Student: I need some advice. I called the organist from our sister parish, who I like and has always supported me. She said that from what she has heard, I get too fancy and they like simple music. After some discussion, she thinks the complainers don’t like how I change the registrations, especially during a song. I told her I mostly do that during the Psalms and Alleluia. She believes that is what they are talking about. I am sending you a recording of how I play it. Tell me what you think. I use one registration for when the cantor sings and another for the congregation. Here’s how I play them.

Teacher: I would suggest slowing way down and avoid using bright stops and also keep a smooth pulse between the psalm and the verses – avoid the dramatic drop in volume swell  because that too makes the singer hesitate instead of letting the music flow.  I know that you want to lead the music but if you are too dramatic, people will not be comfortable singing.

Yes, avoid the mixtures unless people are really singing fully or if you can quiet the mixture down.  ALWAYS use a 4′ when playing for singing otherwise the women can not hear their pitch as it is canceled in the ear when they match it.

They really should be able to sing through antiphon without taking a breath…and  just lead them through it!

1. Have a listen to the file below. – smooth out everything – practice it with a metronome at the same time.

2. I feel that lifting your hands off the keyboard is causing accent problems – there is no reason to “play the commas” because this can tend to end up rushing the 8th notes (I do the same thing)

To solve this problem I ended up counting mentally  1 + 2 + 3 +  to make sure that I am having a regular pulse un-rushed.  It took me YEARS to finally settle down to do this.

Recording and listening to yourself is often the best teacher!

Student: I need some advice. I called the organist from our sister parish, who I like and has always supported me. She said that from what she has heard, I get too fancy and they like simple music. After some discussion, she thinks the complainers don’t like how I change the registrations, especially during a song. I told her I mostly do that during the Psalms and Alleluia. She believes that is what they are talking about. I am sending you a recording of how I play it. Tell me what you think. I use one registration for when the cantor sings and another for the congregation. Here’s how I play them.

Teacher: I would suggest slowing way down and avoid using bright stops and also keep a smooth pulse between the psalm and the verses – avoid the dramatic drop in volume swell  because that too makes the singer hesitate instead of letting the music flow.  I know that you want to lead the music but if you are too dramatic, people will not be comfortable singing.

Yes, avoid the mixtures unless people are really singing fully or if you can quiet the mixture down.  ALWAYS use a 4′ when playing for singing otherwise the women can not hear their pitch as it is canceled in the ear when they match it.

They really should be able to sing through antiphon without taking a breath…and  just lead them through it!

1. Have a listen to the file below. – smooth out everything – practice it with a metronome at the same time.

2. I feel that lifting your hands off the keyboard is causing accent problems – there is no reason to “play the commas” because this can tend to end up rushing the 8th notes (I do the same thing)

To solve this problem I ended up counting mentally  1 + 2 + 3 +  to make sure that I am having a regular pulse un-rushed.  It took me YEARS to finally settle down to do this.

Recording and listening to yourself is often the best teacher!