something interesting is happening. Up until recently the two Organs in the music school are unused except for the odd retired person, but in the last year or so, more youngsters have been asking about the instruments as they have never seen them before! 5 or six years ago, the teenagers coming in for lessons equated the organs with 'one like Grandads'...but it seems like the biggest majority of organ players have now, erm...moved onto greener pastures, so the current crop of teenagers are new to the organ. We have a few of our youngsters learning to play.

If one of the manufacturers was to do a relaunch with an education program aimed at a young player (with suitable material) its just possible it might take off.

This was also alluded too by Robert Bartha at last years Frankfurt Musikmesse.

Thanks for the link, its good Wersi are recognising there could be a younger audience. Out of all the manufacturers, I would like Yamaha to pull away from the tired Tyros concept and move back to organs as they have the power to market properly. Not the Stagea type method of playing (big orchestral anthems) by registrations, instead simple, live sounding and interactive stuff that will appeal to younger people.

Oh, fiddlesticks! Here I am pushing 70 and schlepping my Pa1XPro like a young 'un. Just call me Tarzan II.

Thank goodness for the Rock N Roller...

http://rocknroller-multicart.myshopify.com/

In fairness, what we are playing is TWO manuals of an organ! Those older organs couldn't split the manual, so one would have been dedicated to the lower sound or any auto-accompaniment it was capable of, while our RH played the upper manual doing the solo sound.

Now, of course, one manual does BOTH jobs. And much, much more. In something a tiny fraction of the size and weight. Bottom line is, who in their right mind wants to go back to one of these relics for anything other than nostalgia?

I wonder if there is a ATA case with wheels for it yet? I hope my back will hold up moving between gigs

When were any of us able to lift a 2 manual organ single handedly

I have been for years but thankfully they are much lighter now - the KeyB Duo weighs 26 kilos, even Pizza Express Jazz club in Soho with the nasty stairs down the side is easy.

The thing is though Diki, organs have had split points for over 25 years so they are the equivalent of having 4 or 5 manuals, (Not a measly 2) plus they are far more flexible when playing live.

As to carrying them, if you come over to Europe you will find Men & Women, Young & Old carrying them without problems, (The same applies in Asia) its only in the US that folks seem to have problems.

Bill