FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR

Last month I discussed the dire situation facing many parishes with the decline of properly trained organists. As parish organists age out of their positions, fewer and fewer young people are there to pick up the mantle of musical leadership a well-trained organist provides. As a result, many parishes have turned this position over to pianists or ensembles. For many places this is a fine solution as the style of music a parish uses at Mass is better suited for these musicians. For some parishes, the need for an organist is best for them, and few organists are to be found. How is this being addressed?

Nationally, the organization called The American Guild of Organists has teamed up with local chapters of the organization to provide week-long camps for teenagers called Pipe Organ Encounters, or POE. I was privileged to be on the faculty of one of these camps a few years ago at Dordt University in Sioux Center, IA. 26 teenagers spent the week learning the basics such as proper technique (the organ has a much different type of action than a piano), how to use their feet, and how to set up the myriad stops most pipe organs have. The week culminates with a student recital showcasing what they’ve learned and encouraging them to continue with their studies after they return home.

The same organization has a certification system, as does the Roman Catholic group known as the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. These organizations contain a wealth of resources for organists, parishes, pastors, and others.

Finally, we need to find ways of encouraging musicians in our parishes to explore the vast repertoire and absolute joy of playing the organ. I’ll explore some of those ways in next month’s edition.