The Organ Forum

I was at a church service this morning and the organist (who allows me to play the organs at his church) asked me if I had organ shoes I told him that I play in socks. So the question here is what do you wear on your feet when you play?

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Once you can tie your arms into a pretzel and your legs into a knot, you've got it under control

I have seen people play barefeeted, in socks, sandals, trainers, boots etc. It is more important that you feel comfortable in it than what it is exactly.

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Expert in non-working solutions

I've always used ordinary shoes but with no 'tread' on the soles, very slippery. OK it means you can slide accidentally so you have to be careful, but when you want pedal glissandi, they're great. I've never been too impressed with people playing in socks or barefoot 'on stage' but as Havoc says, you should be comfortable.

Andy

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It's not what you play, it's not how you play. It's the fact that you're playing that counts.

I have a pair of dress shoes with leather souls that I use exclusively to play the organ.  They are over 17 years old and about shot.  I am thinking about getting a pair of shoes designed for organist.  Are they worth it?

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Acts 2:38
Psalm 150 (KJV)

Well, H&H, the professionals swear by them, I could tell that Karel Paukert (the organist mentioned above) definitely swore by his organ shoes, and at fifty(ish) bucks, I know it isn't the end of the world if you get them and don't like them, but I personally don't play in organ shoes for two reasons, 1) I don't own a pair 2) I don't have money to buy them.

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Once you can tie your arms into a pretzel and your legs into a knot, you've got it under control

I wear Organmaster shoes. I find them to be great and they are the only kind of footwear I use when I play. I keep them handy in the black seat of my car since I play on more than one organ.

Cheers!

I have a pair of loafers that I bought some years ago to wear to church. They have leather soles, and proved to be a bad choice in snow or ice, and somewhat slippery on wet surfaces. But they turned out to be ideal organ shoes. I practice at home without shoes, but carry the shoes along to use any time I play in public.

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Mike

owner of an Allen MDS317 and working
on a custom digital using a Rodgers 220
console. I play a forty rank pipe organ on Sunday mornings.

I met my wife in a ballroom dance class.  I was delighted to find out from my organ teacher that these specialty shoes are almost exactly like specialty organ shoes.  They are slick enough to slide on the pedals, and thin enough to that I can feel the pedals with my feet.

 
 

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Thank you

Jon Benignus
Houston, TX

Owner of a Wurlitzer Series 20 Organ
built circa 1945

I presently play in Organmaster Shoes, and would recommend dedicated shoes for anyone who is a serious organist for several reasons.  Besides the obvious advantage of having the higher heel, the shoes:

• Are clean, and keep the pedals clean and clear of dirt, sand, salt (I live in snow country), and other contaminants.  I NEVER wear them outside.
• Have soles which allow one to feel the pedals through the sole.  With wear, the sole molds to the foot and become more comfortable over time.
• Are the right width to fit between the pedals.  I've found it's hard to find street shoes wide enough for my feet which will fit between the pedals--allowing me to play only one note at a time without contorting my ankles to get the right angle.
• Prevent the obvious--odor!

I will say, however, that I am not as pleased with my most recent purchase of Organmaster Shoes.  My first pair were GREAT, and lasted over 20 years and probably had 20 more years left in them.  They were just broken in.

When I purchased my organ in September 2007, I bought a new set of shoes, and found the construction had changed--

• More plastic and less leather.
• Soles don't fit the shoe (slightly oversized, and beginning to separate already).
• Fit and finish are not as comfortable as I remember--of course, they are only 5 months old, so there's still time to break them in!

Thanks for the poll.

Michael

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Allen Organs (505-B & ADC-6000), Frazee Pipe Organ (2/13 w/chimes),
Pump Organs (Estey, Sears & Roebuck, Mason & Hamlin, Chicago Cottage, Williams & Sons, Angelius, Cornish)
Pianos (Ivers sq. grand ca.1865, Ivers & Pond Upright-1929, Technics SX-PR600)

Talk about a 'higher heel'!

