The AGO’s Committee on Continuing Professional Education is dedicated to providing answers to common questions from anyone learning to play the organ. We have created a series of 30 videos, called “Lessons for the New Organist,” to teach basic skills and techniques to beginning organists, including pianists who are making a transition to organ-playing.
Lesson 1: A Pianist’s First Steps in Transitioning to the Organ
Lesson 2: The Architecture and Layout of the American Pipe Organ
Lesson 3: Coupling Organ Divisions
Lesson 4: Swell Pedals & Dynamic Expression
Lesson 5: An Introduction to Pedaling & Organ Music Scores
Lesson 6: Families of Organ Tone
Lesson 7: Mixture & Mutation Stops
Lesson 8: Registrations for Contemplative & Jubilant Hymns
Lesson 9: General & Divisional Pistons
Lesson 10: The Crescendo Pedal
Lesson 11: Does the Shoe Fit? Organ Shoes & Bench Height
Lesson 12: The Basics of Pedal Technique
Lesson 13: DIY: Adding Pedals
Lesson 14: DIY: Varying Your Organ Registrations (See also A Mini-Course in Basic Organ Registration)
Lesson 15: DIY: Using Time & Touch to Shape Melody
Lesson 16: DIY: Reharmonizing Your Hymns
Lesson 17: DIY: Key Modulations: When, Why & How
Lesson 18: DIY: Using Registrations to Illustrate Hymn Texts
Lesson 19: Choosing and Using a Pedal Point
Lesson 20: Creative Use of Limited Pedaling in Hymns
Lesson 21: An Introduction to Hymn Meter and the Metrical Index
Lesson 22: Choosing Alternate Hymn Texts and Tunes by Examining Meter
Lesson 23: Adapting Folk and Guitar Music to the Organ
Lesson 24: Bridging Gaps During Communion Services
Lesson 25: Variety in Hymn-Playing, Regardless of Instrument Size
Lesson 26: How to Use MIDI Functions on Organ Consoles
Lesson 27: How to be an Excellent Substitute Organist
Lesson 28: Getting Around on the Hammond Organ
Lesson 29: Determining Your Pedaling in Organ Literature
Lesson 30: Answers to Some Important Questions