Who Helped Begin Your Journey to the Organ?

[myorgan]

I just read a post by SB32 (quoted below), and it brought to mind people who helped me on my journey to the Organ. So, who made the difference in YOUR life and helped hook you on the organ?</P>


[quote user="soubasse32"] . . . [my aunt] did two things that 'planted the seed' and got me interested in the organ: she loaned me an old 78 of Helmut Walcha playing the "Toccata, Adagio, &amp; Fugue"; she also took me to visit a man who was building a pipe organ in his garage. He played the Fugue from BWV565 and the Final from Vierne's "First Symphony". I was hooked. [:)][/quote]</P>


In my case, I had learned to play the melody ofAmerica (aka God Save the Queen, OR My Country, 'Tis of Thee) with one finger on the piano at about the age of 7. I had also taught myself the melody to Old Black Joe (aka Old Folks at Home). One Sunday, I worked up enough courage to ask the organist if I could try the organ after church, and he put on a soft stop and let me play.</P>


In high school, I attended an organ recital where the university organ professor in our state performed, and featured a local drummer from the church. I was hooked. Where I lived, school would be suspended during potato harvest, and I worked all one harvest when I was 16 to earn money to buy an organ I saw in the paper for $400. It was a Lowrey Heritage spinet organ with 2 44-note offset keyboards and an octave of pedals (http://organforum.com/photos/myorgan...ture41675.aspx).</P>


A week later, my father (who filled in at churches when the preacher was on vacation) was at a church in Crouseville, Maine and they didn't have an organist--so he volunteered me. It was a very large Hammond, and I was scared to death. Someone from the church showed me how to start the organ, push a couple of the presets, and to change the volume. I felt it was a disaster, and resolved never to have that happen again! I now have a degree in Organ Performance, and play regularly for a small church.</P>


So, what about your start?</P>

[Guest]

Re: Who Helped Begin Your Journey to the Organ?

It was my father who encouraged me.  Although he was not an organist or pianist he understood the possibilities with the organ at the hands of an accomplished musician.  He gave me some recordings of Bach and Franck when I was very young - Virgil Fox playing Bach and Jeanne Demessieux playing Franck.

[soubasse32]

Re: Who Helped Begin Your Journey to the Organ?



Thanks for sharing that storyMichael - it is nice to get to know our members better. [:)]</P>Kéraulophone,Igot the entire set of Demessieux Franck recordings when I was a teenager- they were among my most prized possessions; I guess they still are.


I wishit was easier topost a photo of my aunt - she was a successful fashion model andI haveacool photo of her at the organ. She was such a remarkable person - she invented her own system of music notation (since she played by ear in any style of music), was also a talented painter, and she and my uncle built their entire home by themselves. They were very 'hip', classy, and fun-loving people that I miss dearly.</P>


I should also mention my mother, since she taught me how to play my first notes at the piano (hymns). She was a reluctant substitute and interim organist at our family church. She and my father supported my musical endeavors from day one, and they made sacrifices in order for me to have the best training. I began to sub at our family churches when I was 14.</P>


My great aunt lived in a wonderful Victorian farmhouse built by my great grandfather (sadly, it burned down a number of years ago). It had an octagonal parlor with a pump organ that fascinated me for hours during summer vacations.</P>


My best childhood friend was an organ buff - he had keys to several churches, and on a few occasions I got to play a bit.</P>


In spite of all this, I was entirely focused on piano performance. It wasn't until I was 17 or 18 that I actually started organ lessons.</P>


I remember one other key moment - I had won a piano competition when I was 12; during the concert kids from varying levels got to perform their piano pieces.We were all surprised to seean organist on the program- a very young girl. She performed Dupré's "Gloria-Magnificat-Finale" at the end of the concert; I was so mesmerized by the sound of that huge pipe organ (played by a tiny child)! It affected me profoundly.</P>

[Austin766]

Re: Who Helped Begin Your Journey to the Organ?

