Teaching Secures the Future of the Organ As a young piano student, I was encouraged by a forward-looking piano teacher to pursue the study of the organ.
With a superb piano background, I started the study of the organ in junior high with a young energetic and inspirational teacher.
Her teaching laid the foundation for what was to become my life's work: the study, performance and teaching of the organ and its music.
My high school organ teacher not only continued building a secure foundation, but also helped me discover the joy of playing the organ.
My university teachers pushed me to explore repertoire, refine my technical skills and create my own style of playing.
Each teacher helped me discover my strengths through his or her guidance and inspiration.
So what are the hallmarks of an excellent organ teacher? A superb organ teacher must: · share the joy of creating beautiful music on the organ.
She must be enthusiastic and share as many unique ways as possible to inspire creativity and joy in making music on the organ from her own performances to encouraging the exploration of recordings and videos.
· help students set goals designed to discover their strengths and to magnify their talents.
Each student has a different reason for studying the organ and a different dream to pursue.
The excellent teacher will work with each individual to discover those dreams and help the student design a plan to work toward and eventually accomplish the goal.
· design a program to assure the student builds a secure technical foundation.
As the foundation becomes secure, the teacher must help the student continue to refine and build on those numerous technical skills needed to play the organ with success and ease.
· explore appropriate repertoire.
As the student progresses, the excellent teacher will constantly search out exciting new repertoire to motivate and challenge the student.
· mentor in a positive way.
An excellent teacher is an adviser, a counselor, and a guide as well as a tutor using only the most positive and esteem building techniques.
· provide constant encouragement.
Playing the organ is demanding and fraught with numerous challenges, thus students of the organ need not only lessons in technique and repertoire, but support and positive reinforcement.
· be an inspired teacher.
An excellent teacher is constantly learning and is always challenging herself to become better.
In addition, she is inspired, motivated and challenged by each of her students: listening to them, discovering their hopes and dreams, and working with them to become successful organists.