The Diocese of Leeds and the Royal College of Organists have launched a new website as the First Stop! for beginner organists to ‘dip their toes in’ before taking their next steps with Fingers and Feet – a tutor book to engage and encourage anyone with no previous musical experience to learn the pipe organ!
Fingers and Feet: A Journey to the Organ Bench is a major new organ tutor book created specifically to support learners starting the organ as their very first instrument. It is the brainchild of the Diocese of Leeds Keyboard Studies Programme, with support from the Royal College of Organists (RCO), and with funding from the Vinehill Trust. It was edited by Diocese of Leeds Organ Tutor David Pipe, with content devised by organists Drew Cantrill-Fenwick and Robin Harrison.
Unlike traditional organ tutors — which typically assume prior piano experience — Fingers and Feet is designed specifically for those starting the organ from scratch, including learners with no previous keyboard background. It also comes with a suite of 34 short films that guide learners through posture, movement and first musical steps.
Benjamin Newlove, Leeds Cathedral Organist and Organ Tutor in the Diocese of Leeds said: ‘The future of the organ depends on giving young people the opportunity, confidence, and tools to begin. This book is designed to make learning feel clear, rewarding, and inviting, and will be a particularly valuable resource for primary school children studying through the Diocese of Leeds Keyboard Studies Programme.’
Benjamin Newlove is already using the ‘Fingers & Feet’ organ tutor created by the Diocese of Leeds and the RCO to engage the next generation of organists
Editor David Pipe said: ‘We wanted to create a tutor that feels genuinely welcoming — something that says to a complete beginner: “Yes, this instrument is for you!” The organ can seem intimidating at first glance, but it shouldn’t be. Fingers and Feet strips away the fear factor, focusing instead on joyful discovery, musical curiosity and physical confidence, with a clear pathway that enables learners to grow naturally as they develop more formal technique.’
David Pipe continues to inspire young organists from across the Diocese of Leeds
The Fingers and Feet book, accompanied by 34 short tutorial videos, is now on sale, but is also being made available as one of the many FREE resources on the RCO’s new First Stop! website – a major online resource designed as a ‘one stop shop’ welcoming complete newcomers interested in exploring the organ, whether through its music, its cultural history, or the many roles it plays in modern life. Instead of duplicating content that already exists online, First Stop! serves as a carefully structured gateway to the very best materials produced by organists and organisations around the world. Visitors can browse films, interviews, lesson guides, digital learning tools and curated playlists. A powerful search tool enables users to explore by topic, content type or free text, making the platform a flexible companion for learning, teaching, and independent discovery.
Tom Bell, RCO Director North, said: ‘First Stop! has been created to give anyone — absolutely anyone — a clear and confident first step into the organ world. There is an extraordinary amount of superb material out there, but for a newcomer it can be hard to know where to begin. First Stop! solves that problem. It brings the best content together in one welcoming space, organised so that learners, teachers and explorers can find exactly what they need and feel inspired to take the next step. In addition, it provides a focus and a platform for projects such as the Fingers and Feet tutor.’
RCO Chief Executive Sir Andrew Parmley said: ‘The enthusiastic response to last year’s Play the Organ Year initiative demonstrated yet again the enduring appeal of the organ to musicians, would-be musicians, and music lovers of all ages. By creating dedicated print and online resources for those coming fresh to the instrument we are continuing to lower barriers, widen access, and give more people the chance to share the remarkable experiences that the organ offers.’
The complete tutor is available for sale, and also as a FREE download – with accompanying tutorial films – on the First Stop! website – www.firststoporgan.com
The Diocese of Leeds Keyboard Studies Programme (KSP) engages people of all ages in learning organ, piano and accordion. In our schools, the KSP introduces young people to the fun and enjoyment of learning a keyboard instrument through lively whole-class melodica lessons, supported by the Vinehill Trust.
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