Has anyone used, or even looked at, the Organ Tutor - Organ 101? It's an online organ instruction program put out by BYU and looks to be fairly useful. Are there other programs out there that are better?
"The employment of the piano is forbidden in church, as is also that of noisy frivolous instruments such as drums, cymbals, bells and the like." St. Pius X
Has anyone used, or even looked at, the Organ Tutor - Organ 101? It's an online organ instruction program put out by BYU and looks to be fairly useful. Are there other programs out there that are better?
Thanks for that link, Snowbandit. As a now autodidact, I am always looking out for ways to minimize the accumulation of bad habits. I was a bit confused by the pricing structure for the Organ Tutor 101 but the 6 month subscription looks like it might be worth while. I wonder if it is done by the same group of professors/students that created the FREE 12 session organ podcast at BYU: http://news.byu.edu/archive10-feb-organtutorial.aspx I previously downloaded that, and found it a useful introduction or refresher despite the sessions on spirituality, etc and heavy emphasis on hymn playing (shortcut vs. polish modes).
I am always on the lookout for guidelines to help with technique (fingering, pedaling, registration, etc) - not to mimic verbatim but to inform my own decision making.
EDITED: 1) Yes, the course is by the same instructor (Dan Cook). Apparently they used to offer the manual and online course separately, but the link above only lists entire online course with same price ($20 6 months, $30 1 year) with and without the manual. However, this link appears to allow you to order the manual for $5 and the course for $15: http://www.ardpublications.com/order.html (it is not clear that this is intentional or an old link that hasn't been edited). I wouldn't mind funding BYU so much except for the Mormon funding of California's Prop 8, but that's another topic altogether.
Last edited by DellAnderson; 08-12-2010, 01:58 PM.
There are many books out there (mostly published in the 60's and 70's that are now out of print and only available in Used condition) but I haven't seen an online/computer based Organ tutor.
Here is a link to a review of several programs for piano:
From what I saw on the Organ Tutor - Organ 101 (free online demo), it appears to be very solid. However, nothing can substitute for a teacher who interracts with a student live.
I think something like this would be good for a student who is in an area (i.e. rural, remote island, etc.) with no quality instruction available. It's not enough to get a good piano player who "plays the organ."
While I do not subscribe to some of the Mormon religion's tenants (for different reasons than Dell), it's no different than purchasing one of their recordings to listen to--either way, you're supporting the Mormon church. At my school which has very strict requirements, BYU is where most of the distance learning courses originate. As tech, it's my job to make them work, so I get a brief preview of them before they are put in the hands of students.
It's been my experience that anything that comes out of BYU or the Mormon church is done quite well, and is quality instruction. Almost nothing is done second best, and that is a rarity in today's society.
Just be aware that as with most online tutorials, Adobe Flash Player puts a persistent cookie on your computer that you need to know how to remove if you don't want to be tracked.
Michael
Way too many organs to list, but I do have 5 Allens:
While I do not subscribe to some of the Mormon religion's tenants (for different reasons than Dell), it's no different than purchasing one of their recordings to listen to--either way, you're supporting the Mormon church.
Thanks for the reminder, I do not buy recordings from the Mormon church either. ;-)
I too have serious reservations about any association with what I perceive as the "dark side". Honestly, my goal and purpose in posting the information about this program is the hope that a similar one would be available from a more acceptable source. I live in a very rural area and have been searching for an instructor now for about 3 months without success. My wife is actually the one who ran across the LDS site and, while it looked to be useful, I just couldn't bring myself to support them in any way.
The organist at my church retired from teaching a couple of years ago. I've been bugging her to help me out but I'm afraid she likes her retirement too much.
I recently ran across a stack of beginning organist books at a used book store and have been working with them quite a bit. The books have been quite helpful. My poor wife tells me it sounds good but I know that's simply not true. For now I'll keep looking and learning what I can on my own.
"The employment of the piano is forbidden in church, as is also that of noisy frivolous instruments such as drums, cymbals, bells and the like." St. Pius X
My poor wife tells me it sounds good but I know that's simply not true. For now I'll keep looking and learning what I can on my own.
At least she's encouraging! Not always what I get at home--my wife's a Symphony violinist, but I just call her a 2nd fiddle when she's not complimentary!
Last edited by myorgan; 08-23-2010, 07:18 PM.
Reason: Incomplete reply.
Way too many organs to list, but I do have 5 Allens:
Thanks for the link and the details about the charges of podcast at BYU. I think the charge is reasonable and fair, but still on my point of view it may be different for different people, the opinion about the charges is totally personal. Again I would like to add a point from my side that the tutorial should be in video rather text based.
Thanks for the link and the details about the charges of podcast at BYU. I think the charge is reasonable and fair, but still on my point of view it may be different for different people, the opinion about the charges is totally personal. Again I would like to add a point from my side that the tutorial should be in video rather text based as it is easy to understand..
OK, I have worked with Mormons and know a few as friends. Generally speaking they aren't all that bad folk. in fact I find that their morality is laudable and some of their practices make perfect sense to me. I especially like the Seagull story and that Mormons think Seagulls are cool and will not harm them. Growing up in a fishing village...gotta sympathize...
However.... Mormons should be ashamed. The Mormon bodyguards of Howard Hughes basically let him kill himself with his own insanity. The poor man needed to be institutionalized and the Mormons Followed orders rather than the spirit of their faith. Shame upon the faith and we shall never forget. Also that nastiness of killing non Mormon settlers in Utah.... a blemish upon the faith as well. Of course that happened many years ago.
