Organ Teaching Methods

A Beginning Keyboard and Pedal Method for the Organ
Discover the Organ® is a fully-graded series, designed especially for upper elementary and middle school students, that establishes a solid foundation in musicianship and keyboard technique. While the method focuses primarily on developing comprehensive manual skills, elementary pedal concepts are introduced. No prior keyboard or music instruction is required except Discover the Basics®. Discover the Organ® may also be used as an introductory organ method for students who have or are presently acquiring keyboard facility through piano study. Discover the Basics® is the beginning (first year) series for Discover the Organ®. Upon completion of Book D of Discover the Basics® the student progresses into the various series of Level 1 of Discover the Organ®.

Practice Instruments: For the first three of four years of study, students may use any keyboard instrument (piano, electronic keyboard, or any kind of organ) as their daily practice instrument. If an electronic organ or keyboard is used, weighted keyboards are recommended. Beginning with Level One publications, the student may need one practice session at an organ before each lesson to integrate the optional pedal parts into the assigned compositions.

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A Beginning Keyboard and Pedal Method for the Organ
Discover the Organ® is a fully-graded series, designed especially for upper elementary and middle school students, that establishes a solid foundation in musicianship and keyboard technique. While the method focuses primarily on developing comprehensive manual skills, elementary pedal concepts are introduced. No prior keyboard or music instruction is required except Discover the Basics®. Discover the Organ® may also be used as an introductory organ method for students who have or are presently acquiring keyboard facility through piano study. Discover the Basics® is the beginning (first year) series for Discover the Organ®. Upon completion of Book D of Discover the Basics® the student progresses into the various series of Level 1 of Discover the Organ®.

Practice Instruments: For the first three of four years of study, students may use any keyboard instrument (piano, electronic keyboard, or any kind of organ) as their daily practice instrument. If an electronic organ or keyboard is used, weighted keyboards are recommended. Beginning with Level One publications, the student may need one practice session at an organ before each lesson to integrate the optional pedal parts into the assigned compositions.

Learn More

A Beginning Keyboard and Pedal Method for the Organ
Discover the Organ® is a fully-graded series, designed especially for upper elementary and middle school students, that establishes a solid foundation in musicianship and keyboard technique. While the method focuses primarily on developing comprehensive manual skills, elementary pedal concepts are introduced. No prior keyboard or music instruction is required except Discover the Basics®. Discover the Organ® may also be used as an introductory organ method for students who have or are presently acquiring keyboard facility through piano study. Discover the Basics® is the beginning (first year) series for Discover the Organ®. Upon completion of Book D of Discover the Basics® the student progresses into the various series of Level 1 of Discover the Organ®.

Practice Instruments: For the first three of four years of study, students may use any keyboard instrument (piano, electronic keyboard, or any kind of organ) as their daily practice instrument. If an electronic organ or keyboard is used, weighted keyboards are recommended. Beginning with Level One publications, the student may need one practice session at an organ before each lesson to integrate the optional pedal parts into the assigned compositions.

Learn More

A Beginning Keyboard and Pedal Method for the Organ
Discover the Organ® is a fully-graded series, designed especially for upper elementary and middle school students, that establishes a solid foundation in musicianship and keyboard technique. While the method focuses primarily on developing comprehensive manual skills, elementary pedal concepts are introduced. No prior keyboard or music instruction is required except Discover the Basics®. Discover the Organ® may also be used as an introductory organ method for students who have or are presently acquiring keyboard facility through piano study. Discover the Basics® is the beginning (first year) series for Discover the Organ®. Upon completion of Book D of Discover the Basics® the student progresses into the various series of Level 1 of Discover the Organ®.

Practice Instruments: For the first three of four years of study, students may use any keyboard instrument (piano, electronic keyboard, or any kind of organ) as their daily practice instrument. If an electronic organ or keyboard is used, weighted keyboards are recommended. Beginning with Level One publications, the student may need one practice session at an organ before each lesson to integrate the optional pedal parts into the assigned compositions.

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For manual and pedals in trio style. A series of small volumes containing very easy hymn settings suitable for accompanying congregational singing in three parts; with very easy pedal parts (most within the range of a fifth or sixth) for the new organist. These settings can be used from the very first organ lesson to provide a hymn-playing experience and to begin to teach the basic principles of hymn playing. The hymns chosen are ones included in hymnals of most Christian denominations. Learn More

John R. Shannon (b. 1932)
A graduate of Davidson College and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Professor Emeritus from Sweetbriar College.

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Elaine Grover (b. 1941)
A graduate of Huntington College, Wittenberg University, and Westfälische Kirchenmusikschule. Associate Professor of Music at Marygrove College.

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John Brock (b. 1941)
A Professor of Music at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who has done extensive performance and research into early organ music.

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Richard Hudson (b. 1924)
Professor emeritus of musicology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Has degrees from California Institute of Technology, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Syracuse University, and UCLA. Learn More