Some of you may already know this, but here goes.

I've sort of always been attracted to the organ, and always wanted to play organ (as in from the time I was knee high to a grasshopper). I didn't really stary until I was 17, in the middle of my Junior year of High school. The school has a 2m Allen of about 30 stops. Anyhoo, I was already thinking of taking up organ when I talked to my theory teacher (at that time director of two jazz bands at school and the "prepper chorus" a choir of Freshmen). He really encouraged me to go for it, and he is a really, really wonderful guy, with whom I remain in contact).

[Don Furr]

Re: Who Helped Begin Your Journey to the Organ?



My dear grandmother bought me a Magnus (sp) Chord Organ when I was 5 years old. I think I was hooked from then on. I started piano in the 1st grade and continued piano until my Junior year. I got involved with a rock band and my keyboard studies went "south". I played a B-3 Hammond for two years in the rock band and never picked up with my piano work. My Church had a 31/3m Moller and after taking about 6 months of organ from the local university prof. I was for SURE hooked on the pipe organ. I began playing the early morning service and subed for the chief organist when he was away on Sundays. Since 1976 I've had 3 pipes organs in my various homes. First one came from a convent in New Orleans....an indepentent builder (his name escapes me now). It was an eleven rank slider chest open toe voicing type that was horrible. My next organ I purchased from North Carolina (University of NC). It was one of their many Moller Artiste, 3 ranks (you know the drill) to which I added a TC Gemshorn...no chimes. My current organ is now 17 ranks of everything from Wicks, to Hook and Hastings to Moller, etc etc. I play it from a 3m Reuter console. It's my Heinz 57 version of a pipe organ. I have 3 reeds...a Clarinet, Vox and Trompette.</p>

So that's a little bit about me.
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[Jay999]

Re: Who Helped Begin Your Journey to the Organ?



From a very early age I loved all things mechanical. My first experience with an organ was our old Pilcher at church. It was a tracker instrument, and for some un-remembered reason, I got to see the action working one Sunday morning. It was after church services...and I do remember that the organist played a bit so that I could see the levers, squares, and trackers all moving. What a treat! I immediatly became "best buddies" with our church organist, a very patient lady, who put up with me sitting beside the console every Sunday, thereafter, for probably ten or twelve years.</P>


When I was about six or seven, I got my first "close up" experience with a theatre organ...the Alabama Theatre, in Birmingham, Alabama. I sat on the front row, right under the raised console, and watched Stanleigh Malotte play. A few years later, as an early teenager, I was taking piano and organ lessons, and Stanleigh became my first theatre organ "Coach"....showing me how to play glissandos, and long extended runs...and how to "punch" the crescendo pedal for riffs...etc. etc. What great fun those two, very patient, people were for me....and I remember that to this day. I always take time to interest youngsters in the organ, and encourage them in their musical studies.</P>
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[Guest]

Re: Who Helped Begin Your Journey to the Organ?

Well, as the son of a Southern Baptist Minister, I sat in the front row of church every week. The organist, I think her name was Connie, played a small Wurlitzer Spinet organ. I was thrilled to hear her play. When we moved to a very large church, they had a  3 manual Allen. I was in heaven. The organist was extremely kind, and would allow me to sit right behind her to watch. As I got older, she allowed me to turn pages for her. She was a great encouragement to me. I will always be thankful for her support. From that time, I just wanted to be an organist. I had many teachers and received a BA from the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music. I am now head of music for a mid-sized church. I never lock the organ and always allow the children to play it. Hopefully, I too will inspire someone to study organ.

[mashaffer]

Re: Who Helped Begin Your Journey to the Organ?



Neither of my parents and none of my grandparents were musicians but Mom and Dad did always make sure that quality music was played in out home. Thus I had a great appreciation for Jazz and Classical (in the broadest sense) when my pals couldn't get beyond hard rock or disco. It took only one hearing of Virgil Fox to start my love affair with the Organ. Never underestimate the importance of having good music in the home.</p>

 mike </p>

[myorgan]

Re: Who Helped Begin Your Journey to the Organ?



