This question was sent by Michael. He writes:

Hi Vidas,

I had private lessons with Michael Schneider in the 70s and 80s for 13 years - I am very satisfied with my playing technique and don’t have serious difficulties with the literature. I had a 30 years break - settling in my job and having a family with 2 kids. In 2010 I discovered the Hauptwerk software and bought a three manual console and several sample sets. I took up practicing again and brushed up most of my repertoire. A few pieces are still open: JSB Toccata in F, P&F in E flat and in E minor, Dupré op. 7 - but this is only a question of time, not of difficulties. At present I am studying Carillon de Westminster - it is almost finished.

My challenge is to keep all these pieces warm, so that I can play them without too much preparation time.

If you are interested in my performances, go to contrebombarde.com and search for bartfloete, my musical nickname.

All the best for you and Ausra and thanks again.

Best regards

Michael

This question was sent by Michael. He writes:

Hi Vidas,

I had private lessons with Michael Schneider in the 70s and 80s for 13 years - I am very satisfied with my playing technique and don’t have serious difficulties with the literature. I had a 30 years break - settling in my job and having a family with 2 kids. In 2010 I discovered the Hauptwerk software and bought a three manual console and several sample sets. I took up practicing again and brushed up most of my repertoire. A few pieces are still open: JSB Toccata in F, P&F in E flat and in E minor, Dupré op. 7 - but this is only a question of time, not of difficulties. At present I am studying Carillon de Westminster - it is almost finished.

My challenge is to keep all these pieces warm, so that I can play them without too much preparation time.

If you are interested in my performances, go to contrebombarde.com and search for bartfloete, my musical nickname.

All the best for you and Ausra and thanks again.

Best regards

Michael

This question was sent by William. And he writes:

Do you have any advice for organists who have never played hymn melody in feet or in tenor range? I have been trying all week to do this on hymn amazing grace. I am having hard time. Is it a waste to learn this process? I am trying to begin to improvise and so much I read say to do this and then practice in different keys. It is really hard for me. Is this a God given talent or something that I can learn by practice?

Someone told me today if cannot do it it is you can not learn. Another I read to transpose everything to C Major and then you can eventually play by ear instead of thinking about intervals. Do you have as part of your course a step by set way to learn to improvise? I just want so bad to learn improvisation. Is ear training the basic problem? Thanks.

William

This question was sent by William. And he writes:

Do you have any advice for organists who have never played hymn melody in feet or in tenor range? I have been trying all week to do this on hymn amazing grace. I am having hard time. Is it a waste to learn this process? I am trying to begin to improvise and so much I read say to do this and then practice in different keys. It is really hard for me. Is this a God given talent or something that I can learn by practice?

Someone told me today if cannot do it it is you can not learn. Another I read to transpose everything to C Major and then you can eventually play by ear instead of thinking about intervals. Do you have as part of your course a step by set way to learn to improvise? I just want so bad to learn improvisation. Is ear training the basic problem? Thanks.

William

This question was sent by William. And he writes:

Do you have any advice for organists who have never played hymn melody in feet or in tenor range? I have been trying all week to do this on hymn amazing grace. I am having hard time. Is it a waste to learn this process? I am trying to begin to improvise and so much I read say to do this and then practice in different keys. It is really hard for me. Is this a God given talent or something that I can learn by practice?

Someone told me today if cannot do it it is you can not learn. Another I read to transpose everything to C Major and then you can eventually play by ear instead of thinking about intervals. Do you have as part of your course a step by set way to learn to improvise? I just want so bad to learn improvisation. Is ear training the basic problem? Thanks.

William

This question was sent by John. And he wrote:

Dear Vidas,

I improvise at every service. I often improvise before the start of Solemn Mass (generally an improvised prelude on the first hymn) and always at the Offertory - during the censing of the altar. The only times I do not improvise at the Offertory are during the seasons of Advent and Lent. On Palm Sunday, I improvise on Stations of the Cross at the evening service. [On Maundy Thursday, the organ is silent after the solemn procession until the Gloria at the Easter Vigil.]

Best wishes,

John

This question was sent by John. And he wrote:

Dear Vidas,

I improvise at every service. I often improvise before the start of Solemn Mass (generally an improvised prelude on the first hymn) and always at the Offertory - during the censing of the altar. The only times I do not improvise at the Offertory are during the seasons of Advent and Lent. On Palm Sunday, I improvise on Stations of the Cross at the evening service. [On Maundy Thursday, the organ is silent after the solemn procession until the Gloria at the Easter Vigil.]

Best wishes,

John

This question was sent by John. And he wrote:

Dear Vidas,

I improvise at every service. I often improvise before the start of Solemn Mass (generally an improvised prelude on the first hymn) and always at the Offertory - during the censing of the altar. The only times I do not improvise at the Offertory are during the seasons of Advent and Lent. On Palm Sunday, I improvise on Stations of the Cross at the evening service. [On Maundy Thursday, the organ is silent after the solemn procession until the Gloria at the Easter Vigil.]

Best wishes,

John

This question was sent by Luciano and he writes:

Dear Mr Vidas,

Thanks for your reply.

Apart the mini course I have a question /big doubt and hope you can clarify.

-I found your article "Steps in Composing Organ Sonata " of 13/09/2012

and found it very interesting and clear: it is a kind of Template which I'm using with satisfaction

(I'm Composer Amateur and write music only for my satisfaction).

- Many years ago I studied the Book of Marcel Dupré :Cours Complet d'Improvisation à l'Orgue"

and find something similar but not the same : it is a Binary form exposition

I'm sure you know this book and

-my questions are

1)are these Templates (yours and the one of Dupré the same thing or not ?

2) Dupré explanation does not mention a secondary theme (is he referring to a

monothematic exposition?)

3) In the Dupré Book 1 Page 59 there is a General Plan of "his" Form

But now I'm confused since there are substantial differences if compared with your Steps

Thanks in advance if you will have time to clarify

Luciano

This question was sent by Luciano and he writes:

Dear Mr Vidas,

Thanks for your reply.

Apart the mini course I have a question /big doubt and hope you can clarify.

-I found your article "Steps in Composing Organ Sonata " of 13/09/2012

and found it very interesting and clear: it is a kind of Template which I'm using with satisfaction

(I'm Composer Amateur and write music only for my satisfaction).

- Many years ago I studied the Book of Marcel Dupré :Cours Complet d'Improvisation à l'Orgue"

and find something similar but not the same : it is a Binary form exposition

I'm sure you know this book and

-my questions are

1)are these Templates (yours and the one of Dupré the same thing or not ?

2) Dupré explanation does not mention a secondary theme (is he referring to a

monothematic exposition?)

3) In the Dupré Book 1 Page 59 there is a General Plan of "his" Form

But now I'm confused since there are substantial differences if compared with your Steps

Thanks in advance if you will have time to clarify

Luciano