Full-time organist at 16 years old?

[biswaldman]

Yesterday I got a call from a church in my area asking me if I would be interested in becoming their full-time organist; the previous organist recently passed and the position needs to be filled. I'm definitely willing to take on this opportunity and I'm a pretty advanced pianist. I don't have a lot of experience with organ, however. I'm starting organ lessons next week with my piano teacher and I won't start until September 1st, so I have a little bit of time to warm up to the organ. Is there any repertoire I should consider obtaining for special music during service (like prelude, postlude, etc.)? And is there anything to keep in mind as I'm making the final decision on this? Thanks.

[quantum]

Have you done church work on piano before?  Make sure you obtain the details of the position and what will be required of you, so you can make an appropriate decision. 

Find out if this is also a music director position.  Are you required to direct choirs?  Are you required to program music for the church?  If so to what extent (hymns, anthems, special services, concerts, etc.)?  Are you required to be in attendance certain times of the year such as Christmas and Easter?  Keep in mind this may mean missing out on family gatherings which tend to occur at similar times.  Are you required to attend committee meetings? 

From that information, make sure you are being compensated for your time in an appropriate manner.  Organizations such as the AGO and RCCO can help with that:
https://www.agohq.org
https://www.rcco.ca


If the church has a piano, perhaps start with it.  You can work organ into the mix as you gain more skills with the instrument.


Regarding repertoire.  Church music does require you go through large amounts of repertoire in short periods of time.  It is very different to preparing for a piano recital, where you keep practicing the same material for 6 months to a year. 

You could start by gathering up a repertoire of pieces that can be versatile in use.  It may also help to put together a wedding and funeral repertoire.  Funerals tend to be very short notice, so it is good to have pieces that can be put together quickly. 

[austinarg]

Brush up your Bach. From now on, the Well Tempered Clavier is your new bible.

[oxy60]

You can do it! I did it at your age. Jump in with enthusiasm. As long as you can get to the job on your own and not need to depend on others everything will go smoothly.

Don't hesitate, take it. 

[quantum]

Another thing, start improvising if you do not already do so.  This is an extremely useful skill in church music. 

[biswaldman]

Have you done church work on piano before?  Make sure you obtain the details of the position and what will be required of you, so you can make an appropriate decision. 

Find out if this is also a music director position.  Are you required to direct choirs?  Are you required to program music for the church?  If so to what extent (hymns, anthems, special services, concerts, etc.)?  Are you required to be in attendance certain times of the year such as Christmas and Easter?  Keep in mind this may mean missing out on family gatherings which tend to occur at similar times.  Are you required to attend committee meetings?

I've subbed at a lot of different churches on piano before, so I'm familiar with hymns and "structure" of services, if you will. I found out yesterday about a lot of the other responsibilities that I would and would not have at this church; I do not have to attend choir practice or direct the choir, but I will likely have to program music (as in hymns, special services, probably anthems and other special music.) Committee meetings I'm not sure about, thank you for bringing that up!

If the church has a piano, perhaps start with it.  You can work organ into the mix as you gain more skills with the instrument.


Regarding repertoire.  Church music does require you go through large amounts of repertoire in short periods of time.

I was planning on starting with piano just because I'm a lot more comfortable with that. And if I start organ lessons next week I'll have some basic technique and knowledge of the instrument by the time I start at this church in September. As for repertoire I'm sure my teacher has a wealth of it that he can suggest to me (he's the organist at his church as well) but I figured Bach would be a good place to start.

Another thing, start improvising if you do not already do so.  This is an extremely useful skill in church music.

Got that covered too it sounds like I'm on the right track for this position, and that's really reassuring. Thanks so much for answering, it's really helped me determine what I should direct my focus as I take this on. It's really exciting!

[oxy60]

Also, something very important that has nothing to do with the music. You need to prepare yourself to do the job. You shouldn't have conflicts.

