This playlist has been designed to help you discover the organ and start making music! Featuring five films created for RCO’s Play the Organ Year 2025, it provides a guide to newcomers as they explore the instrument.
Complementing our My First Encounter resource sheets, these videos are perfect for event organisers running introductory sessions or anyone sitting at an organ for the first time—whether in person or at home on an electronic keyboard or piano. You can download the session guides (along with other resources) at www.rco.org.uk/play, or by clicking here:
My First Encounter (no keyboard experience)
My First Encounter (some keyboard experience).
Filmed for the Royal College of Organists’ Play the Organ Year initiative by The Maestro Online‘s Robin Harrison, this series offers a great starting point for your musical journey.
Robin Harrison’s First Encounter series introduces organ fundamentals, from turning it on to navigating manuals, stops, and pedals in the first instalment.
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Robin Harrison introduces the fundamentals of organ playing, covering everything from powering it on to navigating the manuals, stops, and pedals in the first instalment of his First Encounter series.
This series of films is designed to be used in conjunction with the My First Encounter session guides: download My First Encounter (no keyboard experience) or My First Encounter (some keyboard experience).
In his second First Encounter film, Robin Harrison teaches composing and improvising a short organ piece using sounds, rhythms, and pedals.
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In his First Encounter series’ second instalment, Robin Harrison teaches beginners to compose and improvise organ music using sounds, rhythms, and pedals with no prior experience.
This series of films is designed to be used in conjunction with the My First Encounter session guides: download My First Encounter (no keyboard experience) or My First Encounter (some keyboard experience).
Robin Harrison teaches playing “Olé, Olé, Olé” on the organ with hands, pedals, and sounds.
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For his First Encounter series, Robin Harrison demonstrates how to play a famous football chant, Olé, Olé, Olé, on the organ using hands, pedals and different sounds.
This series of films is designed to be used in conjunction with the My First Encounter session guides: download My First Encounter (no keyboard experience) or My First Encounter (some keyboard experience).
Robin Harrison’s First Encounter film teaches a famous tune on the organ, covering stop selection, hand co-ordination, and basic pedal use.
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This film from Robin Harrison’s First Encounter series introduces a very well-known tune on the organ. Designed for those with some piano or music-reading experience, it explores stop selection, hand co-ordination and simple pedal use.
This series of films is designed to be used in conjunction with the My First Encounter session guides: download My First Encounter (no keyboard experience) or My First Encounter (some keyboard experience).
In the final First Encounter film, Robin Harrison shares tips on overcoming coordination challenges, mastering hands and feet, and building confidence.
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Practicing the organ takes time and patience. In the final film from his First Encounter series, Robin Harrison shares tips on breaking down coordinating challenges, mastering hands and feet separately, and building confidence.
This series of films is designed to be used in conjunction with the My First Encounter session guides: download My First Encounter (no keyboard experience) or My First Encounter (some keyboard experience).
