Hello everyone, I've enjoyed the stories about organ consoles being locked up and instruments "being off limits" to others. When I was 13, the church where I grew up had their pipe organ rebuilt. It had been silent for several years as the tubular pneumatic action had not been kept in repair. I remember the first Sunday I heard it and could feel the floor shake from the low bourdon notes. I asked permission to take organ lessons and the church board turned the request down because they had three volunteer organists and didn't need another. They were also scared that I might damage the instrument. One of the organists took my side and told the board that young musicians should be encouraged. A couple of years ago I was in town for my 40th High School reunion and visited the church and I hadn't been in since graduating. The organ was in good repair, under a maintenance contract, but seldom played as they didn't have an organist anymore. Having worked in the organ maintenance and tuning business for some years, I'm only too familiar with locked consoles (locks having been changed) and an organist that couldn't be found when we arrived to tune. Then there would be a fuss about paying a service call when we couldn't do anything. And, my favorite is the organist(s) who always complained about the organ sounding "wavy". We finally figured out she had celeste stops in full organ combinations. She couldn't get it through her head about how those stops should be used. Of course, the next time we went back, the celeste stops were back in almost all combinations. I've substituted (at the last minute) for organists when the key couldn't be found and you might finally get on the bench for the first hymn with no idea what was on the pistons or what kind of sound you were going to get. Some churches made it impossible to practice and others literally gave you the keys to the kingdom without even knowing who you were. Just some thoughts and little stories about my experience with the current subject of this group. I hope each of you have a Blessed and Joyful Easter!! David E. Dillon Organist, St. Paul's Methodist Church Tulsa, OK Owner of a Rodgers 950 ============================================================================= New low pricing on books and music for the Rodgers Organ at www.frogmusic.com ============================================================================= To unsubscribe or change mail delivery (digest, vacation) go to www.frogmusic.com/rodgersmem.html