Gift Guide: Your Favorite Organist
An excellent new collection for the organist who has everything. Musician’s earplugs, for safe, unmuffled listening.
An excellent new collection for the organist who has everything. Musician’s earplugs, for safe, unmuffled listening.
A few weeks ago, Brent Johnson from the Organ Media Foundation came to the First Congregational Church of St. Louis, where I work, to film our Austin pipe organ.
Here’s what I wish organ students did all the time in the early years of learning: Book an hour – just one hour – at as many local churches as will have them, and register complicated music as fast as they can.
A funny thing happened the other Sunday. I was on vacation with my family, and we went to church (no, not the one where I work!). I decided to wear a long skirt, and my toddler was like, “What are you wearing, Mama?????” Lol. Seriously though, I basically never wear long skirts, so of course …
Time for some organ music! Here are the two Lenten preludes I love the most. Both are based on hymn tunes, and both work on small organs. But one is easy peasy, and one has my highschool-self’s favorite thing: double pedal!
You know how sometimes an organist finishes a piece, then you hear the tiniest smear of sound? They’re catching a note or two as they reach for the cancel button. Maybe you don’t have that problem (maybe you just forget to press the cancel button altogether!). But it was a problem for me until last …
They Didn’t Teach Me THAT in Music School: Reaching for the Cancel Button Read More »
Do you want to learn new postlude music that you will enjoy and your congregation will love? Here’s my list of the best organ postludes, based on almost 20 years as a church musician. These pieces are: 2-5 minutes long faster/louder rather than softer/slower in the sweet spot between very difficult and too simple (and …
Here’s what I want in an organ postlude: 3-4 minutes long faster/louder rather than softer/slower in the sweet spot between very difficult and too simple Maurice Duruflé’s Fugue sur le carillon des heures de la Cathédrale de Soissons (Op. 12) hits all those elements for me. I’ve played it dozens of times, especially in the …
I learned Dan Locklair’s “The Peace May Be Exchanged” (from Rubrics) almost fifteen years ago. Little did I know, but this beautiful, tricky piece would become my single-most-played piece ever. At first glance, you wouldn’t think this would be the piece I come back to over and over. It’s quiet. And it’s challenging, with double pedal …
Do you work as a substitute organist or hire them? This episode is for you! Crawford, Catie Moyer, and I have many (many!) strategies for subbing and hiring subs. Because we have so much to share, we decided to make this post a how-to. If you scroll down, you’ll find detailed strategies, questions to ask …