News
Organ Project update (March 08)
Examination success (March 08)
News of teachers (March 08)
Teachers' meeting report (March 08)
New fees from 1 January 2008 (December 07)
Restructuring of Junior Organ Conservatoire (July 07)
Progress Evaluation Forms(July 07)
Publications from Cramer Music(July 07)
Organ Project update (March 08)
The east organ at St. Giles Cripplegate is complete
Our beautiful, warm and lively instrument is already proving itself an ideal teaching organ; come and hear what it can do in concert too! On Tuesday, 1st April at 18.30 international virtuoso Thomas Trotter plays a sparkling programme on the new 13-stop Mander organ. Visit the events page for details.
Thank you all for your wonderful support over the years. Now that the east organ is installed we look forward to completing the Project in 2008, with the installation of the Tickell practice organ in our soundproofed vestry, and the cleaning/restoration of the west organ. We continue to welcome donations as we still need £20,000 to complete the fundraising.
Please make any donation payable to ‘Friends of St. Giles Cripplegate organ project’ and post to the Treasurer:
Robert Andrews, 3 Sewards End, Wickford, Essex, SS12 9PB
If you would like to maximise your donation by using Gift Aid, please click here to download a Gift Aid form.
Study notes for the RCO diploma syllabuses
We have prepared two booklets full of practical guidance to help you select, learn and perform the pieces set for ARCO and FRCO. Each entry has been compiled by one of the Organ School teachers with the following subheadings: Background and General Style, Technical and Musical Challenges, Practical Tips, Registration, Tempo. The FRCO notes also contain information about key and duration to help with programme planning. Proceeds from these study notes go to St. Giles Cripplegate Organ Project. Cost: £10 each including postage and packing (UK only). Click here to download an order form which you can print.
Examination success (March 08)
We congratulate all the students who have achieved success at exams, events and conservatoire entry since our last announcement. We apologise for any omissions in the following list; please always remember to let the Organ School know when you have a triumph to share!
ABRSM Grade exams:
Alexandra Ho G8 140, Jennifer Ho G8 137, Christopher Mair G8 130, Luke Moynihan G8 126, Peter Heathcote G7 merit, Mary Evans G7 126, Douglas Knight G6 139, David Garner G6 135, Alexander Ho G6 135, Sue Aikin G6 134, Priscilla Santhosham G5 132, Alexander Jones G4 134, Ken Newland G2 115.
Trinity diplomas
ATCL Janet Bowles
LTCL Wilson Cheng.
RCO diplomas
FRCO Elizabeth Day (2 prizes)
ARCO Freddie James (4 prizes), Andrew Lenon, George Chittenden
Cert RCO Mylene Shoreman, Sarah Barstow, James Grainger.
News of teachers (March 08)
I am very sorry to tell you that Catherine Ennis has resigned from the teaching team. Although she is now, thankfully, recovering from her year of illness, she finds that her recital and family commitments more than adequately fill her time. She remains a close friend of the Organ School.
Kevin Bowyer is no longer able to teach in Manchester, but he continues his teaching in Glasgow.
Gerard Brooks has left All Souls, Langham Place and started work as Director of Music, Methodist Central Hall, Westminster. His London teaching continues, mostly at St. James’s Clerkenwell.
We congratulate Rosemary Field on her new appointment of Music Advisor for Lincoln Diocese. She will be developing organ teaching in that area, but she also retains her London church post and so is able to continue her London teaching.
Alison Hogg sadly feels she cannot take new students in Salisbury. I ask new applicants for our Salisbury centre to contact me to discuss options.
I am interviewing two new teachers and we hope to expand our team shortly.
In addition to our frequent email contact we Organ School teachers meet twice a year to discuss activities and policies. These are some of the points and actions agreed since the last Organ School newsletter:
Playing in public
We worry that some of you are under pressure to play in church or even in concerts before you are ready. We agreed to ask our students who have not yet played in public, for example at church services, not to do so until they have consulted their teachers. So don’t feel awkward refusing to play in church before you feel ready – just say that your teacher advises you to wait longer before accepting.
ABRSM transposition
We mounted a successful campaign to persuade the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music to limit the range of keys in the transposition tests for Grades 6, 7 and 8. Click the icon to see the revised range. 
Fees
To correct the discrepancy between different teachers’ fees, we agreed that on 1 September 2008 central London students’ fees (except Anne’s students) will increase to £51; all other students’ fees will rise by £1 and these fees will remain unchanged until at least September 2009.
New fees from 1 January 2008 (July 07)
All individual lessons will cost £1 more from 1 January. (This does not apply to students in the Junior Organ Conservatoire). Additionally, we have decided to regularise the fee structure for central London teachers, and therefore I am now advertising £50 per hour for all my London colleagues. However, if you started taking lessons before 1 December 07, and if this represents an increase of more than £1 per hour, you will not have to pay the full rate until later in 2008.
Restructuring of Junior Organ Conservatoire (July 07)
We have recently made some changes to the organisation of the Junior Organ Conservatoire (JOC). Click here to visit the revised page for full information.
Progress Evaluation Forms (July 07)
After every ten lessons, please ask your teacher for a review of recent progress and evaluation of goals. Your teacher will prepare the evaluation form, there will be brief discussion and notes during your lesson, and then you complete the final section on your own. This is an entirely optional procedure which many of our students have now undertaken and found valuable; your teachers also find it very beneficial.