What is excellence

John and Eliza shared this inspiring definition of excellence:

“Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible.” (Author Unknown)

Here's how it translates to organ practice:

“Caring more than others think is wise"
Are you a weekend-only organist? I hope not because to excel at organ playing, it must be your mission. Daily.

"Risking more than others think is safe"
Are you prepared to put yourself on the line? Can you say: "Here, this is what I'm making. I hope you will do something with it."

“Dreaming more than others think is practical"
Have you ever thought of becoming the only organist who does what nobody in the world can do? You should. We don't need more organists. We need more of you.

“Expecting more than others think is possible"
Remember the thrill of your first-ever truly great improvisation experience? You can do even better.

The emphasis in all of those four ideas is on "MORE THAN OTHERS THINK".

Ignore everybody. Exactly.

Next: Finding difficulty in spending the time

Sight reading:
Part III: Fuga from Organ Sonata No. 2, in C minor, Op. 65 by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) who was a German composer, pianist, organist, and conductor of the early Romantic Period.

Hymn playing:
One Thing’s Needful