Organist teaching students to eventually be his replacement

By RENEE WEBB
Content and Design Coordinator

Bill Crotty was 15 years old when he started playing the pipe organ for Mass at Resurrection of Our Lord Church in Pocahontas. He is pleased to now help the next generation of organists get a start.

The parishioner of St. Sebastian Parish of Pocahontas taught in Phoenix for nearly 30 years and substitute taught in Indiana for a time before returning to his hometown and taking a job as the kindergarten teacher at Pocahontas Catholic.

Upon returning to Pocahontas, Crotty also returned as one of the organists for church. In addition, the teacher took on piano students, a side gig he has done for more than 30 years.

“When I came back to town, I tried to keep it (piano lessons) on the lowdown, but after I picked up one student word got around town and then I had eight,” he said, noting that more have inquired.

Despite having a fair number of piano students Crotty, who started taking piano lessons in the third grade, acknowledged that piano playing is becoming a bit of a lost art.

The number of pianists/organists and those who can offer piano lessons “is pretty sparse,” he

Brecken Frerk 

  said. “It’s going to be extinct pretty soon if we don’t find younger players to take over, especially on the organ.”

At 60, Crotty noted that he is the baby organist in town. Other organists in the community from the churches of various denominations are mainly in their 80s or even 90s.

“Growing up, we had three organists and I became the fourth,” he said. Presently, he is one of two organists at his church – rotating every other weekend.

While the lessons are focused on the piano, Crotty said two of his students expressed interest in the organ and so part of their time is devoted to practice on that instrument. 

Starting with the piano, he said, can be very helpful because the organ can be a little overwhelming.

The two students are doing well, said the proud teacher who noted they even taught themselves how to use the pedal on the organ.

If the students keep up the lessons and practice, they might be up for playing the full Mass by the time they are in high school. The teacher said introducing the youth to playing at Mass “has been one of the best ideas I’ve had – that way I won’t have to play until I’m 80. I’m gonna train them young.”

“They get to do a prelude or postlude at Mass – before or after,” said Crotty. “Then we willease them into doing the responses – the Alleluia, the amen – but they are not quite ready for that yet.”

He mentioned the congregation has been very supportive and welcoming of the young organists - even clapping for them after their songs. One of the boys asked if they would be paid, to which the teacher replied, “Not quite yet, but I’m working on it.”

“It’s been a hoot,” said the teacher. “I started on the same organ the little boys are playing on. It’s been pretty fun.”

The two students who are playing the organ in addition to the piano are fourth graders Brecken Frerk and Ryder Nedved.

Seeing the other boys play the organ, a second and third grader would like to give the organ a try too.

As a child, he pointed out that he loved to play the piano and take lessons. In his experience as a piano teacher, Crotty has learned that the children who really want to take the lessons are the ones who stick with it rather than those who do it because of their parents’ wishes.

Having even limited playing experience at church, Crotty said the young organists are already learning the importance of music at Mass.