Feeling Key Changes

One of the most important functions organists have is to re-create composer's intentions. We not only entertain our audience, we not only educate them or console their souls. Of course, all of these things are crucial but more importantly, we have to try to re-create the ideas that composer has put into music. And we cannot do this unless we understand how the piece is put together.

If your organ teacher says to you to play slower or faster, louder or softer and if you don't understand why he/she is telling you to do all this, you are following your teacher's instructions blindly. Often teachers can't even explain the "why" part.

In order for you to be able to do this on your own, in order to be able to have a good judgment about when to slow down or speed up, play louder or softer, you need to understand the structure of the piece.

Because key changes form an integral part in the structure of any tonal organ composition, I recorded this video about feeling key changes when you play which I hope you will find helpful.