Isn't it interesting that we can usually blame someone for our start on the organ! [quote user="Don Furr"] My dear grandmother bought me a Magnus (sp) Chord Organ when I was 5 years old.[/quote]</P>


It's also interesting how we want to pass it on:[quote user="robed"]I never lock the organ and always allow the children to play it. Hopefully, I too will inspire someone to study organ.[/quote]</P>


[quote user="Jay999"] I immediatly became "best buddies" with our church organist, a very patient lady, who put up with me sitting beside the console every Sunday, thereafter, for probably ten or twelve years.. . . . I always take time to interest youngsters in the organ, and encourage them in their musical studies.[/quote]</P>


In my current line of work with juveniles, it has recently come to my attention how much influence we can have on those we encourage--both positively and negatively. Many of my students just need the opportunity,or an occasional "pat on the back" as they progress, while others need the constant attention for fear they're doing something wrong. Did I mention, I LOVE MY JOB!!!</P>


Of course, I work with at-risk students nearly everyone else has given up on, so success is easiergiven enoughtime and attention. Kids <U>will</U> respond to positive role models. It always amazes me how resilient they are--persevering, no matter how horrible their experiences have been. How many of us could still function under similar circumstances? I have come to see the power of music as therapy since I began my present job, and try to never lose sight of the tremendous opportunity that has been given me.</P>


On a recent trip to the Symphony, I was able to vicariously experience one student's wonder as he sat, elbows on knees, chin in hands, dressedin his torn sleeveless rocker t-shirt (the only clothes he had), captivated as the concert pianist played from memory for 40 minutes! He was afraid people would stare at him because of how he was dressed and didn't want to go. He will never forget that experience.</P>


Never lose the opportunity to show a young person what you do as an organist/musician, or involve him/her in your work. (S)he will never forget you!</P>


Michael</P>


P.S. Thanks for participating in this thread.</P>

[jbird604]

Re: Who Helped Begin Your Journey to the Organ?



Michael,</P>


Interesting thread. I can't remember any single person or experience that brought me to the organ, but I do remember the first organ I played.</P>


It was a Hammond spinet belonging to my pastor's wife. I was probably about12 and had played piano for years, but hadn't touched an organ. She showed me how to operate it and I quickly figured out how to use the pedals to do aroot-fifth bump-bump while chording with one hand and playing the melody with the other. I thought I had it mastered! (At that point Yvonna and I were pretty much musical equals, and unfortunately she hasn't gone any further.)</P>


There were no organ role models for me, growing up in a small rural church without an organ. Even the "big" churches in town only had C-model Hammonds with self-taught players. Not until I went to college did I hear a pipe organ played by a fine organist. I guess I was just "hungry" for it when I finally got exposed to it and absorbed iteagerly!</P>


My parents both loved to sing, and sang with gusto at church. They encouraged me and my sisters to do the same and gave us piano lessons. Even though there was no organ in that picture, I suppose this early musical exposure made it possible for me to take up the organ when the opportunity arose later in life.</P>


John</P>
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[Philip the organist]

Re: Who Helped Begin Your Journey to the Organ?



HI everyone,</p>

Being 15, this all happened to me not so very long ago...</p>

Credit ought to go to both my grandmothers. My paternal grandmother plays the piano by ear and music has always been important to our gatherings. Two of my uncles play the sax and guitar, and number my aunts and cousins play flute and/or violin. I remember being 1 or 2 years old and watching my grandma play for hours. My uncle would let me "play" his guitar with a spare pick while he formed the chords higher on the fretboard. I had this little cardboard violin that was my constant companion from '94 to '97 (I even took it on our trip to Germany and Tunisia) that I would play with everyone else, and after that it was a plastic guitar, and then a tiny accordion that my grandfather bought for my mom on a business trip to Russia in '76. </p>

