Educational Resources

Welcome to the Educational Resources web page of the American Guild of Organists. The educational resources accessible from this page have been developed over the years. They cover a wide range of practical topics useful to beginning organists, church musicians, and AGO members. The emphasis is on content not otherwise readily available through non-AGO sources.

Lessons for the New Organist

The AGO Committee on Continuing Professional Education has produced a series of 30 videos entitled Lessons for the New Organist. Pianists are often asked by their congregation to play the organ, and these videos were developed to help new organists acquire basic skills and techniques as quickly as possible. Each video lesson is 2 to 7 minutes long, and there is a wide variety of topics from shoes to bench height, stops, registrations, and basic pedaling. Also see Online Educational Videos.

The OrganTutor Registration Unit

Eleven interactive lessons on basic organ registration, from Don Cook’s OrganTutor Online, are available free for AGO members who are logged in. The lessons cover Organ Types and Components, Using Console Devices, Pitches, Families, Non-Speaking Stops, Chorus Registration, Solo/Accompaniment Registration, Trio/Duo Registration, and Hymn Registration.

To access these lessons, click “Member Login” above to log in as an AGO member (or learn how to join), then visit organtutor.byu.edu and click “New User Registration.” Enter your email address and the subscription code “OrganTutorAGO”, then click “Submit”. To return, visit organtutor.byu.edu and click “Existing User Login”, then enter your email address and the password “OrganTutorAGO” and click “Log in”. An accompanying packet is available here as a free download for printing.

A Mini-Course in Basic Organ Registration

The material included in  this AGO educational resource was prepared specifically for the beginning organist and covers only basic information. Access the online version including the musical examples.

Accompaniment Adaptation Practicum

Explore how you can adapt non-organ accompaniments to the organ in this AGO educational resource. Access the online version including the musical examples.

AGO Videos online

All of the AGO videos including the Master Series, Pulling Out all the Stops, as well as several past convention workshops can be viewed online.

 

Downloadable Documents

pdf-large-typeManual of Procedure for the Service Playing Test

pdf-large-typeManual of Procedure for the Colleague Examination

pdf-large-typeManual of Procedure for the Associate and Fellowship Examination

pdf-icon-40pxSelected Repertoire for Organ and Orchestra, compiled by Michael Barone

pdf-icon-40pxModern Editions of Early French Organ Music

pdf-icon-40pxAGO Certification. A chapter guide for promotion, preparation, and participation. (Under revision)

pdf-icon-40pxProfessional Certification Requirements 2021

pdf-icon-40pxAGO Bibliography for Exam Preparation

pdf-icon-30pxWedding Policy: A Guide for Churches and Synagogues

pdf-icon-40pxAGO Wedding Repertoire List

pdf-icon-40pxPipe Up! Let it Resound!An Introduction to the Pipe Organ booklet for Pre-School through Grade 5.

pdf-icon-40pxChapter Outreach

pdf-icon-40pxPOE Handbook

pdf-icon-40pxPedals, Pipes, and Pizza

pdf-icon-40pxPipeworks

pdf-icon-40pxThe Challenge Teaching the Organ to Youth

pdf-icon-40pxThe Examinations and Academic Regalia of the American Guild of Organists by Agnes Armstrong, first published in The American Organist, July 1996

Organ Repertoire Lists
Graded Repertoire Documents
Other
Organ History and Design