We hire a lot of people and the biggest problem we have is non job related personal issues/commitments of our employees: especially our part-timers. They always seem to be pulled on by family or friends.

What you will be doing is a little like show business. Remember, the show must go on!   

[iansinclair]

A few more thoughts, to add to the excellent comments from oxy60...

First, I assume that by "full time" you mean "regular (or staff) organist"; full time organists do exist -- 40 hours per week, more or less -- but at 16 I would have to assume that you still have other commitments, such as school?

You mention, though, that you believe you will have some responsibility and authority with regard to selection of hymns, anthems, other service music, and preludes and postludes.  In my view, you need to approach this with an air of serious study.  Although various denominations vary rather widely in the degree of latitude placed on the selection of service music, it is always best if the hymns, anthem(s), and other music during the service relate as closely as possible to the scripture and lessons of the day (this is why they are usually chosen in cooperation with the minister).  Thus you would be wise to become very well acquainted with the liturgy of your particular church, and with the hymnal, so you can make or at least advise on relevant choices.  The choice of hymns, in particular, can be particularly vexing: it is necessary to pick hymns which the congregation can and will at least attempt to sing, but at the same time it is necessary to avoid falling into the trap of always using the same few dozen hymns, however attractive that may be at times.  At the same time, it is wise to scan the text of the hymns chosen; while most hymnal compilers have been fairly careful about texts, there are, regrettably, a few hymns in every hymnal which have texts which are dubious at best, and should be avoided.

I might note that playing hymns is more difficult than it looks; they are often not that easy to play, in the first place -- and in the second place, keeping a steady tempo, come what may, is essential.

Anthems are subject to somewhat the same set of traps -- with the additional problem that there are, in general, no set lists of acceptable anthems.  Thus it will be up to you, if you have a hand in choosing them, to ensure that they are musically sound, that they are manageable by your choir -- and that the texts are also sound.

As oxy60 has noted, with regard to the rest of the music, the demand on your repertoire is tremendous.  While you can use the same prelude and postlude for two services on the same day, for instance, you shouldn't plan on repeating the same music more than once a year if you can help it -- which means an absolute minimum of over 100 pieces, well played -- a vastly different thing from preparing a recital, even were you thinking in terms of a concert pianist!  You will find that sight reading becomes very important.

Fortunately, the body of organ literature suitable for church is huge, and extremely widely varied.  While Bach is often the backbone of an organist's repertoire, he is by no means the only composer or style available!  There is a good bit of earlier music which is really wonderful (take a look at Sweelinck, for instance) as well as music extending right down to today (I happen to be particularly fond of Langlais and Widor, for instance -- but the choice is very wide indeed).

However, one must at the same time be careful to avoid music which has significant secular connections.  This is not really a problem with the regular repertoire, but can be a real problem with weddings, where you may find that a good deal of firm, but tactful, persuasion is required to avoid inappropriate music (e.g. Mendelssohn Midsummer Night's Dream or Wagner Lohengrin, to name two particularly bad choices).

As oxy60 notes, as the regular organist you will be expected to play all funerals (and to be suitably compensated for them, I might add).  This requires a large repertoire, although there is no reason that most of the pieces suitable for funerals can't be used for regular services as well.  What it does require is the ability to sight read hymns; the family can usually be counted on to request at least one hymn which you've never seen before in your life -- and they expect it to be done perfectly.  Weddings also require a huge repertoire; while most weddings go off on time, like clockwork, it is not unknown for a hitch to occur, and you may be expected to provide music for an hour or two (the longest I had was about two and a half hours) beforehand.  Again, though, most of this music can be used for regular services as well.  But in both cases, it all must be in hand and practiced to performance level at all times.

Weddings also pose another problem: it is rather common for the wedding party to ask (or demand) that some family member or dear friend play the service.  Two things about this: first, as the regular organist for the church, you are entitled to be paid for that wedding, whether you play or not.  This may require some tact, but it is customary; enlisting your minister to help in this may be needed.  Second, just because Aunt Minnie is on tap to play the service doesn't mean that Aunt Minnie is going to show up; you need to be prepared to play the service when she doesn't.

