Pipe Up!

Those aged between between the ages of 8 and 18 can come along to an Open Morning at Wimborne Minster on Saturday 8th February, and have a go on the building’s magnificent organ.

The free event is part of the Diocesan ‘PipeUp’ Scheme, which enables young people in the Diocese to receive tuition from qualified teachers at a reduced rate, courtesy of generous funding from the Tindall Trust and the Michael James Music Trust.

Chris Totney is one of the Scheme’s co-ordinators who is also helping to stage the event:

“We hear all too often about the fact that there is a national shortage of organists but what are we doing about it? Well, the PipeUp Scheme has expanded rapidly over the past decade and we now have around 35 young musicians learning the organ and contributing regularly to the life and work of many churches around the Diocese.

"If we have managed to find and train up these youngsters, then we are convinced that there must be more children out there who are just as intrigued by the number of keyboards it has, all the buttons you can press and how loud you can make it sound! It doesn’t matter whether you have experience of playing the piano or whether you are a complete beginner.

"A few years ago, when we hosted an event like this, a very young child played Baa Baa Black Sheep, but that was the moment when she discovered that the organ was for her, and several years later she is preparing for Grade 4 and playing regularly in her local church!”

The event in the Minster starts at 10am, with doors open from 9.30am. A brief demonstration of the organ will begin the proceedings, before everyone who attends has the chance to have a go on the ‘King of Instruments’.

Children who already learn the piano are advised to bring a piece with them to play, whilst complete beginners will have the chance to explore the organ’s different sounds.

The event will conclude at approximately 12.30pm with a thrilling performance of an uplifting piece of music, played by one of the members of staff hosting the event, and refreshments will be available throughout the course of the morning.