Positif Organist

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           Are you a church organist that wishes to  broaden your skills and knowledge of the organ?
                        Do you dream of playing the organ, even possibly for church services?

 Positif Organist enables participants to be inspired and make more effective use of the 'King of Instruments'!
  • Fun and sociable 
  • Share a love of the organ
  • Create new colours through effective use of stops
  • Be enabled to play more meaningful services

About Positif Organist:
  • Participants attend from a cross-section of denominations and abilities
  • Having a post is not required
  • Relaxed and informal environment, often in the home church of participants
  • Sessions include lots of playing, coffee/tea and discussion
  • Incorporates many useful skills for church organists
  • It is basically a two year course, although some participants just keep coming back and back! 

Sheila first started the group in 2003, and past participants can continue to develop their skills through The Swells.

Of a Positif Organist course, one participant wrote: ‘Returning to tuition after a gap of 35 years since lessons as a teenager was initially daunting – a feeling probably shared by other members of the class that were accustomed to playing in Church, but not to a teaching situation. 
It is a measure of Sheila’s enthusiasm, encouragement and skill in picking up what we needed to learn from the course, that we quickly overcame our initial reticence. The programme ensured that there was a new aspect of the organ and its repertoire to concentrate on each time – both listening and taking turns to play. The experience of discovering other organs around the area and getting in behind the pipes to see the workings of this wonderful instrument has deepened our understanding of the musical heritage we have around us. Alongside all the guidance aimed at motivating us to improve our playing, these evenings have also been full of laughter and fun!’   

RSCM Scotland (Royal School of Church Music) encourages Organists who wants to improve their skills and knowledge to join Positif Organist, especially those studying the organ units of the RSCM Church Music Skills programme. 

SCOTS (the Scottish Churches Organist Training Scheme) is happy to recommend Positif Organist to its candidates, which might especially benefit those who are not receiving individual lessons from a teacher.

  • Courses will run in Inverness, and its surrounding area from October 2019-2020.
  • If you are interested in attending, please contact Sheila. 
  • Contact Sheila if you would like Positif Organist to run in your area...
The 2019-2020 session times and application form for Inverness and the Highlands can be downloaded here: 
highland_application_2019-2020.pdf
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File Type: pdf
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Due to unforeseen circumstances, unfortunately Positif Organist will not be running in Edinburgh for the 2019-202 Session. However, if you would like come to sessions in 2020-2021, please contact Sheila to let her know!
Due to unforeseen circumstances, unfortunately Positif Organist will not be running in Fife for the 2019-202 Session. However, if you would like come to sessions in 2020-2021, please contact Sheila to let her know!
​Sample Topics in Positif Organist:
The Organ and its terminology. 
How to approach and understand organ music. 
German Baroque Tradition: Composers including Bach, Buxtehude and Walther.
Playing and registering Traditional and Modern Hymns.
The role of the Church Organist.
French Romantic Tradition: Composers including Vierne, Guilmant, Dupre & Franck.
Performance nerves and ways to deal with them. 
Leading Psalms including Metrical & Responsorial settings & Taize chants. 
Choir Training: Rehearsal Technique and Conducting. 
The Early English, Romantic and Modern Organ Traditions: Composers including Stanley, Elgar, & Parry.
Organ Maintenance & how the organ works: A brief demonstration. 
Registering French, German & English music, hymns and Psalms.
Hymns & Voluntaries for Lent & Easter, or Advent & Christmas.
Please note this is only an example programme, and it is modified to suit the needs of the individual group.