Oh yes -- and as oxy60 said, this is very like show biz!  The show must go on, whatever else is happening!

All that said, enjoy!  I certainly did -- for about five decades!

[oxy60]

Everything Ian has said I second. I didn't play for an Anglican service until many years later. That was when the weddings and funerals came up.

I started out at 14 as a youth counselor for Billy Graham and not as a musician. My job was to greet the young penitents as they came forward at the alter call. I also played piano for my youth group and then at 16 got the job as an organist.  Our services were very free form and we used music from a lot of sources. We would have a guest preacher every week and each had his own preferences. Those guys traveled on what ever was in the collection plate.

Our morning service was more formal with some of the features Ian mentioned.

After my college was finished I then got the Anglican job. We introduced plain chant into a very low church congregation.

Wouldn't trade the experience for the world!

[iansinclair]

We introduced plain chant into a very low church congregation.

Brave soul... I admire you!

[oxy60]

Actually they took to it very well.

Some of the other high church features the Rector introduced weren't accepted so readily. When it came time to find another Rector they chose a very low church guy.

I moved on to a very high church as a vocal soloist doing Gregorian.

[gyzzzmo]

Only do it if you really need the money (i DO hope they pay you, right?). Still, its a good experience (for a short time), and it is some fun trying to push up the speed of all those singing old people   

[biswaldman]

Only do it if you really need the money (i DO hope they pay you, right?). Still, its a good experience (for a short time), and it is some fun trying to push up the speed of all those singing old people   

I actually went to their service today. The congregation is very small and most members are older, yeah. Hit the nail on the head with that gyzzzmo

I talked to the committee after the service; they're going to write up a job description and get it to me soon. They are going to pay me, so that's covered. I may have to direct the choir but I'm not singularly required to select hymns and anthems and such for each week. The music committee meets once every month or so and determines the music for each week (I will have to attend those meetings, however).

From what I worked out with the committee today I will be starting September 1st and once I sign a contract they're making I'll have the position until the end of this year. From there I can decide if it's something I want to do until I go out of town to college. I figure it'll be a challenge but the experience and little extra bit of cash will be a nice benefit when I'm going off to college. Any other thoughts? You all are really helping me out on this, I really appreciate it.

[iansinclair]

It will be a challenge.  Being a church musician always is, no matter what the size of the church or the congregation is.  It is not at all like playing for a recital or something of the sort.  Remember that your primary job is to enhance the worship of the congregation by bringing the best and most appropriate music you can which they can handle (which is not to say that you can't display your virtuousity with the prelude and postlude, however -- although you will find that most of the congregation will leave long before you finish the postlude).

Conducting the choir may prove to be a very different challenge!  First, if you have never conducted anything before, there's all that to learn.  Then you will probably find -- unless you are very fortunate, that the choir is so many people, each of whom is very different; there is a lot of diplomacy involved!

I do hope you find that you enjoy it, and that they like you.  It can be a very rewarding career, either as a side job or as a real full time calling.

[quantum]

Try to get a handle on juggling the music before it starts to weigh you down.  You may not feel it preparing for your first service, but after a month or two you'll get a better picture of the amount of music that a church musician needs to go through. 

Being a church musician that plays every Sunday carries with it a large responsibility of managing one's own music let alone music that others need to sing and play.  There is a lot more time involved in addition to the two hours on Sunday, rehearsal, plus personal practice time.  One would also need to spend time planning music to play and organizing one's scores.  

Keep on top of this administrative element by planning music well ahead.  I presume you are also in school and have work to do there as well.  It will save you a lot of stress and frustration when you come to busy times of the year, such as exams at school or Christmas/Easter in church.  Also remember that things do come up in life, and you may need to budget more time for that.