<p>DD just won another local piano competition with much praise and support, and continues to love her organ studies. She is starting to wonder can she do both in college? so far neither piano or organ teachers know. . .</p>
<p>So I am asking here?</p>
<p>YES, but most schools will tell you no. ;) </p>
<p>PM me if you want more info!</p>
<p>A couple of past threads that may help a bit:</p>
<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/623922-organ-performance-majors.html?highlight=organ%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/623922-organ-performance-majors.html?highlight=organ</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/475521-being-organist-us.html?highlight=organ%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/475521-being-organist-us.html?highlight=organ</a> containing a link to a list of college programs
American</a> Guild of Organists</p>
<p>If you weren't aware, an instrument specific forum
The</a> Organ Forum - Forums</p>
<p>I'd imagine it might involve a bit of searching trying to find a school that has an upfront policy on dual instrument study. Takes a bit of digging, but it can be accomplished.</p>
<p>Many schools that discourage simultaneous study of two primary instruments allow students to take secondary lessons on related instruments. My daughter is a classical double bass performance major, for example, but is also taking secondary lessons both in jazz bass and on viola da gamba.</p>
<p>Would your daughter be willing to take secondary lessons on either piano or organ, or would it have to be primary lessons on both instruments? (FYI, primary lessons are usually one hour a week and count for twice as much academic credit as secondary lessons, which are generally half an hour per week. The practice expectations are, in most cases, scaled accordingly.)</p>
<p>well, she currently studies piano with one college professor, oboe with another professor, and on organ works with a senior minister of music emeritus (that sounds so fancy!). She does at least 3 hours of practice a day already, and is in our city's honors symphony in addition. Juggling music is part of her life already. </p>
<p>As I've posted before tho, she hates academics, tho so far is 3.8 so it doesn't show too badly.</p>
<p>anyway, we will continue to ask around!</p>
<p>I forgot to add, that one of her loves is working at our church which has a huge music and the arts program, including daily recitals, a music school for inner city kids, a huge choir program and a theater and dance program. We also recently renovated our organ, and she worked hands on learning about organ building. I think she sees piano and organ as integral to any large music program. . .</p>
<p>Deciding on a major, when she sees what is hopping at church, seems so old fashioned!</p>
<p>Some of the smaller programs, or those with good liturgical performance programs may see a dual performance pursuit as a plus, rather than a negative. You may really have to dig and ask specific questions, as BassDad and -Allmusic- have suggested.</p>
<p>At conservatory level on an instrument, 3 hours practice per day on EACH primary instrument is probably closer to the expectation of the teachers. It may be possible to do piano and organ, but the playing techniques are different enough from one another that she may find it difficult to keep up with those who choose one over the other. There are some people who manage to play both quite well, but very few of them are at the top of the heap on either and none at all that I know are there on both. As others have pointed out, it becomes a question of finding a school and a set of teachers who will support what she wants to do. That is going to take more than the usual amount of research in this case.</p>
<p>Bassdad is correct, that it is an extra subset of work to find supportive teachers and a supportive environment for two instruments. Supplementals are more easily supported (but not everywhere---we did our homework on this too). I would say 4-6 hours of practice is about right. Not for the faint of heart, but also the right thing if it is the heart's desire! :)</p>
<p>I agree with BassDad. I'm a organ major next year in college, and I'll be taking piano as my secondary instrument (perhaps harpscichord later on). Of course piano was my primary instrument. However, after starting organ, I discovered it fits me better (I'm not sure how else to explain this). I still take piano lessons though, b/c you need great piano technique for the organ. There are people who major in both piano and organ, although it is pretty difficult... If you and your daughter feel she can handle two performance majors, go right ahead. For me though, I would choose one PRIMARY instrument and just take lessons on the other one without majoring in it. </p>
<p>Like BassDad said, at a Conservatory, you would be expected to practice A LOT if you are a double performance major. Most schools actually encourage pianists to take organ lessons and organists to take piano lessons!</p>
<p>Westminster Choir College was mentioned in one of the other organ threads. We live in Princeton and DS plays piano and organ in addition to violin (his primary instrument). We looked at organ studies at Westminster and they allow pianists to audition for the organ program, and also permit secondary piano instruction to those with organ as their major. They have amazing organs there and I believe it is still considered one of the best places to study organ, the church music focus being a strength of the program.</p>
<p>I have been studying piano and organ concurrently for a little over a year now, first at St. Olaf College and now at UT-Austin. Piano is my major instrument; organ my secondary. My daily practice time is about 3-4 hours on piano, 1 hour on organ. At St. Olaf, I had a half hour lesson each week on the organ (and an hour on piano); at UT, my weekly organ lesson is an hour - secondary students get the same lesson time as major students here, which is unusual. I've found organ teachers to be happy to teach an enthusiastic student with a strong piano background, even though I had no organ experience before college. Piano teachers may be more reluctant to allow secondary instrument study, and your daughter should ask whoever she wants to study with. But both my college piano teachers have been supportive of my organ studies.</p>
<p>Honestly, I think studying both piano and organ is a very practical decision, especially for someone as interested in church music as your daughter is. The pianist Joshua Nemith, in an article about surviving as a freelance musician, encourages pianists and instrumentalists in general to study instruments related to their primary one. He laments that conservatories don't do enough to prepare those who aren't the lucky few who manage to make it as a soloist for the realities of making a career, and I think there's merit in that statement. Don't let anyone discourage your daughter from pursuing her chosen path.</p>