Films 9 and 10 in the Teach the Organ series curated by Anne Marsden Thomas, on teaching the specific skills required by the church organist.

The Teach the Organ series of films continues with a discussion of how to structure an organ lesson, and how to choose suitable repertoire for elementary students.

Andrew Cantrill-Fenwick introduces the keyboard skills which are elements of the RCO’s practical examinations – transposition, sight reading, score reading, harmonisation, and figured bass.

The second of two films on harmony for beginners is particularly suitable for anyone preparing for the ARCO Diploma examination, where harmonising a melody is part of the keyboard skills tests.

This is the first of a series of two films on harmony, presented by Andrew Cantrill-Fenwick.  The films are aimed at complete beginners as well as those with some knowledge, and also will help those preparing for the ARCO exam.  This first film begins with introducing terminology, and looks at the seven chords of the major scale, cadences, and popular sequences of chords. 

Oundle for Organists, in partnership with the RCO, have published a new series of eight films as a guide for potential organ scholars. Presented by Oundle’s Director, Ann Elise Smoot, they explain how to prepare for organ scholar trials, with practical advice on skills such as improvisation, registration, and score reading from inspiring tutors. All organists wanting to improve their skills will find the films, and the accompanying reading list, helpful.

For teachers of all keyboard instruments, it can be an uphill task to find teaching material for keyboard skills – realising figured bass, score reading, transposing, harmonising and improvisation. Two books of graded exercises have just been published by RCO tutors Anne Marsden Thomas and Frederick Stocken to help students of every standard improve their keyboard skills.

This video, presented by Andrew Cantrill with contributions from Nigel Allcoat, David Briggs, Ronny Krippner & Martin Baker, has been prepared to help organists of every age and stage to get started with improvisation.

In this second video on hymn playing, Daniel Moult considers advanced techniques such as ways to decorate a hymn, reharmonisations and hymn extensions.