Tim here. A listener sent me an email that went something like this: "I am so impressed with your piano/organ skills. We ended up sitting in the choir loft at church on Christmas Eve and I was shocked to see you behind the organ. I knew that you play accordion from conversations you've had on the air, but I didn't realize you play organ for churches too. You are a man of many talents!"
Well, you're very kind. I started to respond to her and realized it was turning into somewhat of a blog about a dying art, kids being busy, etc.
Oh wow, thanks! Well, I started playing piano in 1st grade and started taking organ lessons in about 6th grade. I was the regular full-time organist for a church back in Mitchell, SD by 9th grade. I also did music camps on organ at Augustana College (a long time ago!). Oh yeah, I was a Piano Performance/Education major at Concordia College before I left that to do radio (that's a whole other blog!). To me, a big ol' pipe organ like that is such a cool thing to play! Multiple manuals (keyboards), buttons, knobs, levers, right up my alley! The sad thing is, it seems to be a dying art. To think that I am a "young" organist (and if you listen to the show, you probably know how OLD I am)! I am giving lessons to one junior girl, but it's almost too late for the church to utilize her in actual services. Then I always hear, "Well, young kids are pulled in so many directions these days." I don't really think it's any different than when I was in junior high. Besides piano and organ lessons, I was in band, jazz band, choir, swing choir, plays and musicals, had a paper route, and ran in track. Of course, I didn't also have to find time to play video games, chat on my phone, and keep up with the latest Facebook posts of friends. Plus, we only had 5-6 channels on our TV!
Yeah, there's probably an image of what the Lutheran church oraganist is like. But I don't exactly fit that mold...ask my wife! I think the pipe organ is an awesome, technical, living, breathing beast that's a blast to play! If you have a talented, young, piano player in your house who obviously "gets it" and is a good site-reader, encourage him or her to get behind the controls...sooner than later!
