AVA154: Today I Practiced As You Taught The C Major Scale. But How Do I Learn Not To Look Down?2/12/2018 Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
Ausra: And Ausra. Vidas: Let’s start Episode 154 of #AskVidasAndAusra podcast. This question was sent by Shirley, and she writes: “Hi Vidas, I have piano only to Grade 6 but am just starting the organ. Today I practised as you taught the C Major Scale. But how do I learn not to look down! Would you please tell me the order in which I should watch your videos? Blessings, Shirley.” Uh...Ausra, do you think that people should really watch our videos? A: Well, it’s up to them. But I don’t know. I would spend that time practicing. V: It’s better to start playing right away. A: Yes. V: If you are struggling with a specific problem, right, you Google it online, and you come across our videos. So of course take a look, and watch, and apply. But then, right away, come back to the organ bench, and practice what you have just watched. A: Sure, because you know, just watching will not make you a great organist. V: “Oh, I thought it would make myself a great organist! I would rather watch 100 videos than practice, let’s say, 100 hours!” A: Well, but I think it’s better to practice 100 hours. V: But it’s easier to watch 100 videos! A: I know it’s easier, but the result will not be the same. V: Umm...Do you mean that watching videos is not beneficial at all? A: Well, it’s beneficial to some point, but I think it’s more beneficial to practice. Let’s say if you...It’s like 1 to 10: let’s say if you watch a video let’s say for 5 minutes, yes, then go to the organ and practice for I don’t know, 50 minutes. V: I thought of another way of explaining this, too. You’re saying a good idea, but I think people should understand that watching random videos on the internet will not teach you a system, right? A: Yes. V: Of playing the organ. What Shirley is probably meaning here, is she would like to know the order in which we would recommend her to watch our entire video library, right? And she hopes, probably, to learn a system that we use from this. Is it even possible? A: I don’t know. What do you think about it? V: You see, these are videos designed for public use, right? For everybody. And they’re not created as a course from the easiest to the most advanced materials, right? A: That’s right. V: Like these podcasts, right? People send us questions, and we are answering them and helping them grow (hopefully). But they’re not necessarily from the easiest to the most advanced level, right? A: That’s right, yes. V: Sometimes they’re in random order. And if you want some video courses and system which go gradually in advancing order, then of course we recommend our training materials. We have other videos like that. A: That’s right, yes. V: But Shirley has to ask herself, what is her goal in organ playing, right? Because we have many, multiple courses for multiple goals. A: That’s right. V: For example, for Bach playing, we have a course on 8 Little Preludes and Fugues, and they go from the first to the last, and preludes and fugues are discussed, and it’s very gradual. They learn harmony, right? A: Yes. And hymn playing… V: And improvisation. A: Yes, and sightreading. V: Sightreading...Do we have videos on sightreading? I don’t think so. I think we have PDF materials on sightreading. A: Yeah. V: The same with pedal playing. It’s a PDF format. A: Yes, that’s right. V: So, you have to ask yourself what is your goal, and then see what kind of materials you need from us. A: Yes, and talking about that: C Major scale, she asked if how to not look down. I think it’s okay, at the beginning, for starters, to look down at the pedal. I think your goal is that eventually you could play that scale without look at the pedalboard. What do you think about it? V: Yes. A: I think it’s fairly okay to watch your feet, when you are just a beginner. V: Sure. So guys, I think if you are in Shirley’s situation, also spend more quality time on the organ bench, and just occasionally glance at some videos, which are not part of the course, of course. That would be more beneficial. Ausra, would you think that watching videos is good for inspiration, by the way? A: Yes, I think it’s good for inspiration. V: Like if you have a specific organ piece that you want to master, but you don’t know how to play. A: That’s right, yes. Or sometimes you don’t know which piece to play; then it’s maybe also good to watch some videos, and hear some music, and then to decide what you want. V: To broaden your musical horizons, right? A: Yes, that’s right. V: Sure. A: But it wouldn’t be good to pick up a video that you like, for example, and try to copy it, just by watching or by listening. V: Yes. Thank you guys, this was really fun. Apply our tips in your practice, and...we cannot guarantee, but we almost can guarantee that in a few months, you will see the results slowly developing, right? A: Yes. These things take time. V: For each, the time is their own, and it varies. As they say, “Your mileage might vary.” With cars, right? A: Yes; so the same with playing, and achieving progress. V: Excellent. Please send us more of your questions, we love helping you grow. And remember, when you practice… A: Miracles happen.
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Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
Ausra: And Ausra. V: Let’s start episode 153, of #AskVidasAndAusra Podcast. Today’s question was sent by David. He writes: Hi Vidas, Thank you for your encouraging emails. They have made a very big difference to me. I have always enjoyed playing the organ but you have given me a renewed enthusiasm, a sense of achievement and deeper enjoyment. Cheers, best wishes to you and Ausra, have a good Christmas break. I am getting better, but my pedaling is in need of work. The organ I use has a 'special' pedal coupler called 'MB' or Manual Bass. This takes the 'signal' from the lowest note played on the Great manual and treats it as if it were a 'signal' from the pedal board, thus allowing the pedal stops to sound from the Great. If you had no stops out on the Great, you could use this coupler to play the pedal pipes instead of using the pedal board itself - although you could only play one note at a time as it selects the lowest note played from the Great only. I am afraid this works so well and it is so easy to give a full organ sound, that I rarely use the pedal board, other than for pieces I am really familiar with, e.g. wedding music! I watched your video on playing a C major scale on the pedal board, this was so helpful that when I saw your 10 day pedal playing challenge, I thought it was exactly what I needed. Early this year I bought a special pair of organ-master dress shoes which also help. I have quite big feet (UK 11 - EU 46) and normal shoes make it difficult to be precise. The higher heal helps as well and the soft sole is a great advantage with just the right amount of friction. I live in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in England. Best wishes, David V: So, Ausra, I think it’s good that David is playing with the right kind of organ shoes. A: Yes, it helps a lot. V: Some people prefer to play with socks, some people use other kinds of shoes, but eventually you need to choose the right equipment, right? A: That’s right. It makes a big difference. V: So, this manual-bass coupler is a very interesting phenomenon. Have you ever met it or seen it on the organ? A: Actually, no. I haven’t. V: I saw it just once or twice, but only on electronic organs, like Allen digital organ. I remember, we have a studio organ at the Lithuanian Academy of Music, and the principle is this; if you engage this coupler, you could play pedal stops with your hands. A: Well, but that’s, that is cheating. V: That’s what they thought. That’s what they thought. It’s only for people who don’t use feet during their playing. A: I know, but, but, but, I just don’t imagine how can you play organ and don’t play the pedals. V: It’s little bit, too bad, right, that David is not always taking advantage of the pedal board. And you can sometimes even forget how to play your feet if you do it too long with your hands. A: I know, you have to practice your pedals every day, until you will feel comfortable. Because I think this is the most fun part of playing organ, is to be able to play pedals. V: Definitely. It feels like you are dancing, actually. Do like to dance, Ausra? A: Well, I like to play organ more. V: But does organ pedal playing remind you of dancing? A: Well, maybe a little bit, yes. V: To me, it reminds me of using your entire body, even, so, I’m not a dancer myself, but I danced a little bit when nobody was looking. So it feels like similar motion. It was really a weird situation, to see me dancing. So, of course, I play better with pedals. A: Yes. V: Have you seen me dancing, Ausra? A: Yes, I have danced with you? V: What you do think? A: (Laughs). I think you play organ than you dance. V: Do you think I have hope to become a better dancer, like I’m the organist now? A: (Laughs). I’m sure I don’t think so. Sorry! V: That’s too bad. I was going to apply to ballet school. A: Heh, heh, heh. V: But now I’m crushed. A: Yes, sorry for that. V: You’re good at crushing my dreams. What