RCO Summer Course 2013 - back to our own benches

RCO Summer Course 2013 – back to our own benches

We’ve had our student recital, our certificates, said thank you to our teachers, and are heading back home to our solitary organ benches.  It’s been an intense few days, and some of us were definitely losing the edge by yesterday…

RCO Summer Course 2013 - on improvisation

RCO Summer Course 2013 – on improvisation

The RCO sees improvisation as an Essential Skill for organists, so we’ve had these daunting/inspirational workshops on improvisation all through the course from some of the best in the business.   Some students have decided to try and keep the momentum…

RCO Summer Course 2013 – lightbulb jokes

  Q.  How many altos does it take to change a lightbulb? A.  One, and nine others to say ‘But it’s too high for me’   Q.  How many sopranos does it take to change a light bulb? A.  One,…

RCO Summer Course 2013 - St Etheldreda's Chapel

RCO Summer Course 2013 – St Etheldreda’s Chapel

Our practice sessions on the organ at St Etheldreda’s Chapel come with multiple Heath & Safety warnings.  NOT SUITABLE FOR TALL OR LARGE PLAYERS says our information pack firmly, and by the time you’ve negotiated a tiny and perilous spiral…

RCO Summer Course 2013 - playovers and extensions

RCO Summer Course 2013 – playovers and extensions

Nothing gets church organists going much more than a discussion of hymn playing – a cue for despairing anecdotes about unmusical congregations, and even more unmusical clergy.  Simon Williams kept us (reasonably) on track this morning on a Church Music…

RCO Summer Course 2013 - the Lord Mayor's Palace

RCO Summer Course 2013 – the Lord Mayor’s Palace

The Corporation of the City of London commissioned an inspired gift for HM The Queen for her Diamond Jubilee this year – an organ, which is temporarily installed in The Mansion House, the home of the Lord Mayor of London*.  …

RCO Summer Course 2013 - time for timetables

RCO Summer Course 2013 – time for timetables

Seventy-seven organists go quiet as they digest their timetables for the week.  The course caters for organists at all levels, with classes for everyone from total beginners to diploma. Tomorrow it all starts in earnest, when we will scatter to…

Five questions for...Anne Marsden Thomas

Five questions for…Anne Marsden Thomas

Anne Marsden Thomas is the Head of the RCO Academy Organ School, co-ordinating the activities of a team of teachers and the studies of around 300 organ students.   In 1990 she was responsible for the National Learn the Organ Year,…

RCO Summer Course London 2013 – meet our tutors

Click below to find out more about some of our RCO Summer Course tutors.  There are interviews with Gerdi, Neil, Simon and Roger, music from Frederick, and write-ups of previous workshops from Gerard and Daniel. There’s also an interview with…

Join me on the RCO Academy Summer Course London 2013

Join me on the RCO Academy Summer Course London 2013

The Lady Organist was proud to be the guest blog at the RCO Academy Summer Course for Organists last year, Monday 29th July to Saturday 3rd August.  Six days of classes and concerts, playing organs of every size and date,…

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