095: The Intersection of Piano and Organ with Kelsey Berg

Kelsey Berg brings a fascinating perspective to the worlds of piano and organ. With roles spanning church music, university teaching, and private instruction, she shares how her unexpected transition from piano to organ opened a new musical path. In this episode, she explores the key differences between the instruments, the challenges of technique and registration, the realities of practicing without an organ at home, and how injury-preventive training shaped her approach to healthy playing.

1. Kelsey shared a brief overview of her background as multifaceted organist and music teacher.
2. How she switched from playing the piano after unexpectedly taking a church organ job.
3. She explained why the myth “piano players can automatically play organ” is false.
4. Kelsey how the organ’s sound production differs from the piano.
5. How organ musicality relies on timing, articulation, phrasing, and managing silence rather than varying touch like on the piano.
6. Why practicing organ music at the piano improves musical shaping.
7. The challenge of accessing instruments, since organists depend on churches for practice time.
8. How to approach churches or universities politely to request practice access.
9. She explained why the organ is not a dying art.
10. Kelsey highlighted that there are more organ jobs than organists.
11. She encouraged pianists to consider the field for stable employment.
12. How studying injury-preventive technique at the Lister-Sink Institute transformed her playing and resolved pain from overuse.
13. Common technique misconceptions, including misunderstanding anatomy and finger independence.

Links Mentioned

1. Kelsey's Instagram page:@kelseymberg
2. Kelsey's Facebook profile:Kelsey Berg
3. Kelsey's YouTube page:www.youtube.com/@kelseyberg3278

Today's Guest

Praised by Cleveland Classical for her “subtlety, depth, and affect” in performance, Kelsey Berg is a multifaceted organist, music theorist, and teacher. She currently serves as the Assistant Organist-Choirmaster at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Akron, OH. Kelsey is also a Guest Lecturer in Organ at the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM), where she teaches secondary organ lessons to both graduate and undergraduate students, as well as applied organ at Case Western Reserve University as part of the Joint Music Program. Kelsey maintains a private piano and organ studio, with students of all levels. Kelsey recently graduated with a Doctor of Musical of Arts in Organ Performance from CIM, studying with Professor Todd Wilson. At CIM, she was the 2023 recipient of the Heinrich Scholarship in organ. Kelsey received both a Master of Music in Organ Performance and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Mercer University. She also attended Salem College, receiving both a Certificate in Injury Preventive Keyboard Technique and a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy with an Emphasis in Injury Preventive Keyboard Technique. At Salem, Kelsey was awarded the Bright and Annie Lee Fitzgerald Sink Award for Excellence in Piano. She has studied organ with Dr. Jack Mitchener and Dr. John Cummins, and has studied piano with Dr. Ian Altman and Dr. Barbara Lister-Sink. Kelsey is a member of the Association of Anglican Musicians, the Society of Women Organists, and is Sub-Dean of the Cleveland Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

About Rachel Ehring

Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.

1. Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
2. Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
3. Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
4. Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music

Thank you for tuning in!

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