American Guild of Organists

Member Login

Educational Resources

Welcome to the Educational Resources web page of the American Guild of Organists. The educational resources accessible from this page have been developed over the years. They cover a wide range of practical topics useful to beginning organists, church musicians, and AGO members. The emphasis is on content not otherwise readily available through non-AGO sources.

Lessons for the New Organist

The AGO Committee on Continuing Professional Education has produced a series of 30 videos entitled Lessons for the New Organist. Pianists are often asked by their congregation to play the organ, and these videos were developed to help new organists acquire basic skills and techniques as quickly as possible. Each video lesson is two to seven minutes long, and there is a wide variety of topics from shoes to bench height, stops, registrations, and basic pedaling.

Learn Beginning Organ Improvisation From Two National Competition Winners

Two winners of the National Competition in Organ Improvisation, Kalle Toivio (2018) and Ivan Bosnar (2020), recently completed instructional videos designed for organists who are just beginning to explore the art of improvisation. The videos were filmed at Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music on the historic Holtkamp organ in Crouse Hall. Frederick Hohman produced the videos.

Beginning Organ Improvisation with Ivan Bosnar
Beginning Organ Improvisation with Kalle Toivio

AGO Videos online

All of the AGO videos including the Master Series, Pulling Out all the Stops, as well as several past convention workshops may be viewed online.

A Young Person’s Guide to the Pipe Organ

An illustrated multi-media webpage explaining the origins of the pipe organ, how a pipe organ works, pitches available on the pipe organ, the basic sound groups of a pipe organ, and the divisions of a pipe organ. Click here to visit this page.

The OrganTutor Registration Unit

Eleven interactive lessons on basic organ registration, from Don Cook’s OrganTutor Online, are available free for AGO members who are logged in. The lessons cover Organ Types and Components, Using Console Devices, Pitches, Families, Non-Speaking Stops, Chorus Registration, Solo/Accompaniment Registration, Trio/Duo Registration, and Hymn Registration.

You may conveniently view the OrganTutor lessons by first accessing any one of the online issues of The American Organist magazine. After you have logged in and can access TAO online, look for “OrganTutor” in the “Menu” found in the upper left-hand side of your issue. An accompanying packet is available here as a free download for printing.

A Mini-Course in Basic Organ Registration

The material included was prepared specifically for the beginning organist and covers only basic information. Access A Mini-Course in Basic Organ Registration.

Downloadable Documents

pdf-large-type2024 Manual of Procedure for Certification

pdf-icon-40pxSelected Repertoire for Organ and Orchestra, compiled by Michael Barone

pdf-icon-40pxModern Editions of Early French Organ Music

pdf-icon-40pxAGO Certification: A chapter guide for promotion, preparation, and participation. (Under revision)

pdf-icon-40pxAGO Professional Certification Requirements 2025

pdf-icon-30pxWedding Policy: A Guide for Churches and Synagogues

pdf-icon-30pxPresenting Concerts In Your Church And Community

pdf-icon-40pxAGO Wedding Repertoire List

pdf-icon-40pxPipe Up! Let it Resound! An Introduction to the Pipe Organ booklet for Pre-School through Grade 5

pdf-icon-40pxChapter Outreach

pdf-icon-40pxPOE Handbook

pdf-icon-40pxPedals, Pipes, & Pizza Handbook

pdf-icon-40pxPipeworks

pdf-icon-40pxThe Challenge: Teaching the Organ to Youth

pdf-icon-40pxThe Examinations and Academic Regalia of the American Guild of Organists, by Agnes Armstrong, first published in The American Organist, July 1996

 

Organ Repertoire Lists
Graded Repertoire Documents
Other
Organ History and Design