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My E11 and Me

Hello all. Nice to have found this site. I inherited my Father-in-law's very old E11 and as a complete keyboard novice (without any musical knowledge at all), am resolved to learn in my semi-retirement! The instrument has limited voices and the sound q…

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My E11 and Me

SirOrn

SirOrn


Total Posts: 2
Joined: February 16, 2015

Hello all. Nice to have found this site.
I inherited my Father-in-law's very old E11 and as a complete keyboard novice (without any musical knowledge at all), am resolved to learn in my semi-retirement!
The instrument has limited voices and the sound quality probably not as it was but it suits my purpose for the moment. I'm bypassing it's speakers with a lineout to a Technics amplifier and a couple of Hitachi ear-benders.
I am following Kenneth Baker's 'Learn to play organ' and wonder if any readers might have books three, four and five surplus to requirements? Maybe any other easy pieces/suggestions I might get to grips with. Can pay/will pay.
Apart from golf, this is my favourite endeavour and find being able to play completely engrossing and satisfying. My goal strangely, without reason or embarrassment, is to play a Mrs Mills type genre or ragtime.

Yours

Posted on March 22, 2015 at 9:53 AM
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2 Replies

admin

admin
United Kingdom

Total Posts: 1055
Joined: February 2, 2014

Re: My E11 and Me

Hi SirOrn

Thanks for your very interesting post!

I had a vague memory of Mrs Mills but hardly knew anything about her and a quick search turned up trumps, a fascinating video about her on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FBIMVD_DDc...

And I can recommend this video on Youtube along with the ones associated to it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3psHlREnjPI...

I learned to play on an organ that pre-dated the E11. When I was about 13 I started learning on a Technics U20 (this is why I don't know much about Mrs Mills, I was born in the mid-60s!).

These earlier Organs are all about imagination. I remember that the U20 had very few sounds, including a piano and a brass 'stop' which was intended as an organ tab. To me, at least in my imagination, it was a french horn, a trumpet or a trombone, depending on what instrument the music called for.

You shouldn't have any trouble finding the Kenneth Baker books there are many available on Amazon. Here's a link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Organ-Kenneth-Baker-Instruments/s/?_encodin...

Keep in touch and let us know how you get on!

Best wishes,
Mike

Posted on March 22, 2015 at 12:25 PM

SirOrn

SirOrn


Total Posts: 2
Joined: February 16, 2015

Re: My E11 and Me

Thanks for the links Mike. Quite something seeing Rick Wakeman playing a piece of music hall stride! Also surprising was the adulteration of a Steinway by lacquering the hammers and adjusting the wires slightly off key. I've no doubt a modern keyboard could reproduce that edgy echo. As a tribute to Mrs Mills, my ringtone is her playing Bring Me Sunshine and to a man, everybody starts joining in on the phone call. I have to leave it ringing.... fabulous.

Posted on March 23, 2015 at 10:48 PM