How this works…
Each lesson has a full score of music for the movie, written out in full, advice on playing, registrations for the organ and techniques you use in playing each lesson.
Links to free movies, or affordable DVD’s are provided.
And as always:
Always our 100% money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied in every way.
For many years I’ve been envious of those playing silent films. I’d like to learn to do this, but quite sure that I’m incapable of the amount of improvisation needed to make this possible.
During an AGO chapter board meeting, chapter, the idea of sponsoring a performance of a silent movie in an historic theater (without an organ) was brought hp a a way of getting the AGO noticed and as a result, I found myself committed toplaying a silent movie.
Never one to put off thing, I went to work on this and learned some things immediately, things that encouraged me quite a lot.
Felix in Hollywood - our score introduced in Lesson One played on the Roland C-330 Classic Organ, stop list by Hector Olivera.
What I’ve Learned:
1. You do not have to be able improvise to play a silent movie.
2. The local cinema organist back in the early 1900’s was often the local church organist.
3. “Theatre-stylings” for solos are different from styles for accompanying.
Just like playing a church service, the cinema organist has to blend in, taking a supporting role rather than being “The Star” in performance in a recital.
Another really encouraging thing about cinema playing is that, unlike a church service where playing a wrong note in a melody can raise eyebrows, in cinema playing you rarely play known melodies…so the pressure is off!
Can these be played on a…church organ?
The current Roland and Rodgers organs have many theatre stops. Many Rodgers also have adjustable tremulants that you, the organist, can adjust to a faster speed and larger pitch drop - the main characteristics of theatre organ sound. Just contact us as we will help!
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