Am I Obligated To Learn How To Play The Organ?

[MorningStar]

I was just thinking about whether I have a duty to learn how to play the organ or not. The sister in our ward who was just released as organist took actual organ lessons, but she isn't the most experienced piano player and it takes her a lot of practice to learn the songs. Another sister in our ward moved away and is an excellent pianist and she recently took organ lessons at BYU (she went there for the summer). People consider me to be the best pianist in the ward and we have one organist left who filled that calling for years and now they have called her again. The one who was just released keeps on telling me that I should learn to play the organ because I'm so good at the piano, but I'm not really interested in doing so. I gave it a try one day as a sub after the old organist showed me all the switches to flip, but I was really overwhelmed for some reason - maybe it's the stress I've been under. I don't know. I don't know how to play the foot pedals, I've always hated playing keyboards because they have no sustain pedal, which is the same with organs, I was stressing about whether I got the volume right for each song and when I was playing prelude at the suggested volume, the recently released organist told me it was too loud, which made me feel even more nervous.

I'm probably being selfish. If I wanted to, I could probably learn it, but I am a perfectionist and can't stand to do anything in public that I don't have down, and having had piano callings for years on end, playing for the majority of musical numbers during sacrament and activities, I'm just not interested in receiving another calling that has no sign of ending. The other part of me says I am capable, I should overcome my fear of it and use my talents to serve.

What do you think? I know we are supposed to use our time and talents to serve, but are we also supposed to work on developing more talents to serve more?

[checkerboy]

Man is not required to run faster then he has strength. If you have a desire to learn the organ then learn the organ. If you don't then don't. You already have talents that you are using to help others. The Lord only said that we develop our talents. It seems that you have a natural talent for playing piano but maybe not for the organ. If you wanted to, like you said, you could learn organ but would that be taking away from time with your family or benefiting them? Ultimately take it to the Lord and see how he feels. I think if you have developed your talents and still feel that something is lacking then maybe it is time to branch out. If you can barely hang on by doing what it is you are doing now then I don't think more will be required of you.

Anyway hope that helps.

[MorningStar]

I thought maybe I would take it on when my kids are older and when I'm done having kids. The lady who was just released, she has young children, so I look at her and think, "If she can do it, I can do it", but she tends to expect a lot out of herself. Right now I play the piano for choir practice from 9am until 10 am, I get home about 10:15 and we have to get out the door no later than 10:45 to go to sacrament. If I played the organ, then we would need to be there by 10:45 for prelude music and my husband already has a hard time getting the kids ready by himself to get there at 11. I would need to be there no later than 10:30 to practice for a musical number which I do at least once a month. I am also the choir president (I assist the director in music selections and stuff), and I'm the ward music chairman. There's also the fact that I want to help my husband with the kids during sacrament, so I didn't think about considering the organ until the recently released organist started telling me that I should learn how to play it.

Thanks for the advice.

:)

[Sheelah]

I was having the same thoughts as checkerboy as I was reading your OP when I saw that he had posted them. You will know when the time is right. The volume issue would come with practice. We have an organist who for awhile absolutely drowned out any singing but he does great now. I dabble at the piano, but am by far not a pianist. Once long ago a music store in my area offered organ lessons for a very reasonable price and I loved it. Don't look at it as just learning it for hymns but for having fun, when the time is right. :)

[Doctor Steuss]

I think you have no more obligation to learn the organ than I do.

Then again... talents and all that jazz...

[Garden Girl]

Doc... you waffled...

No, just kidding... but I do agree with others that this may not be the right time, and she should not feel obligated...or guilty...about the organ. MorningStar is involved in serving musically as it is... and last week she sang. It's not as if she has to do it all at once... she can develop her talents through the years. And as her family responsibilities lessen as little ones grow older, she can expand her service accordingly...

No MS... I don't think you should feel obligated... but I agree you should address this in prayer and if it is what you should be doing at this time, then the Lord will open the way for you... if it's just you feeling obligated or guilty then I think it will be a struggle.

Garden Girl

[Shoofly]

I was just thinking about whether I have a duty to learn how to play the organ or not. The sister in our ward who was just released as organist took actual organ lessons, but she isn't the most experienced piano player and it takes her a lot of practice to learn the songs. Another sister in our ward moved away and is an excellent pianist and she recently took organ lessons at BYU (she went there for the summer). People consider me to be the best pianist in the ward and we have one organist left who filled that calling for years and now they have called her again. The one who was just released keeps on telling me that I should learn to play the organ because I'm so good at the piano, but I'm not really interested in doing so. I gave it a try one day as a sub after the old organist showed me all the switches to flip, but I was really overwhelmed for some reason - maybe it's the stress I've been under. I don't know. I don't know how to play the foot pedals, I've always hated playing keyboards because they have no sustain pedal, which is the same with organs, I was stressing about whether I got the volume right for each song and when I was playing prelude at the suggested volume, the recently released organist told me it was too loud, which made me feel even more nervous.

