MUS 1831 – Applied Organ
Instructor: Dr. Pam Dennis
Office: Luther L. Gobbel Library
Office Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Classroom: Chapel
Credit: 1 hour
Course objective: To provide beginning instruction in the technique of organ playing.
Skills to be taught include the use of manual and pedal technique, concepts behind playing hymns and accompanying anthems,
and an introductory discussion of ornamentation, improvisation, free accompaniments, and resources for service music and special
services (weddings/funerals). By the end of the term, the student will be able
to play a hymn and simple service music for a campus chapel service.
Required text: Roger E. Davis - Organists Manual: Technical Studies and Selected
Compositions for the Organ
Lesson: There will be one lesson per week on the chapel’s organ. The
student is expected to practice 3-5 hours per week, with the mastery of actual organ pieces beginning in the third week.
Weekly Schedule (flexible according
to progress of student):
Week 1 -
Manuals – Attack and Release
and Legato – pp. 3-4
Read and play pp. 18-19
Pedal – Exercise 1 on p. 20
Week 2 –
Manuals – Finger Independence
– pp. 5-6
Pedal – Alternate Toes –
pp. 20-22
Week 3 –
Manuals – Finger Crossing
– pp. 7-8
Pedal – Toe and Heel –
pp. 22-23
Begin working on manuals pieces
Week 4 –
Manuals – Substitution –
pp. 9-10
Pedal – Toes and Heels, Feet
Together – pp. 24-25
Discuss Registration
Week 5 –
Manuals – Glissando –
pp. 11-12
Pedal – Alternate Toes, Wider
Intervals – p. 26
Week 6 –
Manuals – Finger Extension
– pp. 13-14
Pedal – Alternate Toes, Broken
Chords – p. 27
Read about fingering – pp.
52-54
Manual/pedal exercises – pp.
96-98
Week 7 –
Manuals – repeated notes –
pp. 15-16
Read about repeated notes –
pp. 42-44
Pedal – Toe and Heel –
p. 28
Manual/pedal exercises – 96-98
Hymn playing – pp. 178-179
Mid-term grades due – February 21
Week 8 –
Pedal – Toe and Heel, Interval
of the Third – p. 29
Pedal exercise #1 – p. 37
Read about Phrasing – pp.
45-48
Manual/pedal pieces and hymns (Lent/Easter)
Week 9 –
Pedal – Repeated Notes and
Substitution – pp. 30-31
Pedal solo – either
Pedal solo #2 (p. 38) or Boud’s Pedaling Through China
Spring Break (March 12-16)
Week 10 –
Pedal – Foot Crossings –
p. 32
Begin studying ornamentation
Weeks 11-14 –
More pieces and hymns
More on ornamentation
Improvisation
Piano to organ
Service music
Free accompaniments
Weddings/funerals
Resources
Organ crawls
Final Exam – play for music
recital and chapel near the end of the semester