The teaching offered by RCO Academy Organ School is delivered by a network of organ tutors across the UK.
In order to maintain the quality and consistency of our organ teaching, we work to a well-established set of criteria (click here to view organ teaching criteria) in determining our teaching team, and we welcome applications from any prospective tutor who feels they are able to meet these criteria.
However, please be aware that as well as making our assessments against these criteria, we also manage our tutor roster on the basis of demand in each region. This is essential to ensure that every tutor on our teaching roster has a reasonable prospect of teaching through RCO Academy Organ School.
Those teaching with RCO Academy buy services from the College on a quarterly basis. The current charges are: £100 for those teaching outside London, £120 for those teaching in London, and £110 for those teaching both in and outside London.
If you are interested in becoming an organ teacher with the RCO Academy Organ School, in the first instance please fill out the following form.
RCO Academy Organ School: Teaching Criteria
Enthusiasm for helping students of all ages and all standards
Teachers should normally be prepared to accept any student without audition and regardless of age, keyboard experience, or aspiration.
Ability to teach the entire repertoire, with historically aware interpretation
Every teacher is committed to teaching the entire solo organ repertoire, and to keeping abreast of research into performance practice, organ history, editions etc.
Honest but sensitive and encouraging feedback on a regular basis
Teachers are committed to sharing their assessment of the student’s progress with the student in three ways:
a) verbally
b) on record sheets supplied by the RCO for use at each lesson
c) on progress review sheets supplied by the RCO for use after every tenth lesson or 12 months, whichever is sooner.
They should also encourage the student to evaluate the teacher’s performance on the said progress review sheet
Preparation for examinations
All teachers will demonstrate sufficient expertise and research to coach for organ grade examinations and diploma examinations, with in-depth knowledge of current ABRSM and RCO syllabuses.
Comprehensive training
All teachers will include in their standard tuition:
- Technique (including pedal technique)
- Keyboard Skills, including sightreading
- Repertoire
- Registration and organ management.
- Practice methods
Also, when required:
- Accompanying, especially accompanying church services
- Improvisation
Flexible appointments
Lessons are normally booked singly. Lesson frequency therefore remains in the control of the student, although the teacher will of course make recommendations.
Administrative Efficiency
Teachers respond within 48 hours to student enquiries.
Lesson payments are required one lesson in advance, and the teacher confirms in writing receipt of the payment and full details of the appointment.
Structured, prepared lessons
- The normal lesson structure is technique/keyboard skills/repertoire
- Each lesson is summarised, with practice tips, on a carbonated lesson record sheet
- The teacher prepares the lesson based on the previous lesson record sheet(s) or, in the case of a new student, on the student’s application form, and discusses the anticipated content at the start of each lesson.
