Diocese of Hereford Organists' Training Scheme
• Is your church lacking an organist for services, weddings and funerals?
• Have you ever considered learning a challenging and rewarding instrument?
• Are you an existing organist wishing to improve technique, improvisation skills & new repertoire?
• Do you find adapting hymns and worship songs difficult: would you appreciate more training?
• Would you simply like to find out more about the instrument you play?
The scheme, which is inter-denominational, embraces these objectives:
• To provide the churches of the Hereford diocesan area with a greater number of organists than is presently available.
• To help existing organists improve their skills so that they are able to serve their church with
confidence, enhanced ability, and success. The scheme offers churches:
• The opportunity to assist in the training of new organists, who can provide an invaluable service to their church.
• The opportunity to help existing organists improve their skills at the organ, thus enhancing the quality of worship.
The scheme offers existing church organists:
• The opportunity to update or improve skills in areas in need of refreshment, with the possibility of sponsorship from your church.
• The opportunity to provide training for a deputy or assistant organist.
The scheme offers students:
• The opportunity to transfer existing keyboard skills to a second and exciting new instrument.
• The opportunity to offer your skills to your local church and become of real value to your local community.
• The opportunity to sit an assessment to mark your achievements and to obtain recognition for this.
The scheme aims to improve the standard of organ playing in services at all levels of ability, from beginner to diploma standard. Students would be expected to have tuition with an approved tutor at regular periods, either weekly or fortnightly. They would also be expected to undertake an appropriate amount of practice.
It is hoped that churches will sponsor a candidate, providing up to half of the tuition fees. In return the student will be asked to undertake within an appropriate timescale certain organ playing duties for the church. The exact level of these would depend upon the ability and experience of the student and the advice of the tutor. When possible, the student should receive some lessons on the organ of the church concerned, helping him or her to use the instrument to its full capability.
Upon completion of a year's tuition each student is encouraged to sit an assessment.
Upon successful completion of an assessment, a certificate recognising the candidate's achievement will be presented at the annual Diocesan Choirs Festival at Hereford Cathedral or at another suitable occasion.
A number of educational workshops around the diocese is also arranged at regular intervals.
The director of studies is Hilary Norris. For further information, including details of tuition fees, please contact the secretary:
Anne Jardine Heligan The Common Wellington Heath HR8 1LT Telephone: 01531 631445
The scheme is supported by the area committee of the Royal School of Church Music and the Herefordshire Organists' Society, which meets monthly and arranges recitals, masterclasses, lectures and visits to organs in the county and further afield.
There is an annual day outing, usually to a large town or city where several organs are visited. Social meetings are included in the programme and quarterly newsletters are issued giving local news and views and details of events; through the society's affiliation to the Incorporated Association of Organists, a subscription to Organists' Review may be obtained at 25% discount.
The secretary is Ian Higton, telephone 01432 273985 or email