Individual Lessons
Choice of teacher
Unless you have already chosen your teacher, please contact us for advice. You can change to another teacher within the Organ School at any time, and we positively encourage all students to play to a different teacher from the Organ School occasionally.
Content of individual lessons
For many years our standard format for an individual lesson has been divided into three sections: 1) Technique, 2) Sight-reading/keyboard and accompaniment skills, and 3) Repertoire. While this remains unchanged, with occasional exceptions, we agreed at our last teachers' meeting to place a new emphasis in Section 2 on hymn playing. Not only do almost all of us weekly employ this as an accompaniment/leadership skill, hymn playing also employs many of the skills we need in other areas. For the less experienced organist hymns pose a challenging technical exercise in playing legato, rapid pedalling often of awkward passages, and appropriate choice of stops. For more advanced organists hymn-playing offers scope for improvisation skills and advanced organ management. We want to ensure that your Sunday hymns are learned efficiently, delivered musically and played with your best technique!
Method of application
To book a lesson please fill in and send the application form on the contacts page. Alternatively, please contact the teacher of your choice or Anne Marsden Thomas to discuss your needs and/or for guidance in booking a lesson.
Fees and lesson frequency
Our rates vary according to area and other factors; please click here to obtain details of teachers and fees in a particular area. Like most of our students, because of our structured, supportive approach, you will probably find that one lesson every three to four weeks is sufficient.
Our practising policy
Every teacher in the Organ School is happy to:
- Advise students how to find an appropriate practice instrument.
- Discuss an appropriate practice regime.
- Explain how each new project relates to the student's stated goals.
- Introduce a wide range of techniques to aid in reading and learning music, and correcting mistakes.
- Give detailed suggestions whenever necessary in the practice techniques required to overcome specific challenges.
Guidance on finding a practice instrument
Please ask your Organ School teacher or click here to download a copy of our leaflet about finding a practice organ.(This requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.
To download a free copy, click this icon.) 
Progress Evaluation Forms
After every ten lessons we now offer you the opportunity to evaluate your long and short-term goals and to review your recent period of tuition. You and your teacher complete a document together, although the final section is completed by you alone. You may choose whether or not to undergo this evaluation but we feel confident that, when undertaken, both student and teacher will benefit.
Partnership with The Royal Academy of Music
St. Giles International Organ School is the official body for provision of LRAM organ teacher training to under-graduate and post-graduate students at the Royal Academy of Music. This means that, from time to time, Academy students wish to observe individual lessons in the Organ School, but we will always consult you before allowing an observer into your lessons. The Academy course also includes occasional opportunities for you to participate in practical sessions as model students, and we welcome volunteers for these sessions.