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The Scottish Churches Organist Training Scheme |
page content last updated 29th April 2007 |
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Scottish
Churches Organist Training Scheme |
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The Scottish
Churches Organist Training Scheme (SCOTS for short) is a joint initiative of
the Scottish Federation of Organists, the Royal Svchool of Church Music and
the major Scottish Churches. The
scheme is in three stages, with certificated awarded at the end of each
stage. These awards are increasingly
being recognised by Churches and bu organisations involved in church
musicianship. Since it began in 1997,
SCOTS has been welcomed as meeting a real need among organists. How
SCOTS works
Each candidate, working at his or her own pace, is allocated a personal Adviser, who is an organist of some experience. The adviser monitors progress, and at the end of each of the first two stages makes the required assessment allowing entry into the next stage. The Adviser is not the candidate’s organ teacher as such (many candidates will have their own teacher), but rather an ‘encourager’, who can give advice and discuss problems. Meetings with the adviser will take place about four time a year. In addition, SCOTS runs special training days in different parts of the country, where various aspects of organ playing and church musicianship are discussed in talks and workshops, and where candidates can meet others in the same situation. The scheme is of
interest to anyone who has recently started to play the organ in church,
especially pianists who have been persuaded to accompany services because no
one else is available. It also
benefits those who once played the organ, but need to refresh their memory,
and organists who are taking lessons, but need to improve basic skills and
confidence. The current cost
of SCOTS membership is £10 per annum for Full Members, £5 for Associate
Members (see below). Additional fees are payable for training days and
certificate assessments. Course
and assessment rules and procedures
Entry
Qualifications
There are no
specific qualifications for entry to the SCOTS course or for any of the
assessments. With agreement of the
Adviser, a candidate may begin the course at any level. However, candidates should have some
keyboard skills and possess the basics of reading music before beginning
Stage 1 study. They should also have
access for practice to an organ which is designed for church use. Those who have not yet acquired these
skills, or who do not have access to a suitable organ are eligible for
Associate Membership of SCOTS (see below). Outcome
In Stages 1 and 2,
the Adviser is also the assessor, and will provide the candidate with a
written report. Certificates will be
sent to successful candidates. The
Stage 1 certificate will indicate whether or not the use of pedals has been
included in the assessment. The Stage
3 assessor is in each case appointed by the SCOTS committee, and will NOT be
the candidate’s Adviser. A Stage 3
assessment may be spread over a maximum of two sessions. The assessor’s report will be sent to the
candidate. The Stage 3 certificate
will be awarded once the candidate has successfully completed the entire
examination. Associate
Membership of SCOTS
Associate
Membership can be offered to absolute beginners who are taking piano or organ
lessons with a view to going on to play in church. Associate membership is also suitable for people using
instruments which are not strictly church instruments, and for which it can
be difficult to find Advisers. An
associate member does not have a personal Adviser, but will have access to a
SCOTS telephone helpline, will be on the mailing list for SCOTS activities
and publications, and of course will be very welcome at our training days. ********** Those seeking more
information about SCOTS may
contact the Membership Secretary, Miss Susan Wilson
or
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