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geigen

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  1. My use of the words 'red tape' merely referred to the fact that, 50 years ago, I am pretty sure none of my organ teachers had PLI. I was not actually dismissing the requirement but bringing the Hire Agreement to the attention of board members. All Colin Pykett's points are well made. I have raised the question - at church - regarding the potential situtation where the pupil leaves the blower on (although I have trained him well and it is linked to the pedal light so he should notice) after a practice session. As yet, no answer. Incidentally, my father was self-employed as a carpenter/builder and painter/decirator and he certainly had PLI during his working life.
  2. A few weeks ago I was asked to give organ lessons to a pupil in one of the churches where I play regularly, so I did the DBS check and the safeguarding training both of which the diocese requires. All expected. One day, out of the blue, the PSO sent me a Hire Agreement to sign. There are numerous clauses and conditions in it but, in essence, I need to take out Public Liability insurance in case I, or my pupil, damages the church in any way. Naturally, I contacted the local Organists' Association which has members who teach the organ. They were extremely surprised I had been sent the document. I have been unable to discover if the music staff at the nearby cathedral are required to sign such an agreement! The objective of this post is not to debate the rights or wrongs of my having been sent this document with its requirements. Rather, I write to alert the forum that these things are on their way. My vicar is a sensible person and she checked again with the diocese on my behalf. When we last spoke she said that our parish is very much ahead of the game as regards the Parish Dashboard. I would be interested to know if anyone else has signed such an agreement but it appears that this is some red tape which colleagues can look forward to receiving.
  3. An absolute fount of knowledge. A great help to me personally over the years. I shall need a while to absorb this sad news.
  4. Thank you to all who have added comments above. T.
  5. I have spent the last few hours writing a very short piece, for a Journal, about the family history of Dr. Haydn Keeton, organist at Peterborough from 1870-1921, based upon records I discovered on the commercial genealogy websites. Does anone know of a biography or source of further material about Keeton since Google searches failed to reveal one (for me at least) although there are various references to him in other publications. The task I set out to do is finished, but I feel there must be something, somewhere.
  6. I will send the Klotz to headcase. Book [2] remains.
  7. I am clearing my shelves and am willing to donate 2 books to the first person/people to PM me (perhaps put a simultaneous reply here so other folk know they have not come first!). I am happy to split the 2. [1] The Organ Handbook - Klotz (1966) [2] Playing a church Organ - Marmaduke Conway 1949 reprinted 1960 I will send - post free - within the UK only.
  8. And Control+zero put it back to normal size. Alternatively, if your mouse has a scroll wheel, Control+Scroll wheel up/down will let you adjust font size in many programmes.
  9. Do you know how long you will have on the instrument to prepare? Something contrapuntal, or at least Baroque, and something showing registration and interpretation skills seems like a good idea. It depends what the job is, so knowing that you should take something which shows you will be able to cope with the requirements of the position. Good luck
  10. As the OP I have no issue with water being drunk in rehearsals. In the first instance I was just expressing surprise that a mug of tea was on display to the congregation [though not touched during the service] and that I have always felt that liquid should be kept away from expensive instruments. I have been interested to read the various posts; the topic has had a good airing. Thanks to all.
  11. I agree. In all my years as one of Dr. Vann's choristers [40+ years ago] none of the choir had water and certainly not the ley clerks. Once we had left school (on weekdays) and arrived at the precincts at 3.45 we had a cup of tea and a biscuit before the choir practice (4.30 to 5.20) and then we went and sang Evensong at 5.30 for 45 minutes. In fact we had to pay for the refreshments ourselves! I do not recall anybody saying that Peterborough Choir was very good, but could have been so much better but for the want of bottles of water for the choir members; they hadn't been thought of. Now that we live in an age when, as consumers, we buy what big businesses tell us to buy, bottles of water are the 'must have' item in all sorts of contexts. It's all part of the instant gratification culture in which we live; I want water now and by golly I'm going to have some. While I am on my soap box, it is the same with mobile phones. The thinking is "I cannot wait to speak to my friend so I'll do it whilst I am driving". I have never seen a choir in which ALL the singers have a bottle of water - it is usually only a few; the ones who think "I am special, the rules do to apply to me". By 'rules' I mean the notion that a choir is a team which has often put on robes for the occasion, yet a few want to lower the tone by showing that they have no regard for previously accepted modes of behaviour in the choir stalls. It would be interesting to know whether or not any Directors of Music have actually said "Do feel free to take water into the service with you" as I have seen in one Cambridge college chapel - do they do it at King's? I doubt it; and if not, then why not? It's a no-brainer really. Yes, I am an old fuddy-duddy and grew up in an age when the shops shut on Sunday. Society moves on - usually for the better - but I don't see why liturgical behaviour should reflect secular attitudes. My question was 'inspired' by having been to an Evensong in a Northern cathedral last week when the organist was handed a mug of tea 10 minutes before the service. Why is it that divine service has to take place in a cafe? What is wrong with the world? I'm off to burn my soap box - then I'll have a cuppa.
  12. I think I am just old-fashioned but it would never occur to me to take liquid into an organ loft, especially were I visiting a church/cathedral to play for a service. Not only would the consequences of spilling liquid over the console be dreadful (I expect) but I should never live it down. Having said that I have seen evidence of bottled water (i.e. empty bottles in the waste bin) in one cathedral, and one other place even has a kettle in the loft plus coffee and coffeemate. This leads me to believe that I am far too uptight about this. But which of you actually drink when seated at the console? Time to fess up.
  13. I like the way he's crawling through the organ with a pipe in his mouth (non-organ variety and not lit presumably!)
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