Wed Sep 11, 2013 8:46 pm
For those of you who may have seen the recent update to my thread "My first baby steps" in the photo section, you know that, after a year and a half since starting out in HW, I was finally able to add a pedalboard to my console last week. Some of you may even remember that I returned to the organ after a hiatus of about 45 years, having played through high school and then not again until I was 63. So, playing the pedals is almost a totally new experience instead of a relearning process. I have lots of good instructional materials, not only works that were recommended by many of the good folks, here, but also quite a bit more that I've found on my own. I was really afraid that this aspect of learning might be a frustrating chore, but, instead I find it quite enjoyable -- although it certainly does have its moments of frustration!
I retired last month, and am just beginning to discover all the wonderful things that I can do with my newly acquired free time. Certainly, one of those things is spending more time at practice. When I'm in the house, all day, as I often am, I find that I actually prefer several shorter periods at the console during the day, rather than one long one. The only thing that annoys me about several practice periods per day, however, is those new Organmaster shoes!
Honestly, I hate them. I've always despised oxfords, anyway. I'm most definitely a loafer (or house slipper!) person. Oxfords are uncomfortable to me, I hate having to sit down in a chair and tie them every time I put them on, and even though the Organmaster shoes are more flexible than a street shoe, they feel clunky on my feet. Now, don't lecture me, because I already know all the reasons we're supposed to wear organ shoes -- the high heel, the flexibility, the suede like sole. But, often I just want to go over to the console, sit down, and play! Is it terribly, terribly wrong to do so with a different shoe -- at least some of the time?
This got me to wondering, am I the only person on the forum who feels this way?
So, I thought I'd just ask. In general, do most of you wear organ shoes for you daily practice, and if not, just what do you wear?
-Chris
I retired last month, and am just beginning to discover all the wonderful things that I can do with my newly acquired free time. Certainly, one of those things is spending more time at practice. When I'm in the house, all day, as I often am, I find that I actually prefer several shorter periods at the console during the day, rather than one long one. The only thing that annoys me about several practice periods per day, however, is those new Organmaster shoes!
Honestly, I hate them. I've always despised oxfords, anyway. I'm most definitely a loafer (or house slipper!) person. Oxfords are uncomfortable to me, I hate having to sit down in a chair and tie them every time I put them on, and even though the Organmaster shoes are more flexible than a street shoe, they feel clunky on my feet. Now, don't lecture me, because I already know all the reasons we're supposed to wear organ shoes -- the high heel, the flexibility, the suede like sole. But, often I just want to go over to the console, sit down, and play! Is it terribly, terribly wrong to do so with a different shoe -- at least some of the time?
This got me to wondering, am I the only person on the forum who feels this way?
So, I thought I'd just ask. In general, do most of you wear organ shoes for you daily practice, and if not, just what do you wear?-Chris
I don't like it at all (looseness and mistakes) ! 
Organ playing is not so easy, 
- I suppose THAT is a totally other subject for a Forum discussion! I have never tried Organmaster shoes.