Performance Studies (Secondary): Organ

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Demonstrate technical skills requisite for artistic self-expression in performance at a level appropriate for the particular music concentration.

• Apply an overview understanding of the repertory to performances from a cross-section of that repertory.

• Demonstrate the ability to sight read with fluency.

• Demonstrate both general musicianship and a level of skill relevant to professional standards.

• Develop a practical knowledge of pedagogy at a level appropriate to the degree.

• Construct artistic/intellectual goals that are evident in their work.

• Demonstrate technical knowledge about the organ as appropriate for their skill level.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Lessons	40%
Jury Examination and/or Public Performances	40%
Attendance and Participation	20%

Letter grades on individual lessons and other assignments are converted to the middle of the range when calculating numerical grades (for ex., A = 97, B = 85).

Grading Scale

Percentage	Letter Grade
94–100	A
90–93	A–
87–89	B+
84–86	B
80–83	B–
77–79	C+
74–76	C
0–73	F

Assignments

Late work is not accepted. Exceptions are made only for extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the instructor.

1. Lessons: Compositions (3–5), exercises, hymns (4–5), and improvisations are assigned for individualized study in weekly or biweekly lessons. Sight-reading is in the lesson and not assigned in advance. New items are added as current ones are completed. Lessons are in-person, unless the student requests a virtual option due to SARS-CoV-2.

2. Participation assignments: These comprise listening-assignments, reading articles, participating in discussions (live or online), attending concerts, masterclasses, playing at worship services, and organ crawls (field trips to visit and play different organs).

3. Performances: All students are expected to play in a public setting at least once a semester (i.e repertoire class, group recital, solo recital, worship service). Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

4. Juries: A jury in front of at least 2 faculty is required. Items for the jury are drawn from material covered in the lessons. Public performances may be used to fill part of the jury requirement, at the discretion of the instructor.

Attendance/Participation:

Students are expected to attend ALL lessons, repertoire classes, organ masterclasses, and UNCG-sponsored organ recitals during the semester; makeups are allowed for extenuating circumstances (ex., illness or a family emergency), at the discretion of the instructor. It is the student’s responsibility to consult ORH calendar, confirm a makeup time with the instructor, and schedule the lesson via the online booking form.

Unexcused lessons earn a 0 (see grading policy above). Unexcused organ events earn a 0 and are counted within the participation portion of the grade. Unexcused jury and/or public performance absence earn a 0. The instructor reserves the right to bar students with excessive unexcused absences from taking lessons in future semesters.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

• Ritchie, George, and George B Stauffer. Organ Technique : Modern and Early . Oxford University Press, 2000 (softcover) or Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1992 (hardcover).

• Brock, John. Introduction to Organ Playing in 17th & 18th Century Style . Colfax, NC: Wayne Leupold Editions, 1991.

• Leupold, Wayne, ed. First Organ Book . Colfax, NC: Wayne Leupold Editions, 2009.

• Dickinson, Clarence. The Technique and Art of Organ Playing . New York: H.W. Gray, 1922. Available for free download at IMSLP.

• Additional music scores and books assigned individually (to be determined by the instructor). Secondhand and public domain sources are generally encouraged, but sometimes specific editions will be needed. Photocopies of copyrighted material are not allowed.

Additional equipment required:

• Heller, David. Manual on Hymn Playing: A Handbook for Organists . Chicago: GIA Publications, 1992.

• Organ shoes (or a dedicated pair of regular shoes with the proper sole and shape). Shoes worn outside and around the building pick up grit and damage the organ pedals. Please consult with the instructor before buying shoes.

• Notebook and pencil. You will be expected to take notes during lessons.

• A binder or similar means of containing individual pages of a score. Handling loose papers wastes lesson time.

• Recording equipment if you record the lessons. Most phones are fine. The music library has recording equipment for check out.