Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza

On March 12, I took Ian and Gabe to an CAZAGO (central Arizona Chapter American Guile of Organists) to an event called Pedals, Pipes and Pizza. I received an email inviting me and any youth to the event (it was more geared towards the youth) and I happily signed myself and Gabe up. Elisa refused to come and and asked if I could bring Ian (Erik was on call, of course) and I was told it was perfectly fine if I did. I also invited a few of my older piano students.
The event was held at La Casa de Cristo in Scottsdale. It is a huge, elaborate Lutheran church that houses the state's largest (working) organ. We sat in the main chapel and I was excited to see that along with the gorgeous organ, there was also a 9' Steinway concert grand piano and a real harpsichord! We were treated to several short organ solos by a few organists. Then we were set free to try the organ (and other instruments) and to see the inside of the pipe room. I enjoyed trying out the harpsichord and seeing the pipe room, even though my student's leg fell through the ceiling...I don't' know how or why but I suppose she just stepped in the wrong place. It was a pretty neat room, we had to crawl up a ladder (Ian refused) to get into the room but it was worth it to see all the pipes. By the time I took my student and the boys to play the organ, it was time to eat pizza, but they got to try it out for a few minutes. I would have liked to try the organ but I wanted to make sure the kids all got their turns--this was an activity for the youth after all. For lunch we enjoyed a lunch of pizza, salad, crème puffs, and a soda bar. Someone needed to play the organ for an audition after lunch so unfortunately I didn't get a chance to even touch the organ. Humph. Oh well. I still had a good time and I think the kids did too.
Part of this activity was also receiving free organ lessons from a willing organist in the valley. It took awhile for me to set one up a lesson with a teacher that CAZAGO found for Gabe and I but I managed to set on up with a guy named Paul. As I write this post, it was only a few days ago (April 23) but over a month since the event. The teacher was an older guy that met us at the church. He started with Gabe first, by orienting him to the organ (which was mostly him asking Gabe questions about the organ) and letting Gabe play the organ a bit. Then he told me to come sit down on the organ and we went over some foot pedaling since that's my weak spot on the organ. He was slightly helpful but I don't think I want to take organ lessons from him, besides he's retired. I don't know how much Gabe got out of it. He ran away as soon as it was my turn. I'm hoping to train Gabe a little on the organ in the next few years, since its more than likely he'll be asked to play someday for sacrament since he plays the piano--that's the way it goes.

Some enjoyable organ performances

A view from my seat of the pipes.

My student in front of all the organ pipes

Ian at the harpsichord

The piano with the harpsichord in the background

The pipes in the pipe room. So. Many. Pipes!!

Ian trying the organ. I think the multiple keyboard were a little disorienting to him because he had trouble finding his noes!

One last picture of the boys and the organ pipes

No pictures of the organ lesson, though I should have sneaked one of Gabe on the organ!