- Image via Wikipedia
One word: don’t!
Here’s why…
- you’ll slip off the pedals
- or, you’ll waste concentration and energy making sure you don’t slip
- you’ll stretch the back of your heel too far
- playing a third will be impossible (C and E, say, with toe and heel at the same time ~ your instep will play the D in between the notes you want ~ you need a shoe with a heel)
Organ shoes rock! If you use them only to play the organ (i.e. don’t even wear them outside), they will last for years. You’ll be glad you took the plunge.
Gretchen Saathoff 
Mark Niemela said:
Hey, Gretchen, Didn’t know you were a “double threat.” In my former living area there was a distinguished pianist who took the job of organist. Was criticized for inadequate knowledge of the pedals. Great that you’re “into it.” (And the Bach pieces -I believe they are chorale preludes are amazing) When I was a kid I heard Brahms’ organ chor prelude “Es ist ein Rose Entsprungen”. The melody is almost undetectable. A grreat and amazing piece.
Frances aka "Barefoot Fresca" said:
My mom and I were given organ lessons when I was in 7th grade in exchange for playing Masses at our church. (We were both pianists at that time.) We got an organ for our home and my mom practiced the pedals diligently and extensively in her little “ugly” (to a 7th grader) organ shoes, while I practiced less diligently and patiently in my socks.
My mom got really good at the pedals, but I gave up, and eventually only threw in a bass note here and a bass note there as part of my “organ” playing.
Years have passed and now I’m so into barefoot running and I’ve built up these really great soles on my feet. I wonder how bare feet would work on the pedals?
GretchensPianos said:
Hey Mark,
Oh, yes. I majored in organ early in college and have had several church jobs.
I agree, the chorale preludes are amazing! There are preludes and fugues and toccatas for organ as well. I love the Brahms, too!
Thanks for your comments.
Gretchen
GretchensPianos said:
Hi Frances!
That’s amazing that you can run barefoot. I can’t imagine.
Bare feet on the pedals work considerably less well than feet with pedal shoes. You really need the heel for 2 reasons: to avoid straining the back of your leg; and to skip the pedals you don’t want to play ~ you would otherwise play them with your instep.
Try it!
Thanks for your comments.
Gretchen
GretchensPianos said:
p.s. So playing barefoot is about the same as playing in stocking feet. I tried both when I was in high school.
Pingback: Tweets that mention Q&A: Playing organ pedals in stocking feet « GretchensPianos -- Topsy.com
Rick said:
hi Gretchen,
You will shoot me………, but I really like it better to play the organ pedals with bare feet! Music has always been my passion. I started early with piano lessons. Since than I have been discovering many different styles: rock, jazz, latin, classical and church music.
Four years ago I had the chance to play on a church organ for the first time of my life. I had my piano experience, but this was something completely different. Nevertheless, it was a such a great experience that I wanted to come back. I met the organist of the church, a very nice lady with a professional background in music. She became my organ teacher.
Being new to playing the pedals, she came up with a lot of pedal exercises for me. It was very hard in the beginning. But also fun to discover a new dimension in music. She told me to use some thin soled shoes for playing the pedals. I tried several pairs of shoes but I was not satisfied. Until I tried to play barefoot. Now I could really feel the pedals and play more accurate.
My teacher had some doubts first about playing barefoot. But after she noticed the fast progression of my pedal skills she was o.k. with it. She was even surprised that I managed to play heel-to-toe with bare feet. Too bad I had to give up lessons when she got another job.
I can play with shoes when I have to. But I’d rather try to avoid them on the organ pedals.
GretchensPianos said:
Hi Rick!
Hey, if it works, go for it!
I was wondering if you’ve thought about looking for a new teacher?
Thanks for stopping by.
Gretchen
Rick said:
hi Gretchen!
Yes, I think of looking for a new teacher very often. Although music is my passion, it´s not my profession. My job demands a lot time. And my girl friend is even more important. I also play in a band which I don’t want to give up. But I hope I will have more time soon to find a new teacher and continue with organ lessons!
GretchensPianos said:
Hi Rick!
It’s good to hear that finding a new teacher is on your list!
Take care,
Gretchen
Michelle said:
I have played the organ for about 10 years and almost always remove my shoes and play in my stocking feet.
Never really had any issues and practically never slip. Totally bare feet do not glide on the pedals so well and difficult to play glissandos.
Prefer stockings or pantyhose rather than socks do to the thinness which gives me the maximum feel of what I am doing.
Thanks for your comments, Michelle. Your comment didn’t show up on my WordPress filter, so I’m seeing it now for the first time (8/4/15!).
I’m glad to hear you’ve found something that works for you.
Take care.
GretchensPianos said:
Hi Michelle!
Thanks for your comments.
I’m happy to hear that pedalling in stocking feet works for you. When I tried that, I slipped too much.
I agree that the thinness of the soles is important in order to feel the pedals.
Thanks for stopping by!
Gretchen
Rick said:
hi Michelle,
You may visit this blog again, therefore a reply.
Interesting to hear you play pedal glissandos. I have not done that yet. But with 10 years of playing the organ your pedal skills will be much more advanced than mine. I can imagine that you need more slip for glissandos, so your choise for pantyhose makes sense. You will still have the best pedal feeling. Do you have any examples of pieces which contain pedal glissando’s ?
Rick
Pingback: How to learn piano and organ fugues « GretchensPianos
Socrates said:
Hi, I’m a (rather advanced) amateur organist playing with socks only. I play most of Bach’s top works, including the big fugues and trio-sonatas. I’m not using the heel at all, but instead I rely on crossing feet, pseudo-glissando and other tricks that allows me to play comfortably and with very good accuracy. I’m not slipping at all. I can easily play a third (and even a fourth) with a single foot (I’ve a 42.5 European size). I played on modern instruments as well on historical ones, including baroque pedalboards with an extremely heavy action (like the one in Amsterdam’s Oude Kerk). No problem at all. I think it’s just a matter of personal taste and training. One can be extremely fast and at ease either way, with or without shoes. Several top organists are also playing in socks, like Lorenzo Ghielmi and Benjamin Righetti (look on youtube/google for their videos). Righetti is also playing with bi-colored socks: very original!
Hi Socrates,
Thanks for your comments! Somehow this slipped through my notification filter, so I’m seeing it just now. I hope you see this response… “reply to comment” isn’t showing up on WordPress right now. Hmmm…
The way an organist is taught to pedal has a lot to do with his/her preference, no doubt. If it works, go for it! Also, I like the bi-colored socks idea. I think I’ll try it. 😉
Don said:
Just found this site…and the refreshing dialogue about organ pedals & socks. I’ve been playing church, auditorium and church organs (mainly pipe) for over 50 years…..and 90% of the time in socks! Started when it became clear that my shoes were too wide; quickly learned to value the “feel” of the pedals and the flexibility of thirds and gliss’s in socks. Just my own opinion….not a prescription!
Don said:
Correction: “…and THEATRE…”
GretchensPianos said:
Hi Don,
Thanks for your comments!
Playing in socks (in my case, hosiery) has been too risky for me. In addition to slipping off the pedals at times, I find it very difficult to play a 3rd (from C to E, say, with the same foot). With a heeled shoe, I find it easier to avoid the middle note (D).
Glad to hear it works for you to play in socks!