Pipe Organ Technique II

Victoria Alma Castello E-Mail: [email protected]

Course Description: Pipe Organ Technique II is an intermediate level course in the musical and technical foundation of organ playing. Students will receive instruction in the mechanism of sound production at the organ, registration, performance practice, manual and pedal technique, and service playing. Students enrolled in this class are expected to have mastered repertoire that includes J. S. Bach’s Two Part Inventions.

Course Standard: Students are expected to present a cumulative understanding of music theory, technical fluency, refined musicality, and positive self- expression through organ performance.

Course Outline: The course follows the benchmarks outlined by the DCPS music curriculum. Students will learn technical fluency through intervallic patterns, scales, part- playing, harmonization and improvisation, and other exercise music for manuals and pedals. Students will be required to take eight 45-minute lessons once a week to develop their classical repertoire. Listening and reading assignments further explore the history and construction of the organ, in addition to its use in the liturgical and theatrical realms. At the end of the year, students will present a thirty-minute organ lecture-performance on a topic to be decided by the teacher and student. A written essay will accompany the presentation. Other course requirements include satisfactory participation in monthly classes performances and, when possible, solo performances in the local community.

Materials: Students must maintain an organ technique notebook (3-ringed binder) containing all handouts received. Handouts will include: technical material in pipe organ history, construction and registration; manual and pedal technique; early- intermediate and intermediate level organ literature from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classic, Romantic, and Contemporary styles. Students must bring the notebook and all assigned technique and organ literature books to each class.

Each student is required to wear special shoes for playing the organ; the shoes are to be used for that purpose only. Organ shoes should be of light-weight leather with a heel about 1 inch high and a tie over the arch (i.e., tap dance shoes without the clicks). The soles should be smooth, no rubber heels or soles. If the student does not already own an appropriate pair of shoes, they will be required to purchase organ shoes (please see additional handout).

Grading:

Participation (10%) Practice and Application (50%) Assessments (40%)

All students are expected to treat each other and their teachers with respect and to follow the guidelines given in the Instrumental Music Department Handbook and the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Community Handbook.

Grading Scale The following grading scale will be used in evaluating and reporting each student's progress:

A =93-100 A- =90-92 B+ =87-89 B =83-86 B- =80-82 C+ =77-79 C =73-76 C- =70-72 D+ =67-69 D =64-66 F =63 and below

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I have received and read the Pipe Organ Technique II course syllabus. I agree to meet all course requirements as listed.

Student Signature Date

Parent/Guardian Signature Date

Please return this signed document to the teacher.