Organ Outreach Project gets our support
The organ is a magnificent instrument to challenge both the technical and creative skills of any musician. Perhaps only the most gifted of students will master it but it will captivate and engage with all levels of skill. It is difficult not to be concerned for the future of the magnificent instrument we love with reducing numbers of musicians, especially youngsters taking it up. What can we do to change this?
Access is of course the main issue. Churches – even if they welcome musicians in – are not the natural hang out of today’s youth, and outside the private school sector, school instruments are few and far between. It was easy therefore to agree to support Tom Daggett and Tom Bell in their London-based mission to get more youngsters engaged with the organ. Viscount Classical Organs Ltd has committed to provide 5 schools with loan instruments, and also to contribute to the teaching costs.
Inspiring young people to play the Organ
Whatever your view of pipes versus speakers there can be no doubt that today’s digital instruments provide a very creditable alternative to pipes at a fraction of the cost, and even the most gifted of violin students does not start their learning on a Stradivarius! The first step is to get students exposed to the joy of the organ and this initiative will bring the organ into places that would otherwise not offer it on the school curriculum.
Let’s hope that in the years to come the project known as ‘Inspiring Organists’ will lead to many more organists enjoying the pipe organ and their unique sound combined with wonderful buildings in which they so often reside. Pipe organs need to be played to stay in good working order. This will only happen with a growing bank of musicians available and motivated to turn up and bring them to life. Viscount are delighted to to be supporting an initiative that will help make this a reality. What can you do to help accelerate this ambition?
I have had a passion for church organs since the tender age of 12. I own and run Viscount Organs with a close attention to the detail that musicians appreciate; and a clear understanding of the benefits of digital technology and keeping to the traditional and emotional elements of organ playing.
