I got a few questions today in email from an organist who is considering attending the Certification Showcase this Saturday and wanted to understand more about what was going to happen. So let me share with you the answers I sent back — in hopes that YOU will also come this Saturday!
There will be handouts about the requirements. You’ll leave with everything you need to know to go choose your pieces and prepare the exam. (Well, we won’t give you all the music; that would be illegal. But you’ll know what to go buy.)
This will be one single demo session at the organ, or in the room with the organ. There won’t be breakout sessions. But there will be a reception afterwards where you can ask the questions that your forgot to ask, or were too nervous to ask. 🙂 There will also be some more exam-related materials for you to peruse then.
While my initial vision for the event was to do a mock exam. There would be a mock candidate who would play through the exam, in order, with a mock proctor, etc. But after some discussion, we decided that a thorough demonstration of all the exam skills would be more beneficial.
So, Ryan North, who proctors all of our chapter exams, will do that demonstration. He is very dynamic and explains things very clearly. Questions will be most welcome, too.
For example, the exam has one play a repertoire piece from each of three groups of repertoire. Instead of just playing one from each, Ryan will play parts from many of those pieces, giving you a good feel for them and helping you identify ones that may be best suited for you.
Another section is transposition (prepared, not sight-read), and Ryan will discuss various ways that students tend to approach learning transposition.
I expect only a moderate turnout, so it should be very easy to see, hear, ask questions, and really get a vision of how you may approach your own exam.
Oh, and we consciously chose to do this on a digital church organ instead of a grand pipe organ. Most organists play organs like these every Sunday, and I want to help volunteer organists to see that these skills are just as relevant — and just as effective for uplifting their congregations and encouraging singing — on their own instruments as they are on the grand instruments.
Alas, I will not be in attendance. I am out of state handling a family emergency. I am so tempted to change flights to get there in time. My sister is trying to talk me in to doing that. I am really excited about this event!
And as a final aside, I am one of these volunteer organists. I started playing the organ 7 years ago. I am not certified and am technically not really trained, apart from two years attending BYU’s organ workshop. I have set a goal to certify SPC in 2020. With that in mind, I thought an event like this may be beneficial to all volunteer organists.
Even if you do not intend to certify (yet!), this event will demonstrate all the organ skills that make you an effective organist in any service, whether LDS, Catholic, or Protestant. You need to play hymns well. You need to play for choirs. You need to play for large conferences. You need to play for funerals. And by studying and preparing for the Service Playing Certificate, you can be prepared for all of these services.
Don’t just be an “organist.” Be an “ORGANIST!”
I hope that you will attend … and drag along with you 2-3 more volunteer organists!