My maternal grandparents bought a Kimball spinet when my grandmother had to give up volleyball to tend to my mom when she was born. So that was the first organ I ever played. That was the first place I went in their house from the time I was 2 or 3. My custom was to turn the volume up all the way, draw most of the stops, add sustain, vibrato, chorus and leslie, and then pick out "Joy to the World" in both manuals and pedal. One day my grandmother showed me how 3rds made pleasant sounds, and 2nds were to be avoided, etc. That organ was a good friend until 2003 when a mouse built a nest inside near the on/off switch.[6]</p>

Our former church had a Hammond B3 and a two-speed Leslie (don't know the model) up high in the wall. The organist there (God bless her) is in her 80s now. I think I was six years old, and I approached her after service and said, "Mrs. B., could you show me the organ?" She always played with the Leslie set to chorale and the Great set to the G preset (Full Great) and the Swell G preset (Sw. Diapason) and with C-1 vib. on swell. Pedal drawbars were set to 54. So every week after church for 3 years she would show the children of the church something new about music. About ten of us would gather around the Hammond one week, we learned the C scale, then the next she taught us how to play "Jesus Loves Me", etc.</p>

I started piano lessons in 2000. In late '00 or early '01 I started playing hymns before the service as people found their seats, then Mrs. B. would play the service. I was given my first home organ in Feb/March 2002, the Kimball K600 I still have and am about to replace In June of 2004 I started alternating Sundays with Mrs. B. I did my first wedding on that B3-all classical music LOL.
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Around 4/06 I played a 3/12 Mighty WurliTzer for the first time (oops, I think I just made myself some enemies [:D] ). It was one of 2 instruments maintained by the Rochester Theatre Organ Society. I have lots of good friends there too. </p>

In Feb. 2007 we changed our membership to another church, and by June, I was playing organ Weds. nights and since January when the other lady who played had a baby, I've been playing all services including Sundays.</p>

I started taking organ lessons at the Eastman Community Music School with Stephen Kennedy in March 2008. I've played with various small orchestras under Raphael Spezio's direction and in June I got to accompany a friend of mine who plays the harp for Marcel Grandjany's "Aria in Classic Style" for harp and organ. (That's where my avatar was taken, Schmitt Organ Recital Hall at ESM.)</p>

That is so far my life story. So many people have inspired me that it is hard to keep track of them all. Thank you especially to God.
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[myorgan]

Re: Who Helped Begin Your Journey to the Organ?



[quote user="Philip the organist"] Thank you especially to God.[/quote]</P>


I'm sure we can all thank Him for that! Thank you for reminding us.</P>


Sounds like you had a slightly earlier start than I did. I taught myself to play, and was playing piano for Sunday School when they asked me to play piano for church when I was 16. I can only imagine how I would have done had I had the start you do. I hope you don't take it for granted!</P>


Nice pipe organ in your avatar. Keep up the good work.</P>


Michael</P>

[NYCFarmboy]

Re: Who Helped Begin Your Journey to the Organ?

what a wonderful thread.....short answer for me, my Mother....and the 2 neighbor girls ...........My mom had a little Conn spinet that she played quite often so I grew up hearing the Conn.

I got into the organ world quite by chance.....I took some lessons on a Conn Spinet organ back in the 1980's but only because my Mom had that organ and no piano,


I had started taking music lessons because the neighborhood girls started taking piano lessons and I wanted to go along with them!!!!!!


....I never considered being an organist...I was more into piano and did switch over to piano after maybe only 6 months of organ lessons....when my Mom got a Wurlitzer spiniet piano.


I remember at Vacation bible school at my family's church being up in the organ loft to ring the bells and while doing that noticed the organ chamber was open so I got a sneak peak of the pipes and thought it quite interesting. At that point I could play Maple Leaf Rag pretty well on the piano but when I played it on the pipe organ it didnt' work out so well....it played but wasn't overly musical...so I didn't get "hooked" other than I was sort of interested in the organ. A few years later (mid 1980's) for some reason I became quite enamored of recordings of the pipe organ by E. Power Biggs and thought it might be nice someday when I was a very old man to have the pipe organ in my family's church as a "keepsake" when/if they ever got a new pipe organ.

Then for 20 years I lost interest completely in the organ and around 2003 my family's church decided to get rid of the pipe organ (replacing it with a new Allen digital).

I lived in NYC at the time and was not really wanting the pipe organ at that point, but I thought heck if I made a bid for it maybe they would realize it was something worth keeping and they would change their minds....well.....they promptly took me up on my offer and I ended up with the pipe organ much to my surprise (for real!)


The plan being mentioned at the time was to auction off the pipes as "keepsakes" individually to raise money for the Allen organ....so I made a bid that I thought was high enough to at least keep the organ together rather than it being distributed to the wind basically.


well...we got the organ moved to my house without any real trouble, and well it turned out amazing..and now I've went from the 5 original ranks to 21 ranks now.

My playing has not improved though...I just don't have the "gift" for playing music...however I have the organ hooked up for MIDI operation so I can sequence it via a laptop computer so it gets played quite a bit that way. I can play most hymns and "easy" arrangements of a few pieces, but that is it, but I love it!


So..much to my surprise I have a house that is basically a pipe organ chamber now..I do play it every day and perhaps in a few years I MIGHT get the nerve up to attempt playing a service for a church, but not yet.

[Guest]

Re: Who Helped Begin Your Journey to the Organ?

My journey began in church. Wehardly ever went but the organ interlude and dimmed lights during prayer time always impressed me. I thought about becoming a church organist before I ever became a beliver. My parents, non-musicians provided the way for me with the first Conn Preulde when I was 14. My organ teacher suggested a better organ (Allen)when I started lessons a year later. I came home from school one day in 1973 and there sat a Conn 628 Rhapsody that I played up until just recently when it was finally replaced by the Gulbransen I have now.My biggest regrets about my organ journey was that I didn't go the classical way and deciding not to major in music.

[bluetantra]

Re: Who Helped Begin Your Journey to the Organ?



I have to say that I also have enjoyed the contributions to this thread. Like so many, my first exposure to the instrument was at church. Mom shuffled us from the 9am Methodist service in her hometown church to the 10:30 Baptist service 12 miles away to appease my dad. The organ at the Methodist church was a Hammond CV with a DR20 tone cabinet whereas the Baptist service was accompanied by a '60s era Baldwin (that I'm currently stalking!). At the time, I was more interested in piano, as my great-grandmother, a cousin, and an aunt had all played that instrument in church. While the organ fascinated me, it was difficult enough to persuade my father to allow piano lessons.</P>


While in my 20's, I met a gentleman who serviced pipe organs, tuned and serviced pianosand who had also been a Hammond dealer for many years, until about 1974. Recognizing my interest,Lamar and Ibecame fast friends andhe helped me find my first organ - a Conn console from the early 1950s with a very large and very ugly (but LOUD!) tone cabinet. It had been stored in a garage and had become a rat condo. Many of the keys and controls didn't work because the wires had been chewed through. I spent several weeks sorting it out, but I got it working. Regretfully, I had to part with a few months later because of its size.</P>


Some years later, afterLamar decided to go into semi-retirement, he gave me three Hammonds with various issues (a '71 H-382, a '73 T-212, and a '49 M) and his service library.It wasn't too long before I had them working again and was eager for more. I findrepairs as fascinating as the music. At this point, I have seven organs and an upright piano in the house. I also started learning classical organ from a brilliant instructor this year and have enrolled in a course to learn piano tuning. Iwish I'd been able to major in music in college, but finally, at 43, I'm beginning to realize my dream.</P>