What's up folks? I have a few questions to ask. Do any of ya'll remember back in the day when you first started out trying to play the organ? Do ya'll remember trying to firt play in a service? What are some of the things that helped you out along the way? Well that is where i am now. I can play a little but not good enough to try and tackle a service. I found a church that needs an organist but they already have a pianist and she is an elderly woman. I've been going to the rehearsals and trying to play the songs but i'm struggling though. The church has a majority of elderly people and on Sundays it's like 15-18 people in the entire building. They are singing the basic hymn songs like "Jesus is on the main line" etc nothing new. The thing is i don't know how to play those songs. A buddy of mine who plays the organ say that it is a great oppertunity for me being that it is a small church and they are singing basic songs. He also says that it will put me under pressure by getting up there to play on Sunday mornings. I guess that i'm more nervous than anything because when i get up there i want to already be able to play. I know that this won't happen overnight though. The pastor and even the members are very nice and supportive of me so that kind of made me loose that feeling of "messing up" and being looked at. So i took a shot at it last Sunday and i was just up there pecking on the keys quietly and playing loud when i knew a few chords of a song i knew. I then played some talk music i made up when he was speaking. The pastor then put me on "front street" saying that he was glad that i got up there and he said "just play it, no one will know that they are messing up but you" I laughed!!! But i guess he is right though. One thing that i'm going to start doing is bringing a tape recorder to practice and sunday service so i can try to play along with it in my spare time. Is there a quick way to playing the organ? Sometimes i wish i can learn quickly because i think about the pianist not making it on a Sunday and it's just me alone and hardly knowing the songs. Please give me some insight on learning basic hymns, talk music, preacher chords, etc. The good thing i like at the church is that they have the B3 with the 122, Man that model sounds so fresh!!! They also have a young kid about 11-12 who drums too. I've always had the desire to play the organ for years but i know that you have to crawl first. I took the job because i didn't want to miss what i think was a blessing in the long run for me...... Also what are some tactics to help you develop an ear and playing by ear?