One thing that could possibly help you. Quite a bit of music was written for manuals alone, or for harmonium, and doesn't require use of feet. Some of the French harmonium music is based on Gregorian chants. I think Kevin Mayhew puts out some books for manuals. If you can play keyboard, some of this music could work for organ without having pedal technique mastered.

May I suggest the book "Organ Technique: Modern & Early" (or something like that) by George Ritchie and George Stauffer. A really superb book. I bought it some time ago as an undergrad organ major, but have since used it with beginners, up through advanced students. I still reference it sometimes myself! http://amzn.com/0195137450

Usually the easiest way to find qualified teachers is by asking your parish's organist. There are also some self-study organ methods on archive.org, but without a teacher one easily becomes accustomed to technical errors.

TThanks for the answers. Tack för svaren!
How much autodidact can you be when learning to plsy the organ? I guess you could learn the intelectual ideas of playing but to play you need a teacher?. How should we deal with this question?

Regarding the need for a teacher, I think an important aspect to realize is that especially in the environment of playing organ music (or any music) for the Liturgy, we as musicians need to form ourselves in the traditions of style. In the Liturgy we are not simply playing for our ourselves, but for something greater than ourselves that touches many other people and directly affects their worship. If you had said that you just wanted to learn more about the organ and organ music for your own pleasure, then perhaps a teacher is not needