When I first found my way onto an organ bench, a new world unfolded to me. As a trained pianist, I found the keyboard to be familiar. But everything else, including the pedalboard, was new territory.
Perhaps like many pianists who move into the organ world, my first pieces would have been manual only compositions and transcriptions. But every time I sat at the organ, that ominous pedalboard reminded me that I needed to tackle this new extension.
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I didn’t realize at the time that one of the requisites for success at the pedalboard would be my choice of footwear. I first would have played with my regular shoes that I wore to church. These shoes could have been one of many wider pair of shoes and were not the best option. I then realized that the shoes weren’t quite working for me, so I took them off. For a while, I played in my socks. That was better, though still not great, and did get me some unusual looks from a few folks in the choir.
Somewhere along the way, I saw an advertisement for organ shoes and thought to myself, well, why not give these a try. And when I finally played with these on my feet, everything changed. I was stunned at what a difference these shoes made in my ability to play the pedalboard.
That first pair of organ shoes from Organmaster Shoes lasted me years. Just recently, the shoes began to show their age and it was clearly time for a new pair. My latest pair just arrived, and they are even better than my first pair.
Organmaster Shoes Features
US Men’s Sizes
- Whole & Half Sizes from 6 – 13.5. We also carry whole sizes 14, 15, and 16.
- 3 Widths: Narrow(B), Medium(CD), and Wide(EE)
Suede Leather Soles
- Allow you to FEEL your way across the pedal board
- Our soles provide both slide and traction and play SILENTLY on the pedals
Construction of the Upper
- Trim fit means less bulk on your foot
- Steel shank gives the support needed for the operating the swell pedals, especially when making incremental changes in volume
- Lightweight uppers enhance your development of kinesthetic sensation when locating notes and gaps by touch
- Soft breathable genuine leather uppers conform to the shape of your foot over time
- Breathable Tricot insole
Pedal Board Heels
- Heel height of 1-1/4 inches (3cms) is fundamental for proper support as well as the legato playing of thirds and acquiring good technique
- Proper heel height also protects organists from pulling muscles when heeling down
As they say, confident pedal work comes with practice and the right shoes on the pedals. Organ shoes make a huge difference in my experience.
Purchase Organmaster Shoes
Organmaster Shoes are available directly from Organmaster at www.Organmastershoes.com
My Youtube Video Review of Organmaster Shoes
