Can a Pianist Play the Organ?

"But what do I do with my feet?" is the anxious cry of the church pianist or keyboardist who has just been recruited to fill that empty spot on the organ bench. Although keyboards and their keyboardists have long been replacing the pipe organ and organists of yesteryear, many churches are continuing to host traditional, organ-lead worship services for those that love them. As technology marches forward, companies such as Allen Organ of Allentown, Pa, are pushing the envelope of organ technology by creating customized digital instruments. These state of the art organs demonstrate the majesty and foot pedaling of a pipe organ alongside the versatility of a synthesizer. This company's work alone is evidence of a continuing need for proficient organ players. Not surprising, there is a common assumption among music enthusiasts that anyone who plays the piano well can also play the organ. It is true that many pianists, such as myself, also happen to be organists. After all, pianos and organs share similar keyboards, similar fingering styles, and Westernized music structure. However, the instruments and techniques used to play them are surprisingly different from each other.

Touch sensitivity. The piano responds to the touch of its player; the harder and faster the keys are played, the louder and more intense the sound. On the other hand, the organ keys are more of an on/off switch; whether you play hard or soft, the volume and intensity of the sound are the same. Therefore, musical expression must come through some means other than the fingers, such as the through use of an expression pedal or through varied organ registration throughout the music.

Registration. The organ is able to reproduce a variety of sounds just by changing its registration. Registration can be comprised of soft sounds, loud sounds, brass sounds, or string sounds, depending on the make and model of the organ. Many organs now have MIDI capabilities, making their sound banks as varied as a keyboard or synthesizer. The piano, on the other hand, has only one sound: obviously, a piano sound. Its mood changes are derived from changes in harmonization, touch sensitivity, and use of the soft and sustain pedals.

Sustain pedals and finger substitutions. The piano's sustain pedal allows the player to hold onto notes without holding onto the keys. This is a great way to make difficult passages sound smooth, to change the mood of the piece, or to allow the pianist to switch fingering when needed. The organ, however, is rarely equipped with any kind of sustain pedal. Instead, the organist uses a technique called finger substitution to create a smooth, legato effect. Finger substitutions can feel extremely awkward to a pianist but can be learned with practice. Occasionally, newer, more technologically advanced organs will have a sustain pedal setting that can be added to the foot pedals as needed, but it is not always easily accessible.

Keyboards. On a piano, there is just one keyboard, with just 88 keys. On the organ, however, there is a foot pedal board (yes, that's what you do with your feet!) as well two to four keyboard manuals. It can be difficult to make the switch from one set of keys at the piano to multiple manuals on the organ. Add in the foot pedals, and the organist adds a layer of mental and physical multi-tasking that the pianist does not. However, with practice, lessons, and diligence, a good pianist can indeed become a good organist. And it's about more than just the feet.