SOPP459: My dream for my organ playing is to spice my music creativity with some great organ sonic vocabulary

Vidas: Hi guys!  This is Vidas.
 
Ausra:  And Ausra.
 
V: Let’s start episode 459 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast.  This question was sent by Blackstone, and Blackstone writes answers to my question about the dream in organ playing and three things that holding back from the progress.
 
1. My dream for my organ playing is to spice my music creativity with some great organ sonic vocabulary.
2.  The 3 things hindering my progress are: (i) Inadequate practice, (ii) lack of instructional resources, (iii) Don't have my own instrument.
 
V: So this is rather unspecific to me, this dream. What about you, Ausra?  Can you decipher for me this:   “To spice my music creativity with some great organ sonic vocabulary…”   It’s like a riddle for me.
 
A: It is, it’s very sophisticated.
 
V: It might be that he is… I don’t know if Blackstone is here or not, but let’s call…. I dunno. “Creativity” means maybe, like, composition or improvisation?
 
A: Could be both.
 
V: Could be both.  Something like… creating, not performing?
 
A: And “sonic vocabulary…”   Does he mean to add some sound effects?
 
V: Some sound effects.  Maybe some organ stop combinations?   Or…
 
A: Well, anyway guys, we are not so sophisticated to be able to solve riddles.
 
V: …read your mind.  You need to clarify things. But let’s presume that organ composition and improvisation is what Blackstone is after. So, we could talk a little about that, right?
 
A: Well, I’m not so sure.
 
V: But then, let’s keep reading.
 
A: The second half of the question is much more clear to me.
 
V: “Inadequate practice, lack of instructional resources, and don’t have my own instrument.” It doesn’t say like, it doesn’t imply composition or improvisation at all.
 
A: True, but in other words, practice is related with that, I think, he doesn’t have his own instrument.
 
V: Mm hm.  And we have talked many times about that before so, if you’re serious about organ playing, you can do two things: 1) invest in your own instrument, electronic probably, and 2) get in touch with the local church organist and, by offering something in return to that church, get access to the organ.
 
A: Yes, because if you will not practice, you will not improve. That’s obvious.
 
V: And once you have that instrument available, then you can practice adequately, meaning that you have to practice regularly, going to that instrument on the organ bench multiple times during the week. Probably slow practice is important, repeated practice is important, maybe practice in fragment is important. Think like that, for starters.
 
A: True, and that point, the lack of instructional resources, do you think it’s easy to overcome this obstacle?
 
V: With our seven years of online experience, or even more years (we started in late 2011),  just look at our site, search what’s available for free, what’s available for purchasing, and you can find more than enough for many recitals by now. And hymn playing as well.  Whatever’s interesting to you. I think he doesn’t mean probably, composition, because his three things listed aren’t related to composition at all.
 
A: True, but it’s hard to say. I don’t know what we’re talking about here.
 
V: Yeah. Let’s talk about air. Isn’t it hot today, Ausra?
 
A: Horrible.
 
V: We’re recording this in the morning. 7:00, and it says, what the temperature says outside… 30 degrees?
 
A: Yes.
 
V: Celsius. It’s approaching 100 in Fahrenheit, I think.
 
A: I know we are sort of like northern Europe, geographically, but it feels like we are in the southern part. I think it’s not so hot in Spain right now.
 
V: Exactly. Alright, guys, thanks so much for your questions. Please be more specific, though, if you want more specific help.
 
A: Otherwise, we will be able to talk only about air.
 
V: Yeah, but if you’re too specific like “How to play note C in measure 5 in this particular piece,” then it’s not interesting to others, right, it’s just for you.
 
A: But we still can answer questions like this.
 
V: Yes.  But be specific and also general enough so our group of organists from around the world could relate to. Thank you, guys.  This was Vidas.
 
A: And Ausra.
 
V: Please send us more of your questions.  We love helping you grow.  And remember, when you practice…
 
A: Miracles happen.