From Deseret News archives:
Crash course may help LDS organists to soar
He plays the first key with the tip of his thumb and the next with the base of the thumb. He holds the first note down with the tip of the thumb or is it the base of thumb? The next note gets played by the base no, sorry, the tip of the thumb.
"This is awkward!" Andersson blurts, as he tries out the "thumb glissando," a fingering technique used by church organists.
The 53-year-old Pleasant Grove man, along with a couple hundred other organists ranging in skill from novice to pro, spent Saturday morning at Brigham Young University taking a crash course in organ technique.
The workshops, which included classes in pedal technique and tips for better hymn playing, were designed to help train organists for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because the church doesn't have a paid clergy, pianists are often pressed into playing the organ for worship services.
Hay, a trained concert pianist, was introduced to the organ when her bishop called her to play during church. She "didn't want to be an amateur," she said, so she went back to school and obtained a degree in organ performance.
Most church organists don't have that option, though. In fact, because of the growing popularity of "praise bands" in Christian music, universities across the country are discontinuing their organ programs, said Andrew Unsworth, a Tabernacle organist at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.
In Utah, however, the demand for organists to man the plethora of LDS chapels remains high, he said. As a result, many church organists have to master the instrument on the fly.
"I feel sorry for anyone who gets recruited into service and has to play the following Sunday," Unsworth said. "Getting acquainted with the way the organ works requires quite a bit of grunt work."
For Florence Hawkinson, who attended Saturday's workshops, that "grunt work" involved studying under the tutelage of a neighbor. It took her two months of two-hour-a-day practices to master three hymns.
"It was intense," said Hawkinson, who lives in Provo. She's continued to study organ technique diligently for the past three years.
Because Carol Weibell, of Alpine, didn't get the proper instruction, she still struggles with some organ technique even after 50 years playing. Like many LDS organists, she taught herself because the congregation lacked an organist.
"I played the piano, so I'd get asked to play all the time," she said. "I didn't do it very well, but I did as best as I could."
Weibell soaked up every word The American Guild of Organists instructors said Saturday.
"This will improve my technique so much," she said. "Learning new things gives me so much more motivation to practice."
E-mail: estuart@desnews.com
Recent comments
The problem is more than just the availability of instruction on the...
Blaine | May 4, 2008 at 3:02 p.m.
After tossing and turning for a while, I've felt compelled to revisit...
Thomas | May 1, 2008 at 11:45 p.m.
As for the piano-organ debate, I would like to express this opinion:...
Thomas2 | May 1, 2008 at 10:40 p.m.
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling 1:19 a.m.
- Brems outlasts 2nd round of votes 1:04 a.m.
- 2 families divided over slaying 1:04 a.m.
- Teen shot in scuffle with trooper 1:03 a.m.
- Nature's Way leaving Utah County 1:03 a.m.
- 'Grandfamilies' a growing trend 12:31 a.m.
- 'Cyber Monday' sales top records 12:29 a.m.
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game 12:26 a.m.
- No drugs in driver of Am.F. band bus 12:15 a.m.
- Governor Mansion to begin free tours 12:14 a.m.
- Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
- Y. student vanished in China
- Utes won't respond to Hall
- Max Hall issues apology
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
- Cougs begin bowl preparations
- Teen shot in scuffle with trooper
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- Matthews passes new Jazz tests
- Daughter: Mitchell fed me my pet
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
898 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
481 - Max Hall issues apology
379 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
370 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
316 - Utes won't respond to Hall
257 - BYU is champion of the state
140 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
121 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
120 - Religion in politics is tiresome
110
Live 'Twittologue' Dec. 2, 4:00 p.m. with Jason Chaffetz. Click for more.
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
There are some games I love not on your list. Arkham Asylum for one.
Our parents made my brothers help kill and clean our rabbits before we ate...
Why would you keep it open? I would understand if there was a lot of amazing...
The government will run our health care well? Read Reader's Digest, November...
TCU stomped on the MWC so they are naturally ready to crush Florida, Alabama...
could you understand Dave Locke any more than my mom does and she is not even...
Attending the ND/BYU game 3 years ago in south bend, a couple of things stuck...
I missed the game, actually i heard a little bit of Locke on the radio (man...
quotes were good: Article was dumb and unnecessary.
I believe the art depicting Joseph looking at the plates may possibly be...


