Organ Lessons at Euphonic Studio

Learn to play The King of Instruments

•  Lessons on spinet or console organ
•  Music theory integrated to match your lessons and interest level
•  Lessons may be available in your home for an additional fee (Mount Vernon, IA area)

Organs were granted this "royalty" title back in an age where all instruments were mechanical devices.  Pipe organs were able to create sounds resembling many other instruments by variations in pipe design that made them imitate the tone of the instrument.

Organ purists cringe at the sound of electronic organs; many of them don't even consider them to be "real" instruments.  But I look at it this way... how many of us have the money or space to own and maintain a pipe organ?  And should you have to put yourself through years of practice and really hard work in order to share the joy of playing music?  I don't think so.  Pictured above left:  my Kimball Apollo spinet, state-of-the-art from Kimball in 1968.

Home organs became extremely popular in the 50s because people love the sound of organs and electronics made it possible to have another keyboard instrument in the house besides that clunky, out-of-tune, upright piano from the 20s or even earlier.  Plus, savvy organ companies realized the esthetic furniture value and started building instruments that matched contemporary furniture designs. 

In the early 70s, organs with "easy-play" features became possible through advances in electronics.  Some of these were quite basic, such as Thomas Organ's "Color-Glo" system that lights up the notes to play under the keys.  Other companies integrated drum, bass, and left hand chords into automated accompianment.  Again, the purists cringed.  Pictured at right:  my 1961 Hammond A-100 console, still considered to be the gold standard for pop and jazz organ music. 

What I will teach

•  How to use the different sounds on the organ 
•  How to read organ music and other basic music theory
•  Fundamental pedal and left hand techniques for accompianment
•  How to play along with the organ's drum computer
•  How to use your specific organ's easy-play features (this will require an on-site lesson, which may be available if you are in the Mount Vernon, IA area).
•  I will suggest course material or teach you to play from your own books.  I play a huge repertoire of pop, standards, old time, light jazz, and Christmas music.

What I will not teach

I do not consider myself qualified to teach classical or liturgical organ although I am classically trained on other instruments.  The reason is that there are special techniques you must learn to play classical repertoire; although I know something about it through a few lessons I have taken, you will be better off finding a specialist if this is what you want to learn.

HOWEVER ... I have thousands of hours playing, teaching, and demonstrating home organs and will be an excellent resource for you if you want to enjoy your home organ and develop a solid understanding and appreciation of music. 

AND... you'll have fun!

Euphonic Studio Organ Lessons

Mount Vernon, Iowa

For information about music lessons and digital recording at Euphonic Studio, call Bill at 319.895.8002 or 319.329.4527