Organ Keyboard Labs

Churches face a dilemma when it comes to organ music: Everyone wants worshippers to be magnetically drawn through the door, but it’s increasingly challenging to find an organist with the skills to lead them in inspired song.

In response to this challenge, Rodgers Instruments commissioned Dr. Ina Slater Grapenthin, a music professor at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, to develop a group learning curriculum that makes it fun and interesting to learn organ playing. The result is the "Keys to the Organ" program that is now available throughout the United States.

Rodgers has now established organ keyboard labs in several locations. Using the Roland Classic C-330 organ and the C-200 portable organ keyboard, these labs are teaching both young students and adults the skills needed to play the organ in worship.

Dr. Grapenthin, a native of Reading, Pennsylvania, is nationally known as an organ clinician, recitalist and author. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the Ithaca College School of Music, a Master’s Degree in Organ and Sacred Music from the University of Michigan, a Master’s Degree in Education and a Doctorate in Education and Pedagogy from Columbia University, New York City. She also attended the Oberlin Conservatory and the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin, Germany and holds a Performance Certificate from both institutions. She has studied with notable organists such as: Michael Schneider, Hochschule für Musik, Berlin; Haskell Thompson, Oberlin Conservatory; Robert Clarke, University of Michigan; Frederick Swann, Riverside Church, NYC and pedagogy with Robert Pace, Columbia University.

Please contact Rodgers if you are interested in starting an organ keyboard lab in your area.