Conversations about all things organ playing. Dr. Vidas Pinkevicius and Dr. Ausra Motuzaite-Pinkeviciene talk about organ practice, technique, registration, performance, improvisation, harmony, music theory and other aspects which make up Total Organist.
https://www.organduo.lt
Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 13 days 2 minutes
SOPP686: "As of January, I became the Director of Music, a position I had never expected to hold"
This question was sent by Robin, and she writes:
Hello,
I am a singer first and a pianist second. . . and an organist very much third!
I was asked last September to serve as a short-term substitute pianist for a church whose organist had fallen and injured herself. The piano playing was easily accomplished with my existing skills...
SOPP683: I want to play a full public organ recital on a fine instrument
This question was sent by Gena, and she is our Total Organist community member. She has sent me her answer to the question what is her dream in organ playing for the next three months and also what are some of her challenges. So she writes:
“Thank you!
1. Full public organ recital on fine instrument here in FL. Program pieces have been gradually prepared over several years.
2. Currently putting all keyboard efforts into the next full piano recital Shall We Dance...
SOPP681: I plan to buy a used electronic organ
This question was sent by Dimi, and he writes about his dreams and the challenges that he is facing. So:
“1. I dream to play at my future organ romantic and baroque pieces, but not only that.
2. I plan to buy a used electronic organ (Ahlborn DS series, 2 manual+pedal) and I haven't found the owner manual and the service manual online, I looked on some forums and sent emails to Ahlborn website, but so far no answer.
The price is €250...
SOPP684: My dream is to be able to play well enough that what I'm playing is recognisable
This question was sent by Scott, and he writes
My dream is to be able to play well enough that what I'm playing is recognizable. You see, I was once a church organist for 20+ years, until I had my first stroke on January 1, 1999. Two more strokes followed in 2013, so I have had 2 strokes paralyzing my dominant right side and 1 stroke weakening my left side and making it greatly uncoordinated...
SOPP682: Since organ playing is my hobby, I can only devote maybe an hour a day to practice (sometimes even less)
This question was sent by Martin, and he writes
Dear Vidas,
I really enjoy receiving your emails and watching your Youtube channel. From early childhood, I always admired organ music and organists. In church, I would always go up to watch how the organ was played. I grew up in Bratislava, Slovakia, and listening to the organ in the big Lutheran church was quite an experience (4 manual, 62 stops). It was always my dream to play it...
SOPP680: My dream is to play Buxtehude and Bach reasonably well and to be able to improvise simple but beautiful melodies for the church service
This question was sent by Rolf, and he writes his answer to my question, What is his dream in organ playing right now, and also what are some obstacles in reaching this dream? So,
1. Playing Buxtehude and Bach reasonably well and being able to improvise simple but beautiful melodies for the church service.
2. Earlier there were three things: time, money and lack of knowledge. Since I am retired two things: money and lack of knowledge...
SOPP679: "I want to tell you that I am studying this wonderful Praeludium in C from JS Bach, using your tips"
This question was sent by Rolf, and he writes:
“Hi Vidas
Very good wishes for you both!
I want to tell you that I am studying this wonderful Praeludium in C from JS Bach, using your tips. Especially the tip cutting the piece in 4 bars and not making any mistake by playing slower, it’s working! In fact it goes faster and it’s giving me a lot of pleasure, thank you very much!!
I will support your beautiful work of course.
Greetings from Groningen
Rolf”
SOPP673: I am almost 72 years old and have not played for nearly 30 years
This question was sent by Louise, and she answers my questions of what is her dream in organ playing, and what is holding her back from achieving that dream. So she writes:
“1) My dream is to be able to play well enough that people would enjoy and be blessed by my playing.
2) What is holding me back? A) my age. I am almost 72 yrs old and have not played for nearly 30 yrs; B) I do not have weekly lessons; only when my teacher has time. He is a college professor...
SOPP677: Did you have problems with your back due to organ playing, or do you know other people that had the same problem?
This question was sent by Miguel, and he is in our Total Organist community plus he takes private lessons with me, and one time he wrote this message:
“My back was quite painful, but now I'm fully recovered and practicing again. Part of the problem was sitting for too long, apart from the 8 hours a day I sit for my computer work at the bank. I sit an hour or two on a bench with no back support...
SOPP678: I also bought that organ this year but I don't know what registrations you played the music with
This question was sent by Hubertus, and he writes,
Hello Ausra,
Heard your demo of the Alessandria organ with interest. Thank you for hearing you play on that. However, I am 75 and do not yet have enough experience to distinguish what those sounds for registrations entail, because I only started playing about 13 years ago, the total overview is missing.
I also bought that organ this year, but I don't know what registrations you played the music with...