Pedalboards and long legs

[hartleymartin]

I think I've isolate my problems with playing the pedalboard to having legs which are too long and not having height-adjustable benches. Are there any ideas to helping rectify this? I've tried putting the bench further back, but only seems to complicate matters. I've read that one's legs should dangle, and that one should not need to move the upper leg whilst playing.

Any ideas or suggestions? Do I have to sit on top of a phone book? (I'm 6'2" tall, and it seems that the organ benches are suited to people much shorter than myself).

[Westminster]

People have been getting taller. It's not unusual these days to visit a church and see the bench sitting on hymnals, often 2 high. Adjustable benches are becoming much more popular, with Organ Supply in the US even offering an electrically adjustable model (quite pricey but perhaps justifiable where there are several organists using the instrument.)

[cantoris]

I have the opposite problem One local organ has 'underpinning blocks' screwed to the bench. I can't reach the pedals and have to arrive early with a screwdriver when I'm playing there. Adjustable benches are rare in England - certainly on parsh church organs.

Nigel

[hartleymartin]

None of the benches on the organs that I regularly play (admittedly only 3 of them) have adjustable benches. I might have to make some sort of shoes that I slip under the bench lengs for when I come to play.

[Menschenstimme]

My observation is that when a non-adjustable bench is supplied, builders tend to make them on the shorter side of AGO because while one can always put something under a bench. But generally, one cannot have a carpenter cut the bench down to make it shorter.

I think it would be nice if when an organ is supplied without a mechanically adjustable bench, that the bench be made purposely shorter, but supplied with matching wooden adjusting blocks. I have seen some very nice ones that are like three little steps with slots to mate with the bottom of the bench.

I believe that some organists are too exacting about bench height. I refer to situations where they find a quarter inch to be significant.

[cantoris]

A full music edition of the (awful) Mission Praise hynm book is usually enough height gain. It's good to have found another use for this book - the only other use is to burn them in winter to heat the church!

Nigel

[[email protected]]

Simple solution for organ bench heighth

There are many ways and methods to adjust the bench from very cheap to the expensive mechanical method. If the bench is too tall, then simply cut the base the requisite height and that's it, if multiple people use the organ or if it is too short, here is what we did at the university to accommodate all students, men women etc. Our organ professor used two pairs of different sizes of wooden blocks, i.e., one 1"X4" and one 2"x4", each were cut so at least an inch overlapped the width of the bench foot. The bench was too short for most men because the bench was sized to be short enough to accommodate short women. Each taller student simply placed the correct block/blocks under the ends of the bench and the problem was solved. The tall guys used both blocks, I had to use the 2"x4". The blocks can be left plain wood color or stained to the organ finish. This may not be the pretty solution, but it works and is cheap. Oh, BTW, if you need to shorten the bench, if you're not a good wood worker get a qualified individual to insure each side is even and match.

[hartleymartin]

Looks like I'm going to have to supply my own wood blocks then.

[Westminster]

I've seen many organists do so. Some carry the blocks with them in their kit with shoes.

[Menschenstimme]

Perhaps this is an uplifting experience?

[RayE]

Yes wood blocks under the bench are the way to go, I had made some out of 2 X 4 s for our church organ. I took my router and routed a 1/4" deep groove in them that the bench sits it so it doesn't slip off the blocks.

[hartleymartin]

Good idea with the router! I'll see if I can get that done when I make up the wood blocks. I have a friend with a well kitted-out workshop.

[trompette en chamade]

I once had to use a double stack of 2 x 4 lumber to raise a bench high enough. My current adjustable bench sits on a single 2 x 4 riser.

My problem is that my knees hit the lowest manual when the bench is high enough! I have plans to make risers for my manuals here at home, removable in case someone shorter wants to play.

[jskumro]

I placed blocks underneath the organ bench on both organs at the Church where I work. Problem solved! I boosted myself about two inches, and it's nearly perfect.

[Guest]

All this talk about too short benches and long legs and here I am who stands 5'1" on a good day who wishes more benches are shorter. On some organ I've played I was hoping I would not fall off the edge while playing some pedal lines because I was sitting right on the edge just so I can reach CC. I just figure it is always easier to and height than take height away for us shorter people.

Ungern