Switching primary insturments

[lisztisforkids]

I am debating wether to make the Organ my primary insturment instead of the Piano... For the last two years I have always wanted to do this but everyone I talk to says not to do it. They say I have to much talent on the Piano to give it up, and that being a Organist is extremely difficult to make a living.... But the more I think about it the more I fell like the Organ is my calling. I dont want to give up Piano entirely just reduce it drastically... Have any of you guys ever switched insturments or shifted priority?

[quantum]

I had strong feelings about switching from piano to clarinet after I graduated university.  Why? well because my piano at home was so beat up, I felt that I was not making any more progress and had exhausted it's potential.  After I graduated I wouldn't be able to practice on the better school pianos.  Anyways I already owned a high quality clarinet and wanted to study it more. 

Well, as I was thinking out all this along came this grand piano that I liked and my family could afford.  So bam.  I'm still playing piano as my main. 

Funny thing, now I'm a lot into organs, and I want one to practice on.  Something like a 2 manual full AGO pedals would be fine.

[thalbergmad]

Funny thing, now I'm a lot into organs, and I want one to practice on.  Something like a 2 manual full AGO pedals would be fine.

I keep switching between piano and organ.

A while back I invested in a home organ. I got it from here https://www.wyvernorgans.co.uk/seconds/index.asp

I say home organ, but the installation required the building of a temporary railway track across my front room. At least now, I don't need to go to church.

I think I am going to upgrade to a 3 manual. I am just waiting for my folks to go on holiday.

The one I have at the moment can chuck out enought noise to start the lampshades swinging.

Thal

[pianistimo]

very cool site.  my hammond organ has stopped working.  at first it would play for an hour and then the lights would start flickering - and static noise would start coming - then a feeling of some powerful electric surge about to occur.  i can't explain the wonderful feeling that comes over you when you play organ.

now, it is simply dead weight until i get it fixed.  i suppose i could sit at it and play with the foot pedals.  but, when it doesn't make sound - it's kind of useless.  usually ur supposed to play the pedals without looking.  but, since i learned organ fairly late in life and played piano so long - i don't look at the keyboard and just focus on my feet.  heel toe heel toe.  seriously, when i'm practiced i can play without looking at my feet - but there are occasional WRONGnotes that really blare out.  u can't exactly hide a WRONG note on the organ.

i think u can play two instruments at once and don't necessarily have to switch - per se.  just don't tell people.

thal, did u used to go to church?  you might be reformable after all.

[arensky]

I am debating wether to make the Organ my primary insturment instead of the Piano... For the last two years I have always wanted to do this but everyone I talk to says not to do it. They say I have to much talent on the Piano to give it up, and that being a Organist is extremely difficult to make a living.... But the more I think about it the more I fell like the Organ is my calling. I dont want to give up Piano entirely just reduce it drastically... Have any of you guys ever switched insturments or shifted priority?

Are you religious? Professional organists are mostly found in churches. The other alternatives are Blues, Jazz, "Pop" and sports arenas.

Don't laugh at the last alternative, the ballpark organist for the Arizona Diamondbacks makes over $60,000 a year. Of course, the repertoire is somewhat limiting.

The AGO (American Guild of Organists) is actively trying to recruit and convert young pianists to the organ, check out their website for more info. They might help you foot the bill to study organ at a good school.

I do not see how an organ career is more difficult than a piano career. There are still chuches that employ full time classical organists, although that number diminshes every year, as mainstream Christianity becomes more mainstream the organists are being replaced by praise bands ( ) that do a watery mix of hymns, gospel and contemporary Christian music, amplified and set to an anemic rock/pop beat. Feh. Give me J.S. Bach and Buxtehude any day.

In piano, most of us end up teaching. If you can get a position at a University or Conservatory, that's great, but the competition for the few positions that are available is unbelievable. I'm guessing, but I'm sure that there were at least 200 graduates from Univesities in the USA with DMA degrees in piano last May. There are probably about 20 to 35 piano teaching positions at unis/colleges open right now, and many of those will go to the people who graduated in the past few years, or to those who currently have a position. There is private teaching, but that involves beginners if you are not part of academia. Want to teach?

Piano competitions. Want to try and beat Koji, Ingolf Wunder and Mei-ting? If you think you can play at their level, get to work. Most of the major competitions are closed to pianists over age 30.

I would like to clarify my first comment; you don't have to be religious to be a church organist, but you should enjoy being around churches and Christians if you want to pursue that path. Concert organists without a church or cathedral position are non-existent to my knowledge, unless they are at a university. Back to that... also, choirs inevitably enter the picture for organists. Many churches want to kill two birds with one stone, and have the Organist also direct the choir. Do you like choral music? It will occupy a lot of your time, even if you are just playing, not conducting.

If you want to be a professional classical organist, the time is now, before the praise bands take over. You might have to play in one anyway along the way...

Not intending to be negative, just pointing out facts.

[prometheus]

If you want it just do it. But you need to be sure about it yourself. Also, I wouldn't make such a big deal out of it. You can always switch back. Of course switching instruments on a regular basis will cost resources and you will only be medicore on all of them.