RCO Accredited Teacher, Anne Marsden Thomas, has curated a major new series of films for everyone involved in organ teaching. A summary of the series with links to all the films can be found here.

The series of films in the Teach the Organ series continues, discussing how to develop practice techniques for students, and the importance of accurate learning.

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.

As Covid-19 shuts down concert halls, schools and churches, RCO colleagues suggest ways in which the spare time created in musicians’ lives can be used constructively, with suggestions for practice timetables, repertoire, and building new skills for the future.

Even in a big city like London, it can be difficult to find organ practice facilities. The United Grand Lodge of England have recently restored and enlarged the 1933 Henry Willis organ in the Grand Temple at Freemasons’ Hall, and also installed a new three-manual and pedal Viscount Classic digital organ one of their meeting rooms there. They are generously offering practice time on these organs free of charge to RCO Members.

In this short video Judith Kleinman outlines the principles of Alexander Technique for musicians, and in particular organists.

Mental Skills Training (MST) is now taught as a matter of routine in conservatoires and music colleges, but it can help musicians at all levels increase learning speed, combat performance anxiety, and realise their full potential. Daniel Moult introduces visualisation which as part of practice technique.

Anne Page demonstrates methods that pianists use to learn fast passages of music with accuracy, which could be a helpful addition to your own practice techniques.

Andrew Forbes discusses the nature of virtuosity, and how to overcome the frustrations of mastering a piece which is on the edge of your own current capabilities.