Organ Studies

The Conservatory at Mount Royal University offers instruction on the classical pipe organ to students of all ages and abilities through the program of Organ Studies. The program grew out of a collaboration with the Calgary International Organ Festival and Competition, and was developed in 1996 in close consultation with its hosting organization, The Calgary International Organ Foundation, its Artistic Director, Simon Preston, and Calgary organist Terrence Fullerton. A gift from the Calgary University Foundation for the Organ made the program possible.

Wyatt Recital Hall is home to a 3-manual and pedal pipe organ, built by Orgues Létourneau Ltée in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec in 1996 and named The Carthy Organ. The hall is used exclusively for organ activities: teaching, practice, and recitals. All organ students have access to the hall for practice: scheduling is facilitated by an online forum hosted on the MRU server.

Faculty
Neil Cockburn, PhD, FRCO
Head of Organ Studies
Profile

Private Instruction
Credit-free
We offer private organ instruction on the 3-manual Létourneau pipe organ to students of all levels and ages. There is no audition for credit-free instruction. If we have a suitable teacher-student match for your needs and goals, you will be invited to commence instruction. If we have no current teacher availability you can opt to be placed on a waiting list.

Advanced Performance Program
Students of the pipe organ can participate in the Academy Program for Gifted Youth's Advanced Performance Program. The Advanced Performance Program offers advanced level musicians an opportunity to focus intensively on performance studies in a highly inspiring atmosphere.

Custom-designed Intensive Courses
Organists resident outside of the Calgary area may consider designing a short-term intensive program of organ instruction and practice in consultation with our Faculty members. This program is particularly suited to those who are preparing for an exam or other performance without regular access to a teacher. We can custom design a program suited to your availability and needs: e.g. one day, two days, a long weekend, or a week etc. Instruction is generally available from September through June, although please contact us well in advance for potential availability: organ@mtroyal.ca or call 403.440.5648

Church Music Studies
We offer instruction during private lessons and classes in traditional church music idioms appropriate to the pipe organ: hymns, choral accompaniments, preludes and postludes, as well as training in related keyboard skills such as sight-reading and transposition.

Church musicians are often asked to provide alternatives to traditional music within services. As a result, we are able to arrange instruction on a case-by-case basis in contemporary styles; jazz piano, vocal jazz, and the art of arranging for instrumental groups. These areas are taught by other members of the Conservatory faculty.
 

Examinations
According to the individual needs of each student, we prepare candidates for the examinations of the Royal Conservatory of Music, and the Royal Canadian College of Organists. Exam entry is not a requirement for our students — we treat each student as an individual and set goals accordingly.

For examinations which require music history and theory components, we can arrange instruction in The Conservatory's Theory, History and Composition study area.

Organ Concerts
We host a number of free organ concerts in the Wyatt Recital Hall throughout the year. For details of events, ask to be added to our e-mail list by sending a message to: organ@mtroyal.ca.

Alternatively, follow our Twitter updates. 

Group Classes
We offer a varied curriculum of group classes throughout the year. Our classes are open to all organists - not just our regular students. For information on our current schedule of classes please contact us at: organ@mtroyal.ca or call 403.440.5648.

Alternatively, follow our Twitter updates.