Where have all the organists gone?

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)—Has playing the organ become a dying art?

What has happened to the organists—the ones who read three staffs of music, dance on the pedals, maneuver multiple manuals, pull organ stops, push pistons, manipulate swell and crescendo pedals and follow a director—all at the same time?

Fewer students training as organists

“There is a national trend for fewer students who major in music with an organ emphasis,” said Eric Mathis, director of The Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala.

Samford had only one incoming freshman majoring in organ each of the past two years. Some piano majors are choosing to complement their degrees with organ in order to diversify their abilities and experiences.

“All musicians, not just organists, must possess broad skills to have a viable career in music,” Mathis said.

Even Jubal, the biblical father of music, diversified by playing more than one instrument: “And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ” (Genesis 4:21).

Educational requirements are demanding for organ majors. Samford offers an organ performance degree as well as a degree in music and worship or music education with an emphasis in organ.

But not all organists have degrees in music. Approximately half of the Birmingham American Guild of Organists chapter members, including supporters, do not have music degrees.

Schools with nationally reputable organ programs such as Baylor University and Mercer University in Macon, Ga., have seen increases in the number of organ majors. Other, lesser-known university organ music programs have dropped their programs altogether.

Gap is widening

Dan Lawhon, dean of the Birmingham Guild, admitted churches could be “shooting ourselves in the foot” by not having universities give priority to keeping up a high organ profile.

With fewer trained students, the gap to replace organists is widening.

Rural churches have even wider gaps. “Aunt Sally,” who is retiring at 70, 80 and even 90 years of age after decades of service, has no one to replace her from the younger generations.

Most organists in the Birmingham Guild are more than 40 years old, said Lawhon, noting he has detected more difficulty in filling organist vacancies in the past 10 years.

Keith Hibbs, director of the office of worship leadership and church music for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, has experienced the consequences. It has been seven years since the organ in his home church, Dalraida Baptist Church in Montgomery, has been played. Church leaders finally gave up after trying to find an organist and removed the organ when the church was renovated.

Hibbs offered two words for those attempting to fill an organist vacancy: ‘Good luck!”

Easier to find a guitarist

To accommodate for organ vacancies, some pianists switch to organ, but a pianist is not the same as an organist. The music may be the same but the skills, sounds and techniques are different. For example, the common practice of sustaining is achieved by an organist’s fingers and feet while the piano has a sustain pedal that is pressed.

“Keyboard studies overall are not as prevalent as in the past,” Lawhon noted.

This is corroborated by Hibbs who agreed there has been an ongoing pianist shortage for 25 years. Why? One reason is the level of commitment. Another is the cost for years of lessons, in addition to tuition and private lessons for those seeking degrees. Then there is the cost for the instrument itself as well as its maintenance.

The guitar has become the instrument of this generation. It’s easier to play, faster to learn, requires less commitment and is significantly less expensive to purchase and maintain.

“The guitar’s portability has increased the variety of worship practices such as worship around a campfire or in home groups,” Mathis said.

Another strong advantage of the guitar over organs is that it is considerably easier to find a replacement guitarist.

Need to get creative

Opportunities for organists are diminishing in direct proportion to the prevalence of the traditional service, said Russell Williams, pianist and organist at First United Methodist Church, Trussville.

“Congregations have to get creative to hire organists,” Mathis said. “And organists have to be flexible and open to more responsibilities.”

Organist posts typically are part-time positions with a wide salary range depending on church size and expectations, as well as the organist’s experience and education. Many churches are choosing to combine the organist position with another role. It is rare to find a full-time organist position at any church of any denomination.

And not every organist is a good fit for every church. Churches have different needs so they must find the right fit in their organist to meet those needs.

What is the response to this widening gap of organist vacancies?

The American Guild of Organists encourages mentoring of students within the church and community. Every year the guild hosts a Pipe Organ Encounter Advanced Workshop for auditioning high school students across the United States. The American Guild of Organists routinely hosts other non-auditioned events to instill greater organ interest.

Samford also is taking strides to promote more interest in the organ and recently made one of its five-year goals to “increase appreciation of the role of the organ in worship—whether as the primary instrument or as an instrument in the band.”

Samford also added a new scholarship fund provided from a donor specifically for organ students who have significant interest in the role of the organ in congregational song.

‘A constant state of change’

“People assume that because there are fewer organists and churches with organs in worship that the organ is dying,” Mathis said. “The organ is not dying, nor are the organists.

“Church music is in a constant state of change, and with the addition of praise and worship, the worship life of the congregation has changed. … Many churches have built new sanctuaries, installed multi-million-dollar organs and hired organists, while other congregations across our state have built multipurpose buildings that don’t have organs, because they cannot attract and/or afford organists. Both have followed their callings from God.

“The important thing is that the word of God continues to be heard in worship and that each congregation has found its calling and its voice musically.”