tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-241108618966989287.post2983034190449904128..comments2024-01-19T10:05:48.648-08:00Comments on The Latter-day Saint Organist: Real Life: Playing After a BreakUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-241108618966989287.post-56199060476844216602015-03-02T20:21:37.945-08:002015-03-02T20:21:37.945-08:00Great ideas. I would add simply not to let these u...Great ideas. I would add simply not to let these unpredictabilites frustrate or discourage you. It's just part of working with other people, none of whom feel any more expert in their roles than you. Plan and practice for it, as noted by others. Then expect them and don't fight it. Just be ready. Max Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04298922505262766309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-241108618966989287.post-64429866249713832622014-01-27T15:54:34.044-08:002014-01-27T15:54:34.044-08:00An organist needs to get in the "zone" b...An organist needs to get in the "zone" before beginning to play, and the best way to do that is to practice doing it (and this includes before solos, too). This has been described well by Jennifer, RoeH, and Lance. <br /><br />There are a lot of things to consider---things that have the potential to throw one off balance before beginning to play. The hymnal---is it already on the desk, or do you take it with you to the console? Is it open to the hymn? Are the stops prepared on a preset, or do you have to manually prepare the registration? Are you sitting in the choir seats or with your family in a pew? Do you need to adjust the swell pedal before beginning to play? Has the bishop just announced that there will only be one verse, after you've prepared hours for a special intro, interlude, and free accompaniment on the last verse? Do you see where I'm going with this? So I practice all scenarios so that I don't get flustered as much. "Playing" the organ is the easy part; organizing the logistics is the harder part!<br /><br />Whenever I am invited to play a solo, as part of my preparation, I go down in the pew and practice walking up to the console, removing the music from the rack that the organist has left there, putting my music on the rack, adjusting the bench, pushing the preset, adjusting the swell pedal, and begin playing. It's all part of my preparation. I want the entire experience to be relaxed and comfortable. I want to enjoy it!<br /><br />I hope some of these ideas help.music manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17677806749413247574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-241108618966989287.post-13471353660216072802014-01-12T20:49:58.504-08:002014-01-12T20:49:58.504-08:00I do a few things to combat this: I keep my mind f...I do a few things to combat this: I keep my mind focused on the music whenever I can. If I am away from the console (during a talk) I grab a hymnal, open it up to the next hymn and occasionally look at it during the talk, review the introduction, think of where my feet will be for the first notes, etc. That makes a huge difference in how I play vs just "vegging out" during the talk. <br /><br />Secondly, when it is time to play, take your time getting ready to play (focusing your mind). As organists, sometimes we think the instant "Amen" is heard or the instant the bishop stops talking, we have to play. It's ok to take 5-10 seconds to prepare yourself mentally (doube check stops, get fingers and feet set, look at the first few notes, etc.). That 5-10 seconds can seem like minutes to us, but to the congregation, it's really no big deal.<br /><br />Lastly, there is no rule about when you can or can't be sitting at the console. If it's not too disruptive, anticipate the end of the talk and move to the console early. Make sure (DOUBLE CHECK) the organ is either off or no stops are pulled and play through the hymn. You can push down the keys just like you are playing, but no sound comes out (hopefully). That can get you back in the zone. Lance Jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16227861990620543226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-241108618966989287.post-30085042300166026192013-12-02T08:45:04.669-08:002013-12-02T08:45:04.669-08:00I've been playing the organ all my life and ou...I've been playing the organ all my life and out of general necessity to my overworked brain, I always study the hymns without playing them. Usually while sitting through Sacrament Meeting. I've found that it really helps. I don't mean that's all the practicing I do, but if I've got a hymn or a piano piece coming up, it helps to study each note. Does that make sense? Seems to help me. At least I know what's coming and you don't go into it so cold.RoeHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00131723337404316867noreply@blogger.com