of course, that in today’s day and age, you would not be able to play classical, sacred repertoire of solo organ composers--the same Bach, like in many Catholic churches, because they prefer synthesizer and guitar, and sort of light, pop Christian rock music. I don’t know what Albert Schweitzer would have thought about that. A: Yes. Maybe he’s lucky that he didn’t survive until now! V: But if you have the privilege to play in church service, and be able to play classical masterpieces, or just simply solo organ music; if you’re improvising, too, then of course this is one of the ideal environments. A: Or even just accompanying hymns, in full harmony, for example for Christmas. I think it’s also very spiritual and uplifting. V: When the entire congregation can lift up the roof of the building! A: Yes, true, that’s true. I remember once accompanying for a Christmas Eve service, and people were singing so loudly that although I was playing full organ, I could still not hear my playing, because people were singing just so loudly. And I think it was just an amazing feeling. V: And of course, Heidi finishes her message with this allusion to the living area of our home, where we recorded those videos where we talk about some of the organ practice issues, pedal playing and memorization, too, I think. Yes, even now, when we are recording this particular podcast, we are sitting in those two chairs, and looking at our paintings on the wall, which are indeed by my dad--and that’s basically our studio, right Ausra? A: That’s true, yes. And I love looking at those paintings. Each time they tell me a different story. V: Do you think, Ausra, that people would enjoy seeing the photo of that environment, what we are looking at? A: I don’t know. V: We might ask. If you guys are interested, let us know. So, thank you so much, Heidi; thank you, other students who are sending us your questions and feedback. It’s really valuable to us, and basically allows us to continue to teach you and to help you grow. And please send us more of your questions. This was Vidas! A: And Ausra. V: And remember, when you practice… A: Miracles happen.
Before we go, we'd like to remind you that this week we're running Total Organist Summer Special with 50% discount. And of course, you will get the 1st month free too. You can cancel anytime. This offer ends today.
Check it out here Here's what one of our students is saying: I keep discovering new ideas. Eg. working for first time with improvisation course. It is very challenging. But practicing those short figures made me pick up Bach piece I had never looked at. I wanted to see if I could learn faster analyzing each chord. And boy does that work. I have learned two measures in ten minutes up to tempi. Because of figuring out chord structure etc. I am so excited not only about learning improvisation and from that learning how to listen to what I am playing. Instead of sitting here at organ telling myself how bad I am. Really working hard at it. You guys give me inspiration. After all these years I am finally enjoying practicing. Also all materials are very well organized. I have now finally able to use more than legato articulation. Never could get before going on your sight. I still have to take it slow as you always preach! Thank you guys for putting new life into my organ playing. William Would you like to receive the same or even better results that William is getting? If so, join 80 other Total Organist students here. Would you like to feel such a strong urge to practice every day that if you skip just one day, you will feel strange, kind of like something important is missing in your day.
And when you do practice, how about seeing amazing results from your efforts, be it pedal playing, sight-reading, transposition, repertoire, hymn playing, improvisation, music theory or harmony? If so, you will love our daily accountability feature in our Total Organist communication channel at Basecamp. You will not only know exactly what your goals are for each day, week or month, but you will also see what other Total Organist students are learning. This feature alone will quadruple your motivation and results of your practice because you will feel accountable and supported by our little community. Bellow are some things that some of our students last weekend: (July 21) Jur: I worked on BWV 639, Ich ruf zu Dir, Herr Jesu Christ. As recommended by Vidas I split the piece in 7 segments. I can now play the first segment in the right tempo and the second segment is coming together as well. I am not an advanced player and getting this far has taken me 5 days. It is hard to resist the temptation to rush ahead and try to play the entire piece! Barbara So far (EDT, still morning), I've researched music for small organ and french horn for an upcoming church service. Not much luck. Keyboard, pedal exercises, and sight reading this afternoon. David: In Dir ist Freude, BWV 615 and More Palatino by Sweelinck Andrew: Revisiting “Jesu, Meine Freude” by Krebs - that last line is still a challenge. There’s so much going on note by note across the voices, and it all has to happen with precision and clarity. (July 22) Andrew: Jesu, meine Freude (Krebs) - now going smoothly. [Notice the improvement from the day before] John: I'm working on Day 3 of "10 Day Pedal Playing Challenge". Some of the thirds with one foot are difficult for me. For example E-G in the left foot, toe - heel (bar 3). I can do that if I start in the lowest octave of the pedalboard, but find it much more difficult if I begin an octave higher. If I do start at the lowest octave, then the E-C with right foot, toe-heel (also in bar 3) becomes a problem. I'll keep at it. Here's what one of our students is saying about Total Organist: "I am taking a lot away from it. Pedal virtuoso program has helped a lot with my pedal work, as has the transposition course. I began the prelude improvisation formula, but put it by the wayside for a little while. Will try to return to it in the fall. Thank you mostly for the fingering recommendations! " Jeremy Would you like to receive the same or even better results that Jeremy and other students are getting? If so, join 74 other Total Organist students here. By the way, this week we're running Total Organist Summer Special with 50% discount. And of course, you will get the 1st month free too. You can cancel anytime. This offer is valid until July 25. Check it out here Ausra and I hope the summer is treating you well wherever you are. Not too hot or humid. Until about a couple of weeks ago in Lithuania we had a big drought without any rain for more than 2 months. Farmers will lose most of their crops because of this. Now, of course, the situation is very different - it rains heavily every day and humidity is 80%.
We understand that during the summer months a lot of people are on vacation and don't play the organ very regularly. But some do. If you're still practicing the organ and would like to reach your goals faster, we want to help you. This week we're running Total Organist Summer Special with 50% discount. And of course, you will get the 1st month free too. This is the most comprehensive organ training program online where you will find courses for every area of organ playing, including technique, practice, sight-reading, repertoire playing, hymn playing, improvisation, composition, music theory and harmony with hundreds of scores and thousands of exercises. This offer is valid until July 25. Check it out here |
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Drs. Vidas Pinkevicius and Ausra Motuzaite-Pinkeviciene Organists of Vilnius University , creators of Secrets of Organ Playing. Our Hauptwerk Setup:
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