The organ is an old instrument. A lot has changed over the centuries, especially the sounds and playing techniques. Certain stops were fashionable at a certain time. The wishes and orders for the organ builders followed the musical fashion closely. For example, an organ from the Romantic era has other possibilities than an organ from the Baroque. As a result, not all music for organ can be played properly on every organ. Take children on an adventure through these developments and present the organ as a ‘time machine’. The organ that you play does of course influence the possibilities that you have.
There are countless possibilities for children to actively listen to the organ. Teaching methods can be made suitable for any age group.
Invite children to the keyboards so they can see what is happening. Play a simple melody with a different stop each time. Choose some stops that imitate an instrument: trumpet, flute, violin, bassoon, vox humana, etc.
This is a continuation after recognition. Now let the children listen without seeing what the organist is doing. Which stop did you hear in this piece? Also use more stops, one after the other or even combinations.
Op een Bingo-kaart staan vakjes met verschillende woorden (registernamen) of afbeeldingen (instrumenten). Kies het aantal vakjes, bijv. 5 of 9, afhankelijk van de gewenste moeilijkheidsgraad. Geef alle kinderen dezelfde kaart.
Speel een aantal stukjes muziek en laat leerlingen aankruisen als ze iets hebben herkend. Wie alle vakjes heeft roept Bingo. De organist bereidt zich uiteraard voor en bepaalt dus het moment waarop de Bingo ‘valt’.
Een variant: niet met registers of instrumentennamen, maar met componisten of tijdvakken.
Ask the children to write a story or a poem beforehand (for example, as an assignment for another school subject). The story should have three scenes, each with a different atmosphere. Pay attention to contrasts and contradictions in the sound.
Discuss with the children at the organ which stops suits which atmosphere. Then perform together. The author reads the story and the organist plays with the help of another child for the stops.
For older children, the ‘silent movie’ (without sound) is an interesting topic. Take them back to the time when the organ provided the sound effects for the images.
Dances have also developed over time. Pay attention to different dances during a lesson moving to music.