I'm probably being selfish. If I wanted to, I could probably learn it, but I am a perfectionist and can't stand to do anything in public that I don't have down, and having had piano callings for years on end, playing for the majority of musical numbers during sacrament and activities, I'm just not interested in receiving another calling that has no sign of ending. The other part of me says I am capable, I should overcome my fear of it and use my talents to serve.

What do you think? I know we are supposed to use our time and talents to serve, but are we also supposed to work on developing more talents to serve more?

I'll offer the opposition here MorningStar. DO IT! I admit a real bias though.I think the calling of organist is one of the most important and yet most taken for granted callings in the church. But I soooo love the music and soooo appreciate the spirit it brings to a Sacrament service. I love to go early just to listen to the prelude music and enjoy the spirit. I just wish other folks would do the same. Sometimes the chattering in the Chapel before the meeting starts is a real distraction.

My appreciation is also magnified because I know nothing about playing any instument, never mind the organ. So anyone who does gets a big from me.

I would not feel obligated though. If you have piano talent though I would think try a few lessons and see if you may not learn to love it. We can never have to many Organists in the Church.

[MorningStar]

I don't think the thought would've crossed my mind if it weren't for the recently released organist repeatedly telling me that I should do it. She acts like I owe it to the ward. Maybe I do. Yes, it would be a good thing to pray about. For me though, I would want real lessons, but I can't afford lessons and I want to do it right.

Good idea to do it for fun too! Our organist just asked me if I want to do this duet with her, she plays the organ while I play the piano. I'm excited. I've never even done a piano solo or recital. I think when I was a kid, they made me do it in Primary once, but other than that, I have always done prelude or accompanying. For some reason I don't like being in the spotlight when I play, but I'm fine with singing solos. I've accompanied people for state solo competitions, I've played the piano at weddings, I've accompanied myself while singing solos, but I have this weird issue with not wanting to play piano solos with the focus solely on my piano playing. I know. I'm weird. Maybe it's from the extended relatives telling me when I was growing up, "PLAY ME A SONG! YOU CAN'T GO OFF TO PLAY UNTIL YOU PLAY A SONG FOR ME!" I didn't want to play unless I had it down perfect and I felt like they were patronizing me, "Ohhhhh ... Isn't that cute? Look how cute she is when she plays." I didn't want to play in front of anyone until I was good, rather than good for a kid. I practiced for hours every day though just because I wanted to. When I got into high school and I was needed to teach parts, I kind of got over my fear of not playing perfect.

I guess another thing that really doesn't appeal to me about the organ is that I don't have an organ at home and I couldn't practice as much as I would want to. The perfectionist in me is still lurking.

[Sheelah]

Many moons ago when I took those lessons, i rented a small organ from the store. It did make a difference. When I think back the lessons and the rental really had to have been reasonable because extra money was not in our vocabulary then.

[bunnzy]

what is wrong with playiong the piano? I think it has a purer sound. Can't you use either? What situations do you absolutlely HAVE to play the organ instead of the piano? In our chapels we have both, but most of the time we just have piano during our sacrament meetings. I hate really vibrating sound. I guess organs are good if it is a special occassion, or if it is the huge organ in the conference centre, where you have a large choir as well.

Like i said, i prefer the piano.

[rickg]

My wife got her arm twisted into becoming the organist some 10 years ago. She didn't have a clue! Played the piano ok, but not an expert. The ward was split, and almost all of the musical talent went the other way. The new Bishop all but got on his knees and begged her to take the calling. Only good part to all this, was the organ our building had. You didn't need to be able to play the pedals. You hit a button, and the thing sounded like you knew what you were doing! But she had terrible butterflys every sunday morning for the 8 years she had the calling. Only got out of it when we moved.

So, should you feel obligated? Dunno. Pray about it, give it serious thought. I think it kinda depends on the overall circumstances.

[Sheelah]

That's the way the organ in our chapel is too. We have one organist that plays it on auto and one that plays it on manual. The only problem I have with the piano, is our chapel is a big stake center chapel and the piano has a harder time being heard in it. Otherwise piano's make the best accompaniment's to songs.

[MorningStar]

what is wrong with playiong the piano? I think it has a purer sound. Can't you use either? What situations do you absolutlely HAVE to play the organ instead of the piano? In our chapels we have both, but most of the time we just have piano during our sacrament meetings. I hate really vibrating sound. I guess organs are good if it is a special occassion, or if it is the huge organ in the conference centre, where you have a large choir as well.

Like i said, i prefer the piano.

I think it's tradition and the fact that it can play a lot louder. In one ward I just played the piano, but it was a small ward and it seemed to work fine.