February 25, 2009
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We learned a lot...
When we came back from the Workshop by Jonathan Oldengarm last Saturday, we had a great discussion about the benefits of such a workshop. People commented that it is inspiring and encouraging to speak with other organists about playing the organ, and accompaniment of the singing. About playing pieces before and after the service, and practicing for it.
From Jonathan Oldengarm we learned a lot. Not only anecdotes about the North German organs in the time of Bach and what that means for playing Bach music, but also about position on the organ bench, and the position of your fingers and strength of the fingers.
We acted like a choir and we sang pieces from the Messiah but also hymns and other church music. The accompaniment was discussed and many tips and tricks were shared.
We interacted with music directors, organists and pianists from Presbyterian, Anglican, and United churches, to name a few. We had coffee after and went through what we experienced again.
It was a great opportunity!
But why did so few Canadian Reformed people show up? We were thinking that everyone who plays in our churches would have benefitted from this workshop. It was just two hours, and the whole Saturday was still in front of us.
In the car we also discussed the membership of the Royal Canadian College of Organists. Yes, it is not a Canadian Reformed institution – and we should not judge because of that. But it does not mean that it cannot serve the Canadian Reformed Churches and their accompanists!
When I became an RCCO-member ten years ago, I realized that it is the same as so many memberships: what I get out of my membership is dependent on my own involvement.
Take a membership of the gym: the membership itself doesn’t do anything for you other than costing money. It is your participation that gets you the true value for your money.
That is the reason why I got involved, even becoming part of the Executive of the local RCCO Vancouver centre.
A few years ago we organized a series of workshops in the Maranatha church in Surrey. Six excellent organists offered their services and shared their talents. The resources are available and can be accessed. That is a great benefit!
There are organ crawls, member recitals, concerts, workshops and much more.
We share and we learn,
we play and we listen,
we grow and we broaden ourselves.
We benefit and our congregations do.
When I was a young boy in Elementary School, our church grew, and we needed a new building. A new pipe organ was ordered. The consistory said that everyone who would like to play the new pipe organ in the new building had to take organ lessons.
The local music school was contracted, and an organ teacher was willing to teach the organists. From age 18 (my cousin) to 68 years old (the oldest organist)… they all had to consult this organ teacher and take lessons for a minimum of six months. The consistory had decided that this was needed. The consistory paid for all organ lessons!!! They just had to sign up. The teacher gave the consistory a monthly progress report.
Even for us young kids, this was shocking! Everyone was talking about it: the consistory is sending the organists with many years of experience back to school!!!
However, that consistory was made up of visionaries! It was excellent for the congregational singing in the new building with the new organ. (One organist knew it all and had no need for lessons – so, he never played on the new organ.) Some people never played in church before but through these lessons they became proficient!
There are so many opportunities.
Some people and some churches take it.
Others don’t take their responsibility and wait for a disaster to occur.
No need to learn?
No need to grow?
Know-it-all?
No-time?
Do you feel responsible?
What is your church doing?
What are you doing?
Nothing…?
Then don’t be surprised that church musicians are getting an endangered species. You (member, office bearer, pastor or church musician) are letting that happen…!
Comments (3)
I didn't sign up for a number of reasons. First, I wasn't convinced that it would help me as a church pianist. There is a VAST difference between playing the organ and playing the piano -- there's even organ music that just can't be played on the piano. (whereas the opposite is true). Second, it was on a Saturday - and as mom with kids, and errands and such, that's a day I need, BUT even then, I was working that Saturday. Third, truth be told, distance was a factor. I'm not driving out to Vancouver for something that I may benefit from. I have often wanted to participate in the accompaniment workshops you've conducted here in Langley, but again, I was either working or had too many other things to do that could only be done on a Saturday.
I do find it interesting that that consistory paid for everyone's lessons .........good thought!!
I wish there was more emphasis on piano playing. The organ is good, yes, absolutely. But the fact of the matter is, not many people are rising up to be organists. 30-50 years down the road, piano may be the main instrument. Why not encourage more of that? Yes, I know, you are an accomplished organist and that is your passion ........I understand that, but all I'm saying, is that it would be nice to see some more interest in the piano for worship services. Hopefully, if you ever do another workshop in Langley, hopefully I can make it and am not scheduled to work.
Hi Nicole, I did not mean to evoke any appologies
. I tried to give some suggestions about how we could encourage and benefit being church musicians, and that a membership of an organization of musicians can be beneficial. About the piano playing... you probably would have gotten something out of it, despite it was done with an organ. Maybe the free choir sheetmusic, to the experience of singing as a choir, or the technique of finger position and movement on the keys.
About another Langley workshop - possibly... I am thinking about it...
@Musica_Ecclesia -
that's okay, I did feel a tad guilty though - especially because I haven't been able to make any of the workshops you've put on that did have piano accompaniment as a specific part of it. If you are thinking of another workshop sometime in the future, like I said, if I'm not working, it would be a priority for me,
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