Now, peering into a hat and seeing the words of god...Who am I to judge? I believe a dead criminal came back after being executed and that he was born to a virgin... Common themes of many fine religions that find room for interpretation that allows them to kill another in the name of the same god......whatever......The "god on a stick" theme is what I was born into and I refuse to judge folks whose parents were Mormon and who naturally assumed the faith of their parents.
Anyhow... Mormons...Generally OK and nice folk. their products.... pretty sharp! Word Perfect (if you remember software) was awesome and written by...Mormons! yep! Still better than WORD, but for political reasons...(all hail Herr Gates...Zeke Heil!) we use Microsoft products. or an Open office solution if you are a rabid anarchist like myself. ( joking here i am neither rabid nor an anarchist)
Software written by Scientologists!!!! ... My god! that is just Awful binary drivel! But, I digress...
Make it free for the first few months and I will give it a shot.... Otherwise...
Spectraphone - I liked much of what you said, although it difficult for me to agree with the 'morality' of a religion that started with polygamy and only recently began to allow blacks to join their church, a church which believes bizarre things they do about the afterlife and 'sealing' which requires so much time spent in genealogy libraries (not that there is anything wrong with genealogy research, but doing it to rescue someone's soul...come on! Oh that, and their millions of dollars and disingenuous as well as heavy handed tactics during the Prop 8 California campaign to change California law to increase discrimination against GLBT's.
I don't want this to turn into a religious debate (all religions suffer some faults to more or less degree as they are entirely human in origin and control) but my comments here were only to support previous statements questioning the LDS churches' role in our society and whether or not people wish to contribute financially to them. What they do in their own state of Utah is their business, but I don't need to have them influencing elections in California (and elsewhere). Furthermore, by doing so, they are no longer eligible for tax exempt status. See below for more info. [Dell steps off soapbox, gives a nod to the crowd, and passes into obscurity on this thread]
and just one (of I'm sure many) sites with information regarding 501(c) exempt status criteria: http://lds501c3.wordpress.com/
and finally, proof that LDS church was officially involved in political campaign: http://mormongate.com/ (see blue banner link to view official documents)
Last edited by DellAnderson; 09-29-2011, 11:08 PM.
Reason: added Mormongate link with documents
Guys...It is just a political hierarchy based on common religious beliefs. Nothing but an excuse to rule others without the need for democracy or sufficient leadership qualifications. It is gods will after all.... Supreme authority comes from a mandate from the masses...Not some farcical aquatic ceremony.
The HILARIOUS part is when you run scam...you can make up and re interpret the beliefs as you go along...For some reason God always seems to be talking directly to the leaders and telling them to kill people and molest children.. What if god was a sociopathic pervert? Examples abound in many belief systems From Jim Jones to the Hon. Elijia Mohammed. The whole religion thing tends towards rationalization of some pretty anti social behavior in the quest for the divine.
Simple rule: don't trust anyone who has a "pipeline to god" or who is rumored to have divine powers. It is almost always a scam. Followers of the Grand poobah are never allowed to question and therefore freedom of thought is the sign of a healthy faith. Intolerance marks a cult. Pick any major or minor aspect of belief and just tell them that you don't believe. Gage the response.
In the case of Mormons...I poke fun at them for the hat thing... To be honest...I follow an old celibate ex Natzi as my religious leader... So I really don't have a lot of moral high ground... Any GOOD religion should be able to laugh at itself. Scientology just has too much material to make fun of...It is almost too easy. Zenu? Really? and because of this intergalactic original sin you have to give money to your church? ummmm... what is the punchline?
Look, any one who as a question of faith...just send me money. It will be used for malt liquor and hookers. I promise.
Okay then: back to topic...What is the competition? I mean... can anyone suggest a free open source organ tutor? Assuming that I am REALLY cheap or really poor. what is the best bang for ones buck in the learning to play. There HAS to be some non copyrighted material out there.....
Every large religious group wields political power in direct proportion to the amount of money it takes in. I don't think Mormons are any different.
Your first point is valid (witness the Black church involvement in the 1960's) but the latter is not. I think the Mormongate papers clearly demonstrate that the LDS church overstepped the church-state line by a wide margin (http://mormongate.com/) It is my understanding also that they acted a bit like labor unions, actually putting internal pressure on their members to contribute to Prop 8 in addition to all the backroom political machinations described in the mormongate documents (read them all).
OK Dell, The Mormons are evil, Hypocritical Demon worshipers!
The fact that they oppose Lesbian and Gay activism is proof! LGTgBi... M..oo..uuu...sss...eeee.... or whatever abbreviations people want to be called by...are all kind people with superior morals and their political machinations should never be opposed regardless of an examination of the issues. These Mormons have odd beliefs. Probably the ONLY organized religion to hold beliefs in spite of scientific fact in opposition to them.... Really! Further they are the only organized church that has scheming, power hungry criminals in positions of authority. All the rest of the religious groups have kind, generous and upstanding leaders who would never seek a political agenda or to line their own pockets.
(the rolling eyes smiley goes right here folks!)
Do I really have to read all the Mormongate papers to understand Organ 101? Can't I just play my organ?
Just screwin with ya bro...it is all just words...Peace 2 ya!
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