2025 was celebrated as Play the Organ Year – a national initiative created by the RCO and its partners to spark a year-long programme of engagement and outreach.
The aim was not only to encourage more people to learn the organ, but also to help many more discover the pleasure of hearing and enjoying organ music, both live and recorded.
The campaign aimed to show that the best way to achieve these goals was to get as many people as possible close to the instrument: not only hearing it and seeing it, but actually playing it.
This playlist contains all the the information sheets, session plans and templates created to help organists and venues plan and deliver their own Play the Organ Year activity, alongside the First Encounter films which show how absolutely anyone can make a start on the organ.
These resource sheets were produced for Play the Organ Year 2025 – a national initiative created by the RCO and its partners to spark a year-long programme of engagement and outreach.
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2025 was celebrated as Play the Organ Year – a national initiative created by the RCO and its partners to spark a year-long programme of engagement and outreach.
The aim was not only to encourage more people to learn the organ, but also to help many more discover the pleasure of hearing and enjoying organ music, both live and recorded.
The campaign aimed to show that the best way to achieve these goals was to get as many people as possible close to the instrument: not only hearing it and seeing it, but actually playing it.
The Play the Organ Year resources – the information sheets, session plans, templates and other resources created to help organists and venues plan and deliver their own Play the Organ Year activity – are all available for download on this page, and the My First Encounter Films can also be found on First Stop!
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).
