Each year, many AGO members receive certification of their service playing skills with the Service Playing Test. The Service Playing Certificate is recognized by many churches and employers as a demonstration of proficiency at the organ and brings organists many professional benefits. The test is entirely practical, and the required skills come into play at the worship service(s) you play each week.
The content of the Service Playing Test follows the order of a Sunday worship service and has six basic parts. For additional details, see the AGO Professional Certification Requirements for 2020:
- Play three organ pieces chosen from a list of works from different historical periods. For example, your pieces might be a fugue from one of Bach’s Eight Little Preludes and Fugues, a movement by Mendelssohn, and a short contemporary work.
- Choose two hymns from the 2013 Revised AGO Examination Hymn Booklet, and play two stanzas of each as though accompanying a congregation.
- Transpose a hymn, again from the AGO booklet, no more than a whole step up or down (you can choose the hymn and work it out in advance).
- Play the accompaniment to a psalm chant, taken from the AGO hymn booklet.
- Play two anthems chosen from those listed in the certification requirements.
- Sight-read a short passage of music.
Grading Criteria for AGO Certification
Repertoire: Awareness of stylistic period; imagination and musical excitement; phrasing and articulation; rhythm; tempo, note accuracy; registration.
Sight–reading: accuracy of notes and rhythm, keeping a steady beat without hesitations – tempo is moderate, not rushed or halting.
Hymn–playing: Accuracy; rhythm, sensitivity to text via registration and articulation, leaving space for breathing, consistent spaces between stanzas, harmonizations that enhance singing but do not get in the way of singing or message of hymn text.
Transposition: accuracy of notes and rhythm, keeping a steady beat and maintaining voice lines and voice leading.
Accompanying: Accuracy of notes and rhythm, attention to text and breathing places for singers, care in registrations so that support is provided without being aggressive, awareness of dynamics, tessitura and voice-leading – then, interpreting accordingly.
Harmonization / Modulation: Good voice leading, ease with keyboard harmony and sense of rules of counterpoint; form [use of motive, sequence, 4 & 8 measure balanced phrases, having a “plan” without meandering].
Following directions is a key factor.
To help candidates prepare for the test, the AGO Certification Committee has developed the Service Playing Test Study Guide as an educational resource for service playing candidates.
Download the Service Playing Test Sight Reading Examples
Manual of Procedure for the Service Playing Test
Any chapter of the AGO can administer the service playing test for you at a mutually agreeable date between October 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020 — contact a particular chapter. If you are unfamiliar with the test or how it is conducted see the service playing Manual of Procedure. Currently, the test is recorded, and the recordings are sent to AGO Headquarters for evaluation. Candidates usually receive the results 2-3 months after taking the test; if unsuccessful, you may retake the test at any time. Request an application after July 1, 2019; the application may be submitted between September 1, 2019 and February 1, 2020: Email or 212-870-2311, ext. 4303. Membership in the AGO is not required.
Purchase the repertoire selections at Lois Fyfe Music or Cliff Hill Music.
