Practice techniques, for organists at all levels, are explored in this week’s Learning during Lockdown, including exercises at the piano for those unable to access an organ. We also look at the nature of virtuoso playing, from practical exercises to inspirational recordings and films.

This week’s Learning during Lockdown focusses on improvisation, a skill all organists are encouraged to acquire, and which is expected, at some level, in most organ examinations.   Here on iRCO you can find films demonstrating improvisation skills for organists at every stage, from total beginner to FRCO. 

Maintaining a livelihood during the Covid-19 pandemic is a serious matter, particularly for freelance musicians, and many are looking at the possibilities of going online, either to maintain an existing teaching portfolio, or to start teaching for the first time.  iRCO has resources for all organ teachers, and advice from a teacher experienced in teaching the organ online.

RCO-accredited teacher Robin Harrison writes from his own experience of teaching the organ online, discussing safe-guarding and professionalism, and the pros and cons of different forms of technology.

A picture gallery of the RCO Conferment ceremony from Southwark Cathedral, in March 2020.

The increasing severity of the Covid-19 lockdown means that organists are not just faced with a sudden loss of work, but also restricted or no access to their instrument.  To fill this enforced downtime, the RCO is making their online virtual campus iRCO available to all organists, so that learning, at least, can continue. Here on StopPress we are collating this material into themed packages to help improve different aspects of your playing.

A playlist of much of the music in the new syllabus for the FRCO examination.

The repertoire for the new ARCO examination syllabus, in a Spotify playlist.

Listen to the new syllabus, from July 2020, of playing repertoire for the CRCO examination.