New website and tutor book target beginner organists
A new tutor book and introductory website have been launched to encourage and support anyone inspired to learn and find out more about the pipe organ.
Fingers and Feet: A Journey to the Organ Bench is a new tutor book created specifically to support learners starting the organ as their very first instrument. It has been developed by the Diocese of Leeds Keyboard Studies Programme and the Royal College of Organists (RCO), with funding from the Vinehill Trust.
As well as going on sale, the book, along with 34 short accompanying tutorial videos, is being made available as one of the many free resources on the RCO’s new First Stop! website – a major online resource designed to welcome newcomers into the world of the organ.
Benjamin Newlove, Cathedral Organist and Organ Tutor in the Diocese of Leeds said: “The future of the organ depends on giving young people the opportunity, confidence and tools to begin. This book is designed to make learning feel clear, rewarding and inviting, and will be a particularly valuable resource for primary school children studying through the Diocese of Leeds Keyboard Studies Programme.”
Fingers and Feet – a major new tutor for beginners
The Fingers and Feet: A Journey to the Organ Bench tutor was the brainchild of the Diocese of Leeds Keyboard Studies Programme, with support from the RCO and the Vinehill Trust. The content was devised by organists Drew Cantrill-Fenwick and Robin Harrison, and it was edited by Diocese of Leeds organ tutor David Pipe.
Unlike traditional organ tutors – which typically assume prior piano experience – Fingers and Feet is designed specifically for those starting the organ from scratch, including learners with no previous keyboard background. It also comes with a suite of 34 short videos that guide learners through posture, movement and first musical steps.
The tutor recognises the potential challenges beginners face when approaching the instrument: multiple manuals, the scale of the pedalboard, and the appearance of complex notation across three staves. Fingers and Feet addresses this with a clear, imaginative and accessible approach rooted in the principle of ‘sound to sight’ – encouraging musical play before notation.
Early lessons focus on the black keys, using the pentatonic scale to build fluency and confidence. Learners encounter pieces in a range of styles – jazz, funk, Baroque and more – while posture, movement and musical independence are introduced through enjoyable, achievable exercises. Duets are built in from the outset, encouraging ensemble music-making and countering the idea that learning the organ must be a solitary experience.
By balancing structured progression with creative exploration, the tutor guides learners to around ABRSM Grade 3 level, establishing solid foundations in technique, musical understanding and confidence.
Editor David Pipe said: “We wanted to create a tutor that feels genuinely welcoming – something that says to a complete beginner: ‘Yes, this instrument is for you.’
“The organ can seem intimidating at first glance, but it shouldn’t be. Fingers and Feet strips away the fear factor, focusing instead on joyful discovery, musical curiosity and physical confidence, with a clear pathway that enables learners to grow naturally as they develop more formal technique.”
The complete tutor is available for sale, and also as a free download – with accompanying tutorial films – on the First Stop! website. Visit www.firststoporgan.com for details.