Well, ive bitten the bullet and finally plucked up the courage to write a letter to one of the churches in town, to see if I can use their organ - as i am a pianist i would like to begin learning the organ, ill be teaching myself etc, wandering if there is any time available that i could possibly use it etc.

I dont really know what to write though!

So would you mind chipping in ideas of what i should put / include

Thanks!
HC

I know nothing about organs but here goes...

If it were me, I'd probably say about why I wanted to play the organ and say how much it would mean to me to be able to play it. Also, say something about your level of piano-playing to show them that you aren't going to go in and bash it around. Maybe end with something along the lines of you understand it might not be possible for (insurance reasons etc ), but you thought it was worth a try - but you would have to think of a better way of saying that.

Hope that was at least vaguely helpful

Er, weren't you just starting the oboe five minutes ago?

Anyway, that aside, is it necessarily better to write a letter than to go and see someone in the church in person? Do you go to church? If so, your own church would be the obvious place to start. On the other hand, if you're approaching a church with which you have no connection it might be a bit tougher. Perhaps a letter from your music teacher might help?

Otherwise, I would say the important thing is to show you're serious about music. I'm not suggesting for a moment that you aren't, but if the resident organist is disinclined to have 'random' people coming in and playing 'his' (or her) organ they may not be particularly impressed by Grade 3 - sorry if that sounds harsh, but it's no ARCO! On the other hand, you may encounter someone who is only too happy to take a would-be organist under their wing.

Finally you might want to think what your answer will be if they ask whether you just want to go in for a one-off trial, of whether you'll be wanting to use their organ to practice regularly.

Actually, the best person to approach would be the organist, rather than the clergyman whom you mentioned in another thread. And, as Czerny suggests, I would go to see the organist in person, rather than writing or even emailing. (If the organist is anything like Czerny they'd never remember to empty their inbox anyhow! )

If he/she is any good, they might be able to offer you some pointers about playing the instrument, or even give you a bit of ad hoc tuition. It is normal under Canon Law for the organist to be offered sole use of the instrument and for this sole use of the organ to be limited to the organist and the organist's pupils, so it would pay to get on the right side of the organist first!

It would be reasonable for the church to expect some payment towards electricity, although many churches would be only too delighted to have a youngster come to use the instrument.

Good luck!

Dear Sir,

I hear your clumsy playing at Mass and think, as a pianist, I can do a lot better.
Please can you arrange for me to have full, unfettered access to the instrument at the church so I can acquaint myself with the unholy box of whistles they call an organ.
Many thanks.

Yours &c

HC

Thanks for your help... but i think ill ask the DoM at the nearby cathedral if he offers organ tuition...

This seems rather daunting, but i guess ill ask the parental units to email the DoM

Get in soon as I understand they're scrapping it shortly!

Really?!

Yup. It's a 1970 Nicholson rebuild - very much a child of its time (and I have no problem with that) - which has become increasingly unreliable, and they've decided to raise funds for a new instrument. I've never heard it, but I think it might be a pity to scrap it.....

Erm, you asked for advice and two people have just recommend that you go to see the organist in person. How exactly does this translate into getting your parents to send an e-mail on your behalf?? Unless you think the advice offered was not useful, of course... I definitely think it would show more commitment if any approach comes directly from you.

Behave, Czerny!

And empty your inbox too!

"This seems rather daunting"

Far too many teeth on that brute for my liking!

It's probably different where there is an instrument like that but down here amongst the dogs, an organist wearied by constant weekends on-call is only too glad to have a rookie apprentice under tuition on whom to call if they need a break. That currently is my position and I pray daily for someone else to take an interest because I really don't want the job full-time!
Go and see the organist (it wouldn't hurt your cause to attend a service or two first) and look wistfully at the instrument before making your petition. They can only say no, but I doubt they will - don't expect a key to the building though (well not for about 5 years!)

Mel

Having been down this road fairly recently, I would definitely recommend speaking to someone, rather than emailing. I tried this in our town but didn't even have a reply. However, as luck would have it, I happened to meet a minister of a small unitarian church with a good tracker instrument, who was delighted to let me practise (as long as I agreed to play for them when I was ready). I asked my teacher about attitudes to practising, and his take on it was that organists didn't mind 'their' instrument being used, but clerics didn't like the 'noise' and wanted silence in the church for the most part - and I think he's right!

So, firstly SPEAK to someone, and I'd recommend finding a teacher too, who can support your request.

Good luck!

With respect, the clerics can't have it all ways - you have to practise on the organ to know what the combination of stops is. Admittedly it's a good idea to go at a time when no one else is there, but how else can you truly practise?

Yes, absolutely! The problem seeems to be when you're wanting to use the organ at a church where you've no intention of playing, nor possibly any ability to play, for a service. At my teacher's last incumbency several members of the congregation complained to the vicar that their mornings (when the church was open to visitors) were being disturbed by his students' practising. I'm currently having lessons in a university chapel and the priest is keen to keep the 'noise' to a minimum! Now, I'm only a lowly grade 5 level student, but I'm careful not to practise an fff piece before learning the notes first at home!! As far as most non-musicians are concerned I expect my playing sounds fairly ok. It really makes me cross!

Sometimes, even when the church is not open / needing to be reasonably quiet, the powers-that-be treat the organ and church premises like the crown jewels, and are still not keen for people to make use of the instrument.

I gave up teaching the organ at a church ( where, incidentally, our family have been associated since the early 70s) a few years ago, because I had such problems getting permission for two adult students to practise.

"we can't have all and sundry / any Tom #### or Harry using it etc etc".

The students concerned were an ex-nun, and a semi-retired businessman. Both had been involved in music of some kind for most of their lives and were not likely to be any kind of liability.

I was tempted to ask how many people were queueing up for the post last time it was advertised.

HC, not all places are this unwelcoming. I am sure you will have better luck - I certainly hope so.

Reading this makes me very sad.

One of our organists has just 'retired' because she wants to see more of her grown up family who live away. No notice whatsoevr, but understandable reasons. I have someon who will play for two Sundays a month, and thankfully for the carol services. We've invested in CDs to tide us over.

I would welcome anyone with open arms at the moment. After a meeting we've decided that we would actively welcome a pianist who would like to learn the organ and would would pay for any necessary courses etc that they needed to do.

Anyone fancy moving to Cornwall? I'd even give you a key to the church and the organ!

...wow, Emma, the key to the church as well, I'm v impressed ! (.....having had to stand waiting for a teacher outside a church with no seat and no shelter, in the middle of a freezing cold and wet winter....)

Sorry have edited your post a bit to save space.

I do hope that you might also welcome a good pianist (who knows their way about the organ a bit) who doesn't really want to learn the organ per se.

Being a good pianist who can turn her hand to the organ when required but just not play pedals, I am happy to play for Sunday services and can make a good fist of it. Obviously I know my limitations and don't play for weddings or funerals where super voluntaries are required.

But while my father-in-law was alive he would make derogatory comments about pianists attempting to play the organ, never mentioning me of course, but I was right there in the room! Now in my book, a good pianist working the organ is better than a poor organist any day - ie keeps time and can cope with congregational singing.

Sorry, rant over, and I'm sure you didn't mean anything about us inferior pianists at all - I've just got a chip on my shoulder there. Will go now.