Learning during lockdown : 8 performance and competition
May 14, 2020
It may seem slightly perverse to be looking performance skills in Learning during Lockdown, when the coronavirus pandemic currently preventing most musicians from performing at all. But lockdown is possibly an opportunity to step back and reflect on how we felt about our own performances in the past, and how they could improve. iRCO has resources on performance techniques, and we look at competitions for organists that are still taking place in the next year.
Read MoreLearning during lockdown : 7 starting, and diversifying, your career
May 7, 2020
Regular lessons may have fallen into abeyance during lockdown, and keeping up impetus and engagement in solitude can be difficult even for the best of us, without some sort of structure. This week's Learning during Lockdown looks at ways in which beginner and developing organists can gain inspiration and keep engaged through the structure of the RCO's early qualifications, up to CRCO. Established organists might like to use the enforced thinking time of lockdown to imagine how they could diversify their careers, and we have some suggestions.
Read MoreLearning during lockdown : 6 celebrating Vierne
April 30, 2020
This October marks the 150th anniversary of Louis Vierne's birth, and here on iRCO we celebrate the anniversary with a new film presented by Andrew Cantrill-Fenwick discussing Vierne's life and legacy, and point to other resources on the composer.
Read MoreLearning during lockdown : 5 increase your repertoire
April 23, 2020
This week's Learning During Lockdown is a helping hand towards discovering new repertoire, whether you have access to a practice instrument, or are simply looking for inspiration for the future. On iRCO we have films from specialists in many specific areas of organ repertoire, explaining the elements of style, fingering and pedalling for the different periods. We also have suggestions for music transcribed for organ, with examples and sources.
Read MoreLearning during lockdown : 4 practice techniques
April 16, 2020
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.
Read MoreLearning during lockdown: 3 working on improvisation
April 8, 2020
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.
Read MoreLearning during lockdown: 2 teaching online
April 2, 2020
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.
Read MoreConferment 2020 in Southwark Cathedral – in pictures
March 31, 2020
The annual occasion of conferring awards and diplomas gained in the previous College Year is a splendid opportunity for all RCO Members to gather - view a picture gallery of Conferment 2020 in Southwark Cathedral this March.
Read MoreLearning during lockdown: 1 exploring playing styles
March 26, 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.
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