The Organ Forum

just curious - does anybody?  I've noticed some people wear wristwatches while playing services and even concerts.  I think that it would just drive me crazy to have something on one wrist and not the other.  I always take off my watch before playing (piano or organ).  And I don't have OCD, or anything.

I always wear a wristwach.  It wouldn't feel right without it.  My robe covers it so no one can see it, including me.

 Do you wear any rings while playing the organ?  I have no choice, my wedding won't come off.  I also wear my Masonic ring on my right hand.  I have seen some rings that look like they would be very uncormfortable to wear while playing any keyboard. 

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Acts 2:38
Psalm 150 (KJV)

chchaisson:

just curious - does anybody?  I've noticed some people wear wristwatches while playing services and even concerts.  I think that it would just drive me crazy to have something on one wrist and not the other.  I always take off my watch before playing (piano or organ).  And I don't have OCD, or anything.

I am a little OCD, and sometimes feel like I strip before a performance.  Off come the:

• Shoes
• Watch
• Wallet
• Left pocket contents go in the left shoe, right pocket contents in the right shoe
• Shirt pocket contents go somewhere else
• Glasses cleaned so there are no streaks

Am I just odd, or does everyone do this to play?  If the tux/suit pulls at the front of the armpits while I play, I scrap it and get another.  Seems like no one builds those things for performing musicians--just to stand up straight in!

Oh, well.

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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)

I never wear a watch or any jewelry.  My piano teacher insisted that rings were bad for the technique, and I've always followed that advice.

When I need to know the time, I consult my cell phone.

Whenever I perform, I use a very special pocket watch, which I received when I was twelve.  Since then, it has accompanied me to every single performance! 

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Soubasse32

I always wear a watch, but the comment about rings interest me. I'm getting married in September and I was fitted for a wedding ring this week. It felt pretty weird to have something on my fingers, and I found myself wondering if it will be odd while playing. I suppose I'll get used to it.

How do we feel about cuff-link shirts while playing. I must admit I occasionally find them distracting.
 

Congratulations Simon! 

My piano teacher made the comment about rings to me when I was very young.  I suppose young developing fingers might be more susceptible to problems, I don't know.

Anyway, I see plenty of wedding rings on keyboard players.  You can always remove it when playing - just don't lose it! 

What is distracting about cuff-link shirts - the shirt or the cuff-links?

I have to perform in a tux very frequently, so I guess I'm used to it.  I've made it a bit of a hobby to collect cuff-links.

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Soubasse32

Thanks Soubasse!

I think the cuff-link thing is purely psychological. I imagine them getting catastrophically caught in each other during a frantic moment or something. There was a piece I was playing sometime that had hands basically on top of each other playing fast chords (Messiaen I think). The worry started there! The thing is, I regularly played at service in cuff-link shirts without any problems, but I still resist them for more serious things like recitals or exams or whatever.

Aha - it is a psychological barrier.  You just have to convince yourself it is OK. 

Just continue playing services with them, and eventually it will seem strange to not have them! 

I can understand foregoing cuff-links for an exam, but I'd think they are a bit of a necessity for a recital.

Never hurts to give the audience a little bit of 'bling'. 

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Soubasse32

I'm used to wearing a watch while playing, although I never wear a watch while at home.  I refer to it rather than the one at the back of the church.  I don't use heavy or bulky watches.  I'm not a jewelry person, so the watch is my limit.  Rings - that word is not in my vocabulary

Don't wear anything anytime because I cannot stand it. No watch, no rings, no nosering, no earrings, no wallet in backpocket, nothing The pockets of my coat are loaded and the first thing to give but the rest has to be empty. These days I even don't feel comfortable in a long sleeved shirt. So don't ask me about ties or cuff links. I do have a collection of them from my dad but I don't think I'll ever wear them. Well maybe, who knows?

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Expert in non-working solutions

The only time my watch leaves my wrist is when I go to sleep. It never really bothers me while playing.

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Nathan Wilcox

Havoc:

I do have a collection of them from my dad but I don't think I'll ever wear them.

soubasse32:

I've made it a bit of a hobby to collect cuff-links.

Hmmm....

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Soubasse32

Wow!  Over the past day or two since a member complained that the Forum was getting boring it has suddenly taken off; I can barely keep up.  Hope this is a good thing and we get both quantity and quality.

I normally wear a watch and a ring along with a coat and tie while playing for Mass.  I rarely wear a long-sleeve shirt and only have one or two shirts that accommodate cufflinks.  I have one nice pair of cufflinks that were my Grandfather's; he had the same initials as me.

Funny story:  One summer I visited a nice tracker organ in a church near the beach and was allowed to play for about an hour.  The church was almost 80-degrees (no air conditioning as this area rarely gets above 75 degrees) and somewhat humid.  I was locked in the loft alone and the Ruckpositiv completely blocked any view of me from below.  So, off came the shirt (what a relief)!  Thank God there was no security camera that had escaped my attention!  I never play in shorts, even at home, because I stick to the bench that way.

Whatever works . . .

MenchenStimme:

So, off came the shirt (what a relief)!  Thank God there was no security camera that had escaped my attention!

There is a story about Virgil Fox putting up a console camera and a screen in a (Belgian?) church, in advance of his concert.  Apparently the organ was in a rear gallery, and people had been clamoring to watch him play.

The elderly organist [edit - not Virgil Fox] came in to play the service on a hot summer day, not knowing that everything he did... was now visible to the congregation.

He removed his toupée, dentures, and most of his clothing   before starting his nice Prelude. 

I wonder if it is really true...?

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Soubasse32

Poor Virgil Fox if that did happen...

I forgot to mention in my first post that in addition to taking off my watch, I also remove any extraneous items before playing (wallet, keys, cell phone).  The organ has a built-in clock if I need the time.

I wear a suit jacket and tie at mass, but I'm up in the choir loft, so I'll usually end up taking off the jacket and rolling up my sleeves.  It's much easier to play without sleeves getting in the way.

I pity anybody who has to wear a cassock and surplus.  The sleeves on those really get in the way, to the point where you can't switch manuals without getting caught on something.