dreams could I crush on you now? A: I don’t know. I better don’t tell you my dreams, so you cannot crush them. V: Yeah. Guys, keep your dreams to yourself. Don’t tell anybody because some people can take advantage of your dreams, and uh, you know, make fun of you. A: Yes, don’t tell your dreams to Ausra; she is cruel. That’s what you meant. V: I will not say it out loud. A: Okay. V: Excellent. So I guess we have to help David to get better with pedal playing, don’t you think? A: Yes. V: The first step he needs to take is simply believe that it could be done, with time. A: Yes, of course. V: Maybe a few months, maybe a few years, but eventually pedal playing will get easier. A: Because you know, if you avoid them, you will never feel comfortable about playing pedals. V: You have to face your fears, right Ausra? A: Yes V: It’s like, if you are afraid of spiders, you have to get into the spider’s web, and you know, get comfortable with ten or one hundred spiders. Ausra is looking now for spiders because I’m afraid of spiders and she would bring a few of them on my head now. A: Well, I think you are just pretending that you are afraid of spiders. V: I’m not afraid of spiders when I draw them, actually. So, I better try to draw them with pencil or a pen. But when I see them, it’s very frustrating and scary. What about you? A: I’m afraid of snakes. V: So, are you afraid of drawing snakes? A: I wouldn’t like to draw a snake actually. I hate them, you know, in anything, in nature, and also in drawing. I just don’t want to look at them. V: But what would happen if a snake appeared on the pedal board? A: Well, it would be the biggest nightmare of my life. V: You would be playing like a dancer then, right, like a gigue. A: Well, I think I would just scream and run. V: So, guys, if you want to I think Ausra is saying, correct me if I’m wrong, if you want to get better with pedal playing, put some snakes on the pedal board, and force yourself to, to, you know, avoid them when the bite you. But still keep playing, right Ausra? A: Ha, ha, how funny. Don’t do that. Don’t listen to this! V: My advice always works, don’t you think Ausra? A: Maybe not about snakes. V: Okay. I will try it myself then and then I’ll let you know how it goes. So, of course it’s important not to skip pedal practice, for David. A: That’s right, because you know, don’t use that coupler, unless you use it on very special occasions, but don’t use it, on a regular basis. V: If you’re so used to that button, maybe it will be very hard for you at the beginning, maybe, the first couple of months, you know, to avoid playing with your left hand, the pedal line. But later, you’ll thank us, actually. A: I know, because otherwise, how can you play real organ repertoire which you know, has right hand and left hand and pedals. So you will not be able to play it, if you use this coupler. V: Or maybe David doesn’t have a goal to or dream to play real organ literature, don’t you think? A: I don’t know. It’s hard to tell. V: If that’s the case, maybe he should challenge himself a little bit, of playing unfamiliar repertoire specifically created for the organ. A: Yes, I think that’s a good way. V: And in a few months, he will start to see some progress and get hooked on this. A: That’s right. V: An entire world will open up for David, and people like David, maybe who are also struggling with playing with their feet and would rather use the manual-bass coupler instead of real pedal playing. V: Thank you guys. I hope this was useful, and please send us more of your questions. Ausra and I love helping you grow. V: And please remember, when you practice… A: Miracles happen! Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
Ausra: And Ausra. Vidas: Let’s start Episode 152 of #AskVidasAndAusra podcast. And this question was sent by Willem. He writes: “Maybe a dumb question but how would you play your new “10 Day Pedal Playing Challenge”, two octaves lower than is written?” So, the situation, Ausra, is that, remember we took those exercises from the French solfège treatise, right? And we applied it to pedal practice, and created a course on it. Do you remember it? Ausra: Yes, I remember it. Vidas: Why did you need those sightreading exercises for your solfège classes? Ausra: Well, that’s a part of the curriculum. Vidas: Mhmm. And specifically for you, of course, children in school have their own methodical material, but you had to prepare something of your own, right? Ausra: Well, yes. We have some special occasions, but we need special exercises, so this was one of those. Vidas: Was it for a special competition? Ausra: Yes. Vidas: Excellent. So...we searched for suitable material, and we found those exercises in the French system for singing solfège. Ausra: Yes. Vidas: For ear training. And then we thought, “What would happen if people would play it with their feet on the pedals? Would that be a good idea?” Ausra: “Yes! We could do pedal exercises!” So that’s what we did. Vidas: But of course, people sing those exercises in treble clef, right? Ausra: Well, not necessarily; if you are a man, after puberty, of course you sing in the bass clef. I mean, not in the bass clef, but in the range of the bass clef. Vidas: Yeah, you transpose it one octave down. Ausra: That’s right. And that’s what you do when you play the pedal on the organ, too. Vidas: You just have to figure out whether you need to transpose it one octave lower or two octaves lower. Because...what’s the lowest note in those exercises? Primarily treble C. Ausra: Yes. Vidas: Like soprano. Ausra: Yes. Vidas: So, if the lowest note for the feet is C, this means you could be playing one octave lower in the tenor range, or two octaves lower in the bass range. Right? Ausra: Yes, sounds right. Vidas: Anything else you would like to add? For people who will be practicing this course? Ausra: Well, I’m just thinking is it harder to sing those melodies than to play them in the pedal? And I would think that some of them are harder to sing, actually. Vidas: Definitely, because of those high leaps, up and down; and to play those leaps you could use both feet. Ausra: That’s right. Vidas: And to sing them, you need to use your voice, and it’s particularly challenging sometimes. Ausra: It is. Actually, everybody complained after that competition, that these were hard examples! Vidas: Oh, tell us a little bit how it went--those singing the part, of course! Ausra: Well, it went fine. But everybody complained afterward, later, although we all did either good or even better. So… Vidas: So the competition went in 3 levels, right? For the 10th grade, 11th grade, and the 12th grade. And then you prepared a set of exercises for each grade, right, Ausra? Ausra: Yes. Vidas: And was it too difficult for, let’s say, 10th graders? Ausra: Actually no...I think it was still okay, and for 11th graders too. But for the 12th graders, those were especially hard, to sing. Vidas: Very chromatic and lots of modulations. Ausra: Mhm. Vidas: I see. Do you think that people would...Would people be able to play with their feet in a slow tempo, successfully? Ausra: Yes, I think so. Vidas: Those exercises that we converted into the 10-day Pedal Playing Challenge? Excellent. So guys, try it out. Of course we recommend extremely slow tempo. Do you think, Ausra, they could play it just once, or practice repeatedly? Ausra: Well, of course you could practice repeatedly. Vidas: Why? Ausra: Because it’s more beneficial. You could get more out of it. Vidas: Like etudes, right? Ausra: Sure. Vidas: And then, maybe one exercise per day. But some people need more days for one exercise, don’t you think? Ausra: Of course. Vidas: Like, up to 1 week, maybe? Ausra: Yes, or even a month. I don’t know, it depends on the person. Vidas: It doesn’t matter, actually, how much time you spend; it’s important just that you spend quality time, right? And you master each exercise to your satisfaction, that you feel that you’re progressing, right? Ausra: Yes, that’s true. Vidas: Excellent. So, please, guys, send us more of your questions; we love helping you grow. And send us your feedback about this course, right? And remember to transpose it one octave or two octaves down, because you will be playing it from the treble clef. Thank you, guys! This was Vidas. Ausra: And Ausra. Vidas: And remember, when you practice… Ausra: Miracles happen. Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