Michael summed it up nicely - I'll put my 2 cents in too:

Proper organ shoes allow the organist to have a consistent 'interface' between the foot and the pedalboard, no matter which organ is played.  Consistency = accuracy.

Stocking feet look unprofessional (especially with a tux! ) and seem unsanitary; one also has the risk of stubbing one's toes when playing quickly.  Stocking feet also do not allow one to quickly/easily play pedal chords.

If an organist learns a piece in stocking feet it can be difficult to adjust to performing in shoes.  Much better to learn it with shoes on!

Street shoes can be dirty; the resulting grit can scuff up the pedalboard and leave debris.

Organ shoes are specifically designed to play the organ:

• They have a soft sole (which allows me to feel the notes), but not too soft (so I don't stub toes on sharps, toe pistons, or any other pointy protruberances commonly found on an organ console )
• The sole has a texture that allows the foot to slide, without actually being slippery
• My organ shoes are narrrower than my street shoes, in order to fit between the keys
• They have a heel just tall enough so I don't have to overflex my foot when playing with the heel - a real hazard.
• The sole is trimmed very short around the edges, so to avoid catching against the other foot (or pedal keys) when playing adjacent notes or trills.  I really appreciate that!

I've had the same pair of Organmaster Shoes for ... nearly 30 years!    I keep them stored in special socks, which helps keep them looking good. 

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Soubasse32

I used to play in regular "street shoes" which were of the Oxford Style with rubber soles.

But I took the plunge and invested in a pair of Organmaster shoes, which I am glad to see have been fantastic. I like the fact that I can now "feel" the pedals, with the rubber soles you were always "taking the plunge" as you couldn't feel about so easily. They've also got a smooth sole, so you can slide your feet up and down the keys and across the keyboard with little resistance - unlike rubber. Plus, crucially, they're light which makes fast foot work a little less cumbersome.

I definitly recommend organists looking into a pair of dedicated shoes (organmaster or not). Plus as "myorgan" says, because they're dedicated shoes, they tend to be very clean and so won't scratch up the pedal keys or dirty them too much. I've had mine for three years and they still look like new.

$80 well spent IMO!  

PS. I did try playing bear-foot, but I found that the bottoms of my feet would start to ache. Plus I have flat feet which doesn't help. 

 

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Currently own:
ALLEN TC-3S (#42904 - 3rd Feb 1971) with Sequential Capture System

Speakers:
x1 Model 100 Gyro Cabinet
x1 Model 105 Cabinet
x3 Model 108 Cabinet

Jon Benignus,

That's a really lovely and romantic way to meet your feature wife. I love hearing stories like that. What song did you dance to on your wedding day? Was it the same one as when you had met in ballroom dance class?

Robmcw,

Those shoes are hilarious. For the organist who wishes to make a fashion statement and be noticed, the all new and improved super deluxe silver star organ boots. Just when you thought you couldn't reach the pedals, now you can play them like never before. Play like a star!  

 

 

ReedGuy:

Jon Benignus,

That's a really lovely and romantic way to meet your feature wife. I love hearing stories like that. What song did you dance to on your wedding day? Was it the same one as when you had met in ballroom dance class?

 

Moonlight Serenade.  Learned to do a nice foxtrot with it.  I also proposed to her after dancing to it!  

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Thank you

Jon Benignus
Houston, TX

Owner of a Wurlitzer Series 20 Organ
built circa 1945

New and improved super deluxe silver star organ boots.  Don't forget the "not sold in stores", "operators standing by", "get yours today" , "glows in the dark" and the "as seen on TV label on the box.  Garan****teed or you money back.  Looks like just the thing for the aspiring Kimball 300 Swinger player. 

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Mark Pratt

Hammond 820 at church
Gulbransen President at home
Conn 628 Rhapsody gone