Hello all,
I'm interested in hearing some advice on this subject. First off, I'm a total rookie when it comes to organ playing, and although at one time I had a good teacher and I've retained some good advice, I'm now on my own. I'm not one of those that can sit down with a new piece, look it over, go "o.k." and just start playing it (maybe some day! ). Every new piece requires me to work slowly, work out the fingering (on the advice of my past tutor), number the fingering above the notes, and then practice it the same way until I have things down.
On certain new pieces I seem to inevitably run into that certain part that after trying a few different ways of fingering, it seems that using my thumb on a sharp makes the most sense and makes it best in moving on smoothly to the next part. What makes this the most awkward feeling for me though is when the sharp seemingly requiring a thumb is repeated and is followed by either progressing upwards or downwards natural keys (depending on if it's right or left hand) which also forces me to move my hand forward considerably in order to play those following natural keys. Doing so also requires that I end up playing the progressing natural keys between the sharp keys vs. hitting the naturals lower in their more desired spots. I've read using your thumbs on sharps is a no-no and is to be avoided, others on the subject seem to be o.k. with the idea. I've watched videos online of the masters and I do see some thumb use on sharps here and there, but overall not much at all and the hand movement and avoiding thumbs on sharps seems to be so effortless for them.
And you say?
Thanks,
Marc
I'm interested in hearing some advice on this subject. First off, I'm a total rookie when it comes to organ playing, and although at one time I had a good teacher and I've retained some good advice, I'm now on my own. I'm not one of those that can sit down with a new piece, look it over, go "o.k." and just start playing it (maybe some day! ). Every new piece requires me to work slowly, work out the fingering (on the advice of my past tutor), number the fingering above the notes, and then practice it the same way until I have things down.
On certain new pieces I seem to inevitably run into that certain part that after trying a few different ways of fingering, it seems that using my thumb on a sharp makes the most sense and makes it best in moving on smoothly to the next part. What makes this the most awkward feeling for me though is when the sharp seemingly requiring a thumb is repeated and is followed by either progressing upwards or downwards natural keys (depending on if it's right or left hand) which also forces me to move my hand forward considerably in order to play those following natural keys. Doing so also requires that I end up playing the progressing natural keys between the sharp keys vs. hitting the naturals lower in their more desired spots. I've read using your thumbs on sharps is a no-no and is to be avoided, others on the subject seem to be o.k. with the idea. I've watched videos online of the masters and I do see some thumb use on sharps here and there, but overall not much at all and the hand movement and avoiding thumbs on sharps seems to be so effortless for them.
And you say?
Thanks,
Marc