Ausra: And Ausra. Vidas: Let’s start Episode 151 of #AskVidasAndAusra podcast. And Daniel asks about figured bass. Do you know, Ausra, what’s the definition of figured bass? A: Well, I don’t know the exact definition, but I definitely know what it is. It’s a common practice which was used in the Baroque period. V: This is a system, basically, which was created to help musicians to perform--on the spot--harmonically and sometimes polyphonically complex pieces. Right? It’s like an abbreviated system of writing. A: Yes, it’s an abbreviated system of writing. It actually saved time. It saved paper, because basically you had only the bass line written out, and you have numbers, you know, underneath that bass line; and depending on those numbers, you know what the harmony should be, and then you just have to add other voices to the bass line. And actually, on that thorough bass, figured bass, it’s all based on the common harmony. V: What happens if you don’t have any numbers above the note? A: Well, it just means that that chord needs to be a triad. V: What do you mean, triad? What is this? A: Well, if you don’t have...Let’s say you have, you are in the key of C Major. You have this C note in the bass, and you have no numbers. It means that you need to add E, G, and C to that chord. So you had to have the triad, or a fifth chord. V: Ah, like C Major chord. A: Yes, like C Major chord--C Major tonic chord. V: Uh-huh. A: And that’s usually what is meant, when the note that doesn’t have any numbers. V: Do these exercises or figured bass lines have multiple levels of numbers, or just one? A: Well, yes, yes! You can have one, two, three numbers... V: Sometimes four. A: Yes, sometimes four. V: Because in the RH you can play 4 notes. A: Yes. And it can also indicate such things as nonharmonical notes, for example, suspensions that were so common in Baroque music. V: If you need some advanced knowledge on how, let’s say, Johann Sebastian Bach treated figured bass, then we would definitely direct you to Dr. Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra’s website to find out more about her recent treatise on Bach and improvisation. A: Yes. But maybe we could give like, some examples of how to read figured bass. For example, what would you play if you had like, a 6? Number 6 underneath the note. What do you need? V: Major or minor first inversion chord. Right? A: Yes. V: So, if a 6 is above the note C, I would play C, E, and A in the RH. Or, just E and A in the RH. Or E, A, E in the RH, or A, E, A. It depends on the texture you want to create--three or four part texture. A: Sure; because you know, while playing figured bass, you don’t only have just to keep the right note, you also need to do correct voice leading. So you have to know what to double, for example. So, if you have, let’s say, numbers, as you talked about, that C Major chord, you would double the C note. For example, you have the 6 chord, the first inversion of, you know, a fifth chord. Then you would have to repeat either… V: A root. A: A root, or a fifth. V: Yes. A: But not the bass. So, for example, if let’s say a first inversion of the tonic chord in C Major is E, G, C, you would repeat either G or C, but not E. Because if you would repeat E, then you would have a hard time connecting it rightly with the next chord. V: But it’s still possible, right? At school we don’t allow it… A: It’s...it’s possible, but usually you need to avoid it. V: What’s the best way to avoid parallel fifths, if you have, let’s say, 3 notes in the RH and 1 in the bass? A: Well, the best way is, if you bass moves down, then your other 3 notes would move up, so in an opposite direction. V: Or, if the bass moves upward… A: The other three notes would move down. V: And then you will not create any forbidden intervals. A: Yes. So basically, that number which is marked underneath the bass line shows you the note which has to be above the bass. V: Or a few notes... A: Or a few notes. V: Like sometimes a 6 chord is notated in numbers, right? Like above the note C, it could be 3 and 6. A: Yes. V: Or double, you know. A: Yes, and also, sometimes you could get accidentals, or some rhythms either next to a number, complete number, or in general. For example, if you are in the key of a minor, and you have a note E in the bass, and you have no numbers but you have, for example, a sharp written in, it means that it will be a dominant chord, with a G♯. It would be like E, G♯, B. V: Or instead of F♯, they would write a plus sign. A: Yes. This is also a system. V: Mhm. And a flat would be maybe sometimes F Major or d minor, right, when you have to lower some things. A: Yes. And what about, like, adding extra notes or creating something on your own? Could you do that? Well, you’re reading figured bass…! V: That’s what Bach did. A: Or you just have to play strictly the chords. V: People usually think that the right way to play figured bass, or basso continuo in Italian, is by providing chordal texture: 3 notes in the RH, 1 in the bass. But historically, it’s just a preliminary way to a more advanced type of playing. Johann Matthesohn wrote 2 treatises on figured bass: it’s called Generalbass Schule, because in German, Generalbass is bass. So, he wrote 2 treatises, 2 parts: one was Kleine Generalbass Schule, meaning the short one, right? A: Yes. V: And then Grosse Generalbass Schule, like the magnum opus, like the great school of figured bass. It’s an extension of the first preliminary method. So guys, when you are more advanced in this, so don’t play just the chords. I think you need to think in terms of melody. A: Yes, and don’t you think that tempo of the piece will dictate to you how many additions you can play, or add? That, for example, if the tempo is very fast, you might not be able to add so many extra notes. V: So maybe then, you don’t need those multiple notes per chord; maybe you just need to have one upper voice in the RH. But melodically interesting, like in a gigue, right? You could have triplets and dotted notes in the RH, imitating maybe the LH too, in rhythms, and they would have this conversation… A: Like dialogues. V: Yeah, that’s what Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra always says. “Dialogues,” “duets,” and there is a recent addition to that...She calls it maybe “contrasts” or some other things probably. Dialogues and duets are the most important, right? A: Yes. V: In good music, parallel sixths and thirds, sweet intervals, you create duets, and dialogues you create by imitating the rhythmic and intervallic motion. A: What about the modern editions? Would you prefer to play from the modern edition where all that figured bass is written out for you, or would you like to create your own upper voice? V: People who are risk-takers, I think, should try at least to practice from original notations, and supply the missing parts themselves--right? Because in modern editions, it’s just one way that the modern editor suggested. But remember, every time you play, you could play something different, because it’s a part of the improvised, extemporaneous performance practicing. And once you can do this, Ausra, do you think that it will lead you to think like polyphonic playing, like even fugues, fuguettes? A: I think so. Because I believe that fuguettes and fugues are also based on that figured bass. V: Yeah. They’re called partimento fugues. A: Yes. V: It also has just one bass line, and sometimes the clefs change, but it basically also has figured bass symbols with some entrances of the subject notated so that you know in which part and which octave you should reenter the soprano, alto, tenor… A: Yes. And you’re talking about Baroque fugue. We’re not talking about Renaissance fugue, which was based on a little bit different technique--not in figured bass. V: More like ricercar. A: Yes, that’s true. V: Excellent. So, go ahead and explore some interesting exercises in figured bass that we mentioned. There is a good treatise continuo according to Handel, right? A: Yes, that’s a very good book. V: Short and sweet and not too difficult. A: Yes. Yes, exercises, and some music in it, you know, like pieces that you could play based on the figured bass. V: But if you’re really serious and curious about it, Pamela’s improvisation treatise will be extremely beneficial to you. A: Yes, of course if you are even more interested, you could go to original sources like Johann Mathessohn an excellent source to look at. V: Excellent. Do you think that we need to provide a course like that for students of our own? A: Well, I don’t know how many would be interested. Maybe you could let us know? V: Yeah, if there is such a need. But we did sometimes, with a few pieces like Johann Ludwig Krebs created this Clavierubung collection in 3 parts, and in the first part, he has 13 chorale preludes which have at most 3 parts; and at the end of the setting of each chorale prelude, there is a harmonization of the chorale, and with basso continuo, or with bass notation. A: Yes, yes. Yes, but it’s even easier, because yes, it has a bass line...does it have a soprano line or not? V: It does have. A: It does have; so you just have to fill in 2 missing voices. V: And we have notated Allein Gott in der Höh’ sei Ehr, and Jesu meine Freude, I think. And also missing those inner voices for figured bass realization A: Yes. V: If you want to look at it. A: And actually, you know, in Krebs’ piece, you can already hear that his harmonizations are getting more...sort of...modern, compared to earlier composers. You can see that he’s like, a liberal. Already beyond Baroque music. V: The last master of the Baroque. A: Yes. V: Okay, thank you guys, for sending us your questions and feedback. We love to know how it goes, how your practice goes, and looking forward to getting more of your questions and feedback. And remember, when you practice… A: Miracles happen. Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
Ausra: And Ausra. V: Let’s start episode 150, of #AskVidasAndAusra Podcast V: Today’s question was sent by Daniel, and he asks, what is Passacaglia. Oh, that is a fascinating question, right Ausra? A: Yes, I like it. V: Would you like better, Chaconne, or Passacaglia? A: Well, they are so similar. V: In what way? A: Because they are both Baroque time pieces and based on them, repeated bass, basically lots of variations on the repeated bass. V: They call it ground bass variations. The proper term is. And it’s the most ancient probably type of variation setting, right? A: Yes, I believe so, or one of the oldest. V: What happens in this dance, the origin of this dance is Spanish, right? Passacaglia. A: Yes, I think so. V: Spanish, solemn, maybe funeral procession, or something. A: I’m not sure about it’s original purpose, but yes, it’s not a fast dance, not a gigue. V: It’s in 3/4, ternary Meter. A: Yes V: And usually has a pickup of a beat. A: That’s right. So what is the favorite Passacaglia? V: I have a few. Obviously I cannot omit Bach’s Passacaglia, and Buxtehude’s Passacaglia. Those are two of my favorites probably. And they have similarities too. A: Yes they are quite similar. V: Mmm, hmm. And the structure of the theme is quite stable in a lot of pieces. Bach for example is 8 measures long, and throughout the Passacaglia, Bach keeps the structure of the theme intact. This means that the composer only varies the harmony and figuration in the hands but the bass line basically is stable. A: Yes, it just keeps repeating that theme. V: Unless the pedals play figuration based on the future. A: That’s true, yes. And I think that in general the Passacaglia and Chaconne are very suitable for improvisation. What do you think about it? V: Definitely. If you could think of just eight chords, each would fit within one measure, you could create nice Chaconne or Passacaglia. There are minor differences but they are related. Because then you only have to change the figuration in your hands and the bass line could remain the same. A: Yes, and in that way when you learn to play the subject well on the pedals, you can just do it on the hands what we are doing. V: Yeah, I think that sometimes this theme could be 4 measures long too. A: Yes, especially for beginners, if you want to learn to improvise. Because you have to a subject that is eight measures long. V: Traditionally there are some patterns for the theme which are historically very popular, right, in real compositions, like tetrachord up or down, ascending or descending tetrachord. Let’s say you are in C major, and you need only four notes, C, D, E, F, and then this last F implies the subdominant function, right? But it’s not good to finish the theme on the subdominant, you need dominant. So maybe the C is a dotted quarter note, dotted, I mean a half note, then D is a dotted half note, E is also the same length, but E could be shorter, or F, F could be a half note, and G, the last note of the theme, could be a quarter note. What do you think about that? A: Yes, I think it would work. V: C, D, E, F, G. Like that. And you repeat it over and over, with different different chords, or the chords could be the same actually but different figuration. A: Yes, I think that is a good way, in such a way, to learn different Baroque patterns. V: Ausra, what is the general reaction that this Passacaglia or Chaconne would take? I mean do you start from the slow and speed up or from fast movement figures and slow to down dotted half notes, or some other way? A: I think usually you would have to probably build up each variation. So C goes fast figurations for the end of the piece. That way it sounds the most exciting I would think. And you would have to build climax. V: Exactly, so start with maybe quarter notes, and then eighth notes, and triplets, eight note figuration and them later may 16 notes. A: 16th notes, and maybe you can even add to that 32nd notes. V: Yes, if you have dexterity of the fingers. The same could be done with descending tetrachords, right Ausra? A: Sure. V: In C major, C, B, A, G. A: And you would return to the dominant, which is very good. V: Naturally, four notes. A: Yes. V: Should be enough. Then you would repeat, C, B, A, G; C, B, A, G. And change the figuration. The same could be done in minor too. A: Yes. And for example, if your subject is major, in the middle of the piece you switch and do one variation in minor key. V: Like in Buxtehude, I remember Passacaglia in d minor, he has one, two, three, four sections. And it’s interesting because d minor Passacaglia, the first section is in d minor in the tonic, and do you know Ausra, how many variations? A: Seven, I believe. V: Exactly! Like seven planets, or seven days of the week. A: I know there are so many mysterious stories of about Buxtehude Passacaglia. I don’t know if you have to believe them all but they are fascinating. V: And after that, of course, the composer modulates through a short interlude, four measures I believe, to another key, the dominant, right Ausra? A: Yes. V: Which is? A: A Major. V: Or minor. A: Or minor. V: It could be both, right? So, then the next set is also seven variations long, in a minor. And after that, Buxtehude moves to, I believe, F Major. But we might also mix things up sometimes, maybe, d minor, F Major, and a minor, sometimes, d minor, a minor, and F major. It doesn’t matter sometimes what order you go. A: Yes but these are all related keys. V: Mmm, hmm. But it’s important that you finish on d minor, right? A: Yes. V: So, guys, you could choose that constant number for each key, and then have a set of variations in each key that you like. As Ausra says, a least, two keys, starting dominant, then tonic. A: That’s right. V: Wonderful. Thank you guys for sending your questions. This is really exciting. We love helping you grow, and please remember, to take this advice to the practical level. Because only theoretical implications are not exactly our point or reason for doing these podcasts, right Ausra? A: Yes. The most important thing is to try everything. V: And let us know how it goes. A: Sure. It would be very interesting to find out, if you tried it and how well or not so well it went. V: Thank you! This was Vidas. A: And Ausra. V: And remember, when you practice… A: Miracles happen! AVA149: Do You Have A Piece Of Similar Difficulty To Handel's Largo With Fingering And Pedaling?2/3/2018 Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
Ausra: And Ausra. Vidas: Let’s start Episode 149 of #AskVidasAndAusra podcast. And this question was sent by David. He writes: Hello Vidas, I am making progress slowly on Largo from Xerxes. I'm at the point that I would like to also start working on another piece as I finish up Largo. Do you have a piece of similar difficulty with modern fingering and pedaling that you could recommend for me? Also congratulations on 6 years of Secrets of Organ Playing! This is an excellent service and you and Ausra are going a great job! David So this is really nice, that people value our work, right Ausra? Ausra: Yes, it’s always nice to know that somebody appreciates your work. Vidas: So, talking about this question that David asks...he needs help in choosing a similar piece to Largo by Handel, right? Ausra: Yes. Vidas: Do you think that it should be a Baroque composition or a Romantic or modern piece, according to him? Ausra: It depends on what he likes. Probably, maybe, another Baroque piece. What do you think about it? Vidas: He did mention that he needs modern fingering and pedaling. But what he means by this, I don’t know. It wouldn’t hurt to play more Baroque pieces, right? Ausra: Sure. Vidas: Do you think we could recommend something created by Krebs, for example? Right, from his Clavierübung Chorale Preludes, like Allein Gott, or Jesu meine Freude? Ausra: Don’t you think this would be too hard, compared to Handel? Vidas: Jesu meine Freude? Is it too difficult, you think? Ausra: Well, yes, you have to have quite good manual technique. Vidas: What’s so problematic about Jesu meine Freude? Sixteenth note runs, or…? Ausra: Well, yes! Vidas: Anything else? Ausra: You would need to have much better technique already, compared to that aria of Handel. Don’t you think so? Don’t you agree? Vidas: And it doesn’t have pedals. So maybe he needs pedals, right? Do you think we could recommend a piece by Johann Sebastian Bach, like chorale preludes or something? Ausra: Well, of course. Vidas: What would you suggest? Ausra: Are you thinking about Chorale Preludes, or about free pieces? Vidas: Both. Let’s say both. And first of all, let’s say a free piece, like 3 or 4 pages long, maybe. Ausra: Well, this could be one of the Eight Little Preludes, like g minor, for example. Vidas: It would seem like it would be a good choice, g minor, because the prelude is rather slow, and the pedal work is not too complex, and the texture is very chordal; but then the problem is with the fugue, right? Ausra: Yes, the fugue is much harder than the prelude. Vidas: What is complicated about the fugue, Ausra? Ausra: Because you have to master all those notes that are equally important; and already the pedals are quite complicated. Vidas: Do you think that David could start on the pedal part right away, instead of playing from the beginning? Ausra: Of course. You always need to learn the harder spots first. Vidas: What else would you recommend that he could play, like maybe a Chorale Prelude, three or four parts…? Ausra: Maybe some Preludes from the Orgelbüchlein, or from the Notebook of Anna Magdalena Bach. Vidas: Mhmm. Ausra: Or… Vidas: Dances? Ausra: Yes. Vidas: Dances should definitely be doable. And from Orgelbüchlein, things like Ich ruf’ zu dir. Ausra: Yes, because it’s a slow tempo, yes. Vidas: Or even maybe O mensch bewein, but… Ausra: Well, that cantus firmus is so ornamented, it’s not that easy to play. I think Ich ruf’ zu dir is easier. You could even decipher the chords in this piece. Vidas: Easier. So maybe O Mensch bewein could be for later. Ausra: Sure. Vidas: But it’s very beautiful. Ausra: Yes, it’s very beautiful. Vidas: One of the most beautiful pieces from the Baroque period. Ausra: I agree. Vidas: Excellent. Could we recommend something for David and people like David in that level--maybe from the Romantic period? Ausra: Of course, there’s a lot of music you can play from the Romantic period. Vidas: Maybe...Let’s say, some French music--like, Vierne wrote this beautiful Berceuse, remember? Ausra: Yes, it’s very nice, and not that hard. Vidas: It could be played with pedals or without pedals. Ausra: Both ways, I believe. Vidas: Both ways. And it’s worth trying. Ausra: Yes, and there’s also that, you know, collection of so-called L’Organiste by Cesar Franck, which is also doable and not that hard. Vidas: Mhm. Ausra: And you can also play it without pedals, because it’s intended to play on the… Vidas: Harmonium? Ausra: Harmonium, yes. Vidas: Good. I think people could find a lot of suitable material in this collection, too. And remember, you have to use modern fingering and pedaling, right? We haven’t, I think, prepared any scores by Franck yet. But we did write down fingering and pedaling for Berceuse by Vierne, Allegretto by Vierne, but it’s a little more complex. But not too much. And then, I think, Meditation by Vierne is also a similar slow motion, meditative piece. That could be possible. What else? Or is it enough for starters? Ausra: I think it should be enough for starters. Vidas: Mhm. It’s best, guys, to try just a few pieces, and master them to the best of your ability--to spend some time, right? Right, Ausra? Ausra: That’s true. Don’t practice too many pieces at once, because then your progress will be very slow. Vidas: Unless you want to sightread things, like… Ausra: Sure. Vidas: Do you recommend sightreading, Ausra? Regularly? Ausra: Yes, it’s always beneficial to sightread things. Vidas: How much time should you spend, or could you spend, every day? Ausra: Well, I would say at least 10 minutes. Vidas: So, do you think that in 10 minutes usually in a slow tempo, people could play through maybe a couple of pages, right? Ausra: Well, it depends on how long your pages are. Vidas: Mhmm. Ausra: And how advanced you are. Vidas: Maybe some people could play 5 pages in that tempo, right? Ausra: Yes, yes. Vidas: So, a piece or two, right? Generally not too long. So, choose your favorite collection that you love, and of course you will be on your way to mastering sightreading as well! It’s very beneficial in the long run. Anything else, Ausra, you could recommend? Ausra: Well, just keep practicing every day. Vidas: Yes. Try not to skip a practice. On your calendar, you could mark X, X, X, on each day; that will be a wonderful feeling after one month or two months or three months. Thanks, guys, for listening, and applying our advice in your practice. This is really fascinating for us, to help you grow. And send us more of your questions, right Ausra? Ausra: Yes, we are waiting. Vidas: And remember, when you practice… Ausra: Miracles happen. VIDAS: Hi, guys. This is Vidas.
AUSRA: And Ausra. Lets continue our discussion from yesterday about articulation in baroque music. Listen to the audio version here. A: You just not play like non legato, but you know you think about the meter, you think about strong and weak beats. V: But that is another level of sophistication, right? A: Certainly. V: Not every note is full of value then and in duration but before the strong beat you are to play it more. A: Yes, that is true. V: Or before the relatively strong beat such as the third beat in the 4/4 meter. You also articulate a little bit more than before the second or the fourth beat. A: Yes, that is correct. And you know I believe it’s hard for people who were studying in their youth to play Bach legato and now they have to relearn it. And George Ritchie and Quentin Faukner, our professors we were both taught to play legato Bach when we were young. And we had to actually to adjust and to relearn it and they just succeeded in doing that so well. V: So what does it tell you, Ausra, what qualities should you retain even if you age. A: Well I think you still have to retain a high quality V: I mean, quality in your character; if you all the time, all your life have learned a certain way, right, and then styles change with times, and you still continue to play in a certain way you are sort of left behind, right? So what I mean you should stay curious about new developments in your research. A: Yes, certainly. Don’t trust that old saying that an old dog cannot learn new tricks. That is probably not true. I am talking about us, in general, you know people, human beings. V: Yeah, we can learn new tricks all the time. A: Yes, and if you don’t trust us, play or listen to different recordings when Bach is played legato, and when it is played non-legato. YouTube is full of excellent recordings. V: And listen to baroque violins... A: Sure! V: Bowing, down, up, down, up. At the instant that the player changes the direction of the bow, there is a very short, almost imperceptible silence, but that is articulation. A: Yes, that is true, yes. V: So it should be a singing manner, cantabile manner of singing, such as Bach described in the title page of his 2-part inventions. Don’t play in a choppy manner, but try to physically sing the parts. That is a good practice too. A: Yes, I think it takes years and years to master all the baroque articulation. It’s a separate world within the organ world. V: And if you want to master it easier, then simply apply early fingerings, right? A: Sure. That helps too. V: We try to help you by providing you with early music scores like that, so that you have instant fingering and further linking your organ pieces. You can start practicing right away almost without thinking. It’s given, it’s almost automatic because it works in a way that the fingering will produce perfect articulation. A: Yes, it helps. It means that if you choose your pedaling and fingering correctly then you don’t have to worry so much about articulation because it is automatically done. V: Wonderful. And of course if you compare organ with wind instruments, there is another similarity, right? Like tonguing. Each not is also articulated, unless they are playing legato. A: Yes, that is correct. V: Like tah tah tah tah tah. Each note is articulated in, let’s say, oboe or flute, and trupet players do the same in their way. So it was a widespread practice, across the board, in all musical instruments, in the music composed, I would say, up until the 19th century. A: Yes. V: Or even sometimes into the 19th century, right? A: That is true. V: Remember the famous saying of Franz Liszt, which he spoke while he was traveling through the villages of Germany, and that he was amazed that some people in those villages were still playing with an articulated manner in the middle of the 19th century – which means really that this articulated legato did not go out of fashion overnight on January 1, 1800. Someone decided ‘no, no, no, you should be playing legato and suddenly they began playing legato. But it was a very gradual process partly dictated by the composers together with the instrument builders, because the style of instruments changed, and the style of music changed as well as the fact that the style of composing also had changed. It was similar to opera and piano music, really, and symphonic music. That is how legato touch came into fashion. A: I know, and this is a reminder that we must choose our music appropriately to fit our instrument. If you are working on a baroque instrument don’t choose music by Reubke. If you are playing on a Walcker organ or a Cavaille-Coll organ then don’t play Estampie Retrove from the Robertsbridge Codex from the 14th century. V: I remember my first mistake in articulation when I was in the 10th grade. I was just starting to play the organ, and my first organ teacher had me choose one of the chorale preludes from Bach’s Orgelbuchlein. And she reminded me that you should use articulation between the voices. But at the age of 16 what did I understand about articulation? So for ten years before that I was taught to play everything legato. I could not simply change my playing style overnight. So over the course of two weeks I learned some episodes of that chorale prelude – I believe it was Jesu Meine Freude – and it was all legato. My first teacher was infuriated over that and said ‘you should not have even played this piece at all over those two weeks. Now you have to relearn it and it will take you months to change your playing style.’ So guys remember to think about the correct articulation from the start. It pays off in the future. And remember: when you practice... A: ...miracles happen. Vidas: Hi guys, this is Vidas.
Ausra: And Ausra. V: Let’s start episode 147 of #AskVidasAndAusra podcast. Today’s question was sent by William. He writes: “Thank for all the help you have helped so many organists. My question is about articulation of Bach. When I went to school I was taught to play everything legato. I am now reworking the first organ works I studied e.g. 8 Little Preludes and Fugues by Bach. Are all notes legato. I have found I can make them much more exciting. But what about Orgelbuchlein? Are the themes played strictly legato or articulated. I play in Cathedral with 6 seconds of reverb. Same with choral preludes of Buxthehude. Are they ever played legato? E.g. Our Father In Heaven (Vater unser im Himmelreich). Third movement in d minor. Melody is beautiful. But is it played legato?” V: So this is very important question for organists, right? A: Yes, a very important question, and to make the long story short, it was a period, quite a long period when all Bach music was played legato, but then there was a movement I believe, one of the starters was Ludger Lohmann who defended his dissertation about Bach articulation. And basically we need to thank people like Ludger Lohmann and Harald Vogel who recreated the original performance practice of Baroque music, and all the music by J.S. Bach, Dieterich Buxtehude must be played in articulate style. So basically almost non-legato must be used in Bach or Buxtehude or these contemporaries music. Because that’s what historical instruments tell us. V: That’s right, Ausra. And sometimes there is some confusion even in historical sources. Like this title page of Bach’s two-part inventions and three-part sinfonias. He writes that they should be played in cantabile style. So in the middle of 20th century when people were issuing modern editions of these beautiful little gems, they thought they should be performed legato, cantabile style, singing style. But taking into account how other instruments were articulated at the same time in the baroque period, like violin or wind instruments, they all articulated with small spaces within in each note, unless composers indicated otherwise with slurs. So, doesn’t it, Ausra, seem to you that articulation in keyboard instruments is similar to those melodic instruments? A: Sure. It must be the same. V: Mmm, hmm. A: Because that’s the style it requires. And I also remember when I was a student at the academy of music, I had to go to Siauliai, the city in northwestern part of Lithuania, where they have each year sort of big sacred music festival. And that year I had to go and to be assistant to one professor who came from Germany, with another man, professor Conrad Voppel and he was complaining to me now that all German now days are full of young organists and his meaning that those young organists at that time were almost like 40, 50 years old. You know Ludger Lohmann mong them, I believe. And he was telling me, they play Bach, and articulate his music, and they call it Bach style, and he was just outraged. V: Mmm, hmm. A: Well, and I understand him because he was actually a student of legendary organist Karl Straube. V: Oh, yeah. A: Yes, and at that time, Straube in Germany and Dupre in France, were really the most famous organists I believe in the world at that time. And Straube told him to play Bach legato. And there were only some particular place where you articulate like maybe at the end of phrase or at the end of a period, that’s it. But it was a romantic tradition to play Bach like this. But, you know, if you don’t believe us, that Bach needs to be played articulated, come to Europe or then go to America to places that have historical Baroque instruments and try to play legato on those instruments and you will see that it’s basically impossible. V: Impossible, what, to play legato? A: To play legato, yes. V: Why? A: That’s the nature of those instruments. V: What makes it so difficult to play legato, let’s say with pedals? A: Pedals are almost impossible to play legato. That’s true because the keys are much, much, much shorter compared to romantic or modern instruments. And you probably would break your leg if you tried to play legato. It’s just physically impossible. V: Personally I’ve played a number of these historical organs, where your foot doesn’t fit on the pedal bar. Your heel cannot play the pedals at all. A: Sure, yes. V: You have to play with toes, A: Yes. V: Right? A: Yes. V: A number of them. A: Yes, and how would you play legato on the pedal bar unless you play Bach and play legato only with your toes, that’s impossible. V: Unless you slide them in glissando fashion, but it’s also not the case historically. Remember, that many organists back in the day practiced on clavichords. And with clavichords, you have to have a decent touch and it only sounds well when you play with toes. A: Yes V: Not with heels. Although, I heard some modern organists try to master a sonata by Julius Reubke, romantic piece, famous master work in legato fashion on the clavichord. It’s just for fun, of course. So it’s possible but in a concert situation doesn’t sound well. A: So, yes, I think that appropriate music must be played in appropriate style. So in Baroque music, use almost no legato, and in romantic music, we play almost everything legato. V: Except, there are exceptions. A: Right, there are exceptions. V: Like repeated notes, like other instances where the composer has indicated ending of the slurs, ending of the phrases you have to breathe, and the breathing and the articulation then is very precise and you have to shorten it by a certain rhythmic value. A: Yes, and for example in Baroque music, you can play legato some of, for example, so called famous style motif, where you play legato two notes, V: Mmm, hmm. A: And play sort of prolonged first note: té-dem, té-dem, té-dem. V: But you know Ausra, it all is relative, depending on the acoustics, right? Sometimes, like William says, he has six seconds of reverberation. A: So the larger acoustic you have, the more articulation you need. V: Even if you want to achieve legato, then you have to perceive that your listeners should hear legato, not you, right? Like downstairs in the pews, it should sound those few notes legato, then you probably still need to articulate upstairs in the balcony. A: Sure, yes. And another thing I wanted to tell you about Baroque music when you have to play at least some legato. When you are playing chromatic pieces, sometimes you have to play legato. And the so called Toccata per Elevazione, Italian style. V: Dissonances and suspensions, right? A: Yes, so in those places you also have to play some legato. V: Or in Baroque compositions which remind you of those styles, sometimes episodes with dissonances, dissonant chords and suspensions, they need to be played legato then. A: Yes. V: And remember, when you practice… A: Miracles happen! VIDAS: Hi, guys. This is Vidas.
AUSRA: And Ausra. V: Lets start with Episode 146 of #Ask Vidas and Ausra Podcast. This question was sent by Paul, and he writes: I've been giving your question about practice much thought. I've been playing the prelude and postlude at my church now for several months and find I'm still getting nervous. I usually choose a hymn for the prelude and probably practice them 50+ times before I actually play because if my nerves get in my way, or I start to lose my place in the music, my hands will keep playing until I find myself. My schedule of playing was every other week, but I've asked to play two weeks in a row with one week off thinking that more time behind the console will be beneficial. A couple months ago I took a European vacation and was not in church for 3 weeks and dearly missed my practice. When I returned to play, I felt I took a step backwards because my hands were shaking as I played. Too much time away from the organ! You have taught me that slow practice is the key, but it's so hard to do sometimes because the inner battle says, "The faster you play, the more times you can practice this piece and you will learn if quicker". But it's just not true. You really do need to practice slowly to get the brain engaged to learn. I've been stuck on the Gigout Toccata for a few months. I can't quite get the whole piece to 1/2 speed (of 110 BBM) in practice. The slow practice in the beginning showed me I am able to play the first two pages at full tempo, and it happened quite naturally to my surprise. I've broken the piece in 4-measure increments and work on it almost every day. It's one of those pieces that will make me feel like a "real organist" when I finally play it in public. But then I'm sure another piece will come up on my radar. You and your wife's advice has been valuable and I'm so thankful I found you two. Thank you for what you do. Blessings, Paul V: Ausra, aren’t we grateful that people are finding that their use of our resources are actually growing in their practice? A: Yes! It is very nice to know that our advice helps someone to improve, and to know that we are able to help. V: Of course this process and progress is not an overnight success. A: I know. You must work on it. V: How long, Ausra, did it take you to become an overnight success? A: Overnight success? What do you mean by ‘overnight success’? V: This is the term. It takes about 7 years to be an overnight success. A: Well it took me more than 7 years to be a success. You know I have played piano since I was 5 years old. Now I’m 41 so count for yourself. And I still don’t feel that I am an overnight success. V: This term probably comes from the book publishing. Sometimes by surprise the stellar comes upright and the media picks up and celebrates the author: ‘Oh, it’s a surprise overnight success. We didn’t know about this author until yesterday. And now he is a millionaire, or she is a millionaire. And the order comes and tens of thousands of copies of the book are sold. Bestseller, right? But this is simply not true. That author probably banged on the keyboard for many years before anybody even noticed him. Right? A: Yes. V: Ten, sometimes even twenty years pass before someone published that book, and they never stopped, they never gave up. Ausra, do you have, sometimes, a wish to give up and stop practicing? A: Well, certainly, of course. V: Why? A: No, No! Sometimes even I get depressed like anybody else, but you know – life. V: What are you frustrated about in those moments? A: There are many things, sometimes, you know. Sometimes I just feel tired, you know, and have health issues, and sometimes I don’t have anything else, and I won’t give up practicing. Sometimes I think I am not living my life because I am spending too much time on the organ. Different thoughts, different reasons, as everyone does as well. V: Isn’t organ playing, for you, sometimes an escape from the troubles of the day? A: Yes, but not always. V: When the reality hits that you do have deadline to meet and you have to prepare a recital, it is not a hobby any longer, right? You ae a professional. A: I know. V: So I guess it is good for you to set a professional attitude for yourself. Then you feel all the motivation in the world to practice. You would feel responsible, and just like Paul writes, you could probably practice those hymns and preludes 50 plus times and it’s is not enough, probably. A: I know, and to know that when he writes ‘the faster you play, the more times you can play them’, that is an incorrect way actually. It is better to play them fewer times and to play them slowly and correctly. V: I have to be very honest here and to tell everybody that I have the same feeling that Paul does, all the time. I want to play everything at the speed of - light or sound - or perhaps at concert tempo, because it sounds better to me when I play it faster. The music is so natural when I play it faster. But, at the same time, in my mind I know that this is not the best way to practice because the slower you practice the more you notice the details, and the more you control the details, right Ausra? A: Right. And though I hear musicians practicing like this, they play fast and the music stops, and then they slow down their tempo, and it gets harder. And I know that quite famous musicians do that. But I don’t think that is such a good method. Because, after all, it might be difficult to keep a steady tempo during your final performance. V: I can remember now that in our student days in the practice rooms at the Academy, I heard people in the practice rooms banging the piano keyboard for hours. The same passage over and over again... A: ...and not making progress! V: And extremely fast. A: It is the complete opposite of what they should do-it is like banging their head against the wall. A: I know! I think the best way would be that it does not matter how many times you repeat a piece, or a certain hymn, or a certain passage for the piece. You must, each time, have some goal. It cannot be just repeating for repeating, repetition for repetition. That is not a good thing. I think you know the worst choir conductor is the one who makes his choir sing the same piece over and over again without setting goals. Then after a while, you are thinking, I have to do it again from the beginning, I must repeat it. But know that each time you must set some productive goal – it might be a little goal and on what you will focus when repeating this piece. This will make real progress fast. And give a purpose to your playing. V: It is called intentional practice. A: I know. V: It takes 10 years to do that. A: If you practice with an absent mind, it will be no work. V: Autopilot. A: Yes, because your fingers and feet must still be controlled by your brain. V: So guys, remember that it takes 10 thousand hours to of intentional practice to perfect any kind of skill. Take drawing, take painting, take writing – you know, a skilled writer, you have to write for 10 thousand hours. So if you can write 3 pages per hour – that’s reasonable, right? -- that is 30,000 pages of material you must write. So Paul, I think doesn’t need to despair with a lot of repetitions. You just have to be patient and enjoy the process, and not worry so much about the result. A: And I am so glad to know about his Gigout Toccata, that he feels like a real organist while playing it. And I think, you know, with the next piece it might get a little bit easier, unless that new piece is really much harder than this Toccata. But if he should pick up this piece that is similar and not a lot harder than the Toccata. Don’t you think so? V: Absolutely agree. And I think of micromanaging your progress every day or every hour and checking to see if you are better hour by hour. It is a little bit pointless, don’t you think, Ausra, because it is like planting a tree and then digging up your seedling every day to see if it has grown overnight. A: I know. It’s what Karlsson who lived on the roof did. He planted the peach and every day he would dig it up to see if it had grown and it had not because it did not have the opportunity. V: What you need to do guys is to forget about your progress for at least 6 months, and come back to the old piece that you have not been able to master 6 months ago, and then play it again and you can measure your true progress. A: I know. It is just like teaching my students harmony. At the 10th grade we started it, and at the 12th grade they finish it. They say in 10th grade it’s so hard. And you know if you would look at the 11th graders or 12th graders and to ask them about the harmony that we had in the 10th grade we just make some laugh: ‘oh, it was so easy’. Wait until you get to the 10th grade, then it will really be hard.’ That’s the same with organ practice. V: Even teenagers can understand it. So adults, especially motivated adults, have the mental capacity to understand the value of intentional practice, but without any rush, right? You have all the time in the world that you need. Some of us will live longer lives, some of us will live shorter. It doesn’t matter actually. What matters is that we sit down on the organ bench every single day. Just maybe for 15 minutes, or maybe a little more. A: But you know if you take a European vacation as Paul did, don’t feel guilty that you did not practice for that time. We need to have vacations, too. V: Yes, and when you come back from the vacation you can pick up from the start maybe from easier spot of course. Stop blaming yourself because you only live once. A: That’s true. V: Thank you guys. This is Vidas A: And Ausra. V: And remember: When you practice... A: Miracles happen! AVA145: I Have Been Informed That If I Do A High Volume Voluntary It May Disturb People Talking1/27/2018 Vidas: Let’s start episode 145 of #AskVidasAndAusra Podcast. Listen to the audio version here. How are you Ausra today?
Ausra: I’m fine. V: And what are you planning to do in your organ playing today? A: Heh, heh, well, I have a lot of work of snow for a while at the beginning, and then just to go to practice. V: Me too. A: Because we have such a heavy snow, in Lithuania right now. V: Yeah, I hope in other parts of the world it is a little better. A: Well, not necessarily. I heard in the United States we have an extremely cold winter this year. And in Australia where is extremely hot. V: Hmm. A: I guess we are lucky. V: Yes. So today’s question was sent by Michael and he writes: “Good morning Vidas. Thank you for your email and Organ tips. I do not know if it too late to reply to your email. To answer your two questions I will first of all explain my situation. I am Organist at St Lawrence’s Feltham Roman Catholic Church and I play at 3 Masses at the Weekend for which I receive a small stipend. I also play for Weddings and Funerals and Kingston and Hanworth Crematoriums to make ends meet. I am also playing for a Funeral Director’s Carol Service this year. My dream is to get better and better and maybe perform at a Recital. I am a keen pianist and I believe I have nearly mastered Chopin’s Etude No. 1 Op. 10, but also like J.S. Bach of course and other composers. Unfortunately what holds me back from my dream is that I can only manage to practise on the Organ for about an hour a week in Church, and not loud pieces because the Presbytery is joined to the Church and people are working there. So I content myself trying to master the Trio sonatas and gentle pieces. I do try and practise sometimes The Finale from Vierne’s Symphony No. 1 at reduced volume and adapt other pieces that way for a closing voluntary as I have been informed that if I do a high volume voluntary it may disturb people talking. I have access to a Piano that my Mother and I bought. Also I have a bipolar disorder but this is controlled very well by medication, but I need to concentrate especially well when playing for services otherwise I could make a mistake, and I try and control my nerves. Thank you again for your emails and tips. All the best and God bless! Michael.” V: First of all, Ausra, isn’t it annoying when people tell you that you playing too loud, you’re playing too soft, too fast, too slow? A: Yes, but that’s what organists expect, in the this life now. I remember once I went to church to practice and you know, and the lady who got to the church, she just talked ‘oh, could you just come back tomorrow, I have such a headache’. Of course, I didn’t practice that day, but it was annoying for me because it took me almost an hour to get to the church. So that’s perfectly normal and I can understand very well this problem. V: Exactly. So, for me too, sometimes I go to church and there would be like groups of tourists coming in and the guide would talk quite loudly for this group and whenever I play the organ in the church I might disturb the guide there basically talking, so some of them like organ music, but some don’t so I had to occurrences when from downstairs the guides would even shout for an organist to stop playing at all. It’s really annoying. A: It’s annoying yes. Plus in our church, you never know when the funeral will be and it might, you know, spoil all our plans of practicing and it’s especially annoying if your recital is coming up and you really need to practice in the church. V: But we both know a regular organ is there and we can still adapt right? What if a guest organist comes from out of town even, from abroad? A: I know it’s very hard for him or her not to explain the situation. Yeah know, it makes you really feel guilty and very uncomfortable. Although you know you are not the reason why he or she cannot practice. V: So, for Michael, he is right I think, in playing sometimes with soft volume, don’t you think? A: Sure, it’s better to be in a good relationship with people in your church. But you know, as he told us that he doesn’t have enough time to practice on the organ, maybe he could find also another church which would allow him to practice and he could do it more often. V: Mmm, hmm. A: In exchange, let’s see, some service, some playing. V: Yeah, that would be quite possible, I think. You know lot places, there is a need or shortage of organists, so without even over extending yourself, you just offer occasional service, or if you don’t want to play in public you can make a small donation. A: I know. And Michael, wrote in his letter that he plays for a Roman Catholic Church. Maybe he doesn’t feel comfortable going to another new church denominational to ask if they would let him to practice. But I think he should be perfect lucky. V: Mmmh, hmm. A: Because, you know, for us organists, it’s just impossible to be connected to only one church. V: Exactly. A: So I think it’s perfectly fine to play in another church. At least in my opinion. V: And protestant denominations are more open actually A: Sure. V: For organist and musicians from all faiths. A: Because, you know, I miss that time that religion gives in the United States because there are so many open places just to go and to practice for us just being an organ student. Like in Michigan, in Ann Arbor, and Lincoln Nebraska you could go basically to almost any church to practice. And Methodist church were especially open for organists. V: Exactly. They have no problem with your faith. They don’t actually ask what your belief system is. A: Yes. V: At all. Unlike some of the Roman Catholic Churches. A: I know. V: Mmm, hmm. A: So, that might give him more opportunities, more time to practice on the organ. V: Excellent. A: But you know what I notice from his letter is that he is practicing trio sonatas and he can play them well. That is an excellent thing because I believe only experienced organists can master trio sonatas. So basically if you can play trio sonatas you probably can play almost anything. V: And he is playing Finale from Symphony #1 by Vierne. Yeah, so his level should be quite advanced, I would say. It’s very nice to be able to play those pieces. But should he stop here, and think that his skill is literally complete, perfected and set for life, or should he still try to improve? A: I think he, you know, each of us still has to improve something. None of us is perfect. V: And never will be. A: That’s for sure. V: Excellent. A: And you know he was talking about making mistakes sometimes, hard for him to focus during his performance. I think it’s not related actually to his illness, as he told us. But that each of us actually, has the same problem. I haven’t heard a person who would say ‘oh, it’s so easy for me to stay concentrated. I never make mistakes. Usually it’s otherwise. What do you think about that, Vidas? V: In this day and age, and in our society, there are more and more people who are in need of focusing because there are constant distractions everywhere, and it’s even harder to focus because we are bombarded by constant change of information, and it’s quite frustrating if you are playing the organ but your mind is all over the place, right? A: I know, but sometimes it’s hard to really concentrate, especially if you get some constant distractions. For example, during service, like, a baby starts to cry, or somebody starts to talk to loud during your prelude or postludes. V: Or a member from your choir comes up and starts to look at you or your music. A: Yes, that’s the thing, especially when you travel through Lithuania, you know, in order to perform, you have performance right after the mass, and the choir member of that local church who will sit in balcony, and will look at you like you would be, I don’t know, a monkey in a zoo or something like this. So sometimes people act really weird, don’t you think? V: Maybe they haven’t, you know, had an opportunity to look at such a high level organist from up close. A: But still we would need to think how you feel at that moment. You are a guest and you are performing and know. V: They think like it’s in a circus, right, you are a like a clown, not like a clown maybe, but like an athlete, like a circus athlete, or a circus artist and you are performing miracles in front of them, right, so they are in awe, basically. A: I know, but it’s still not good to look at you closely when you are playing or not to come and start turning pages of your score. Just to look around. I had an experience like that once. Or not to talk loudly among themselves, next to the organ bench. So that might be quite distracting. V: Could be. Could be. So, I hope this has been useful, this information, for our students, right? A: Yes. V: And now we’re going to go and practice some more, right? A: Sure. V: And take care of the snow, once it stops snowing. Of course it doesn’t make sense to shovel the snow while it’s snowing. A: I know, we cannot use our car. It will not move in the snow. V: And I will go to prepare the program notes for tonight's concert at our church, our guest organist is playing. And then later I’ll go to the concert itself. A: Excellent. V: Wonderful. Thank you guys, for sending these wonderful questions. Ausra and I are loving the process of helping you grow. And please send us more. We’re always here to help you out. V: And remember, when you practice, A: Miracles happen. |
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Drs. Vidas Pinkevicius and Ausra Motuzaite-Pinkeviciene Organists of Vilnius University , creators of Secrets of Organ Playing. Our Hauptwerk Setup:
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