On Saturday night, I fell off the organ platform after the Early Music Concert and sprained my ankle (see my post “Swan dive!“). Witness this text conversation between Georgine Stark and me today.

In case you don’t know, classically trained organists use BOTH feet to play the pedals and turn their noses up at amateurs who only use their left foot to play the bass line. Then again, there is theatre organ playing in which the organist’s right foot is used to operate the swell pedal while the left foot plays the bass notes. The effect is non-legato (not connected) which is okay for theatre organ music, but not for other kinds of music, like hymn playing!

Can you imagine what it’s going to be like playing the Aeolian-Skinner organ for Priory chapel tomorrow—and only using one foot!!!

Last week, I delivered some organ music for manuals only (no pedal) for one of my students who was riding a bicycle and got hit by a car, injuring his right foot. For some strange reason unknown to me, I held back two volumes and now I’m glad I had something to play for chapel this week.

While at Punahou School this morning, I learned a valuable lesson from Chandra Peters, the chapel coordinator. UP on good, DOWN on bad! What this is all about is a lesson on how to negotiate stairs with a crutch. When going up stairs, use your good foot first, followed by the injured foot. It’s just the opposite when going down stairs: use your crutch (or cane) with your bad foot first, then follow with your good foot. Seems complicated, but it works!

Then again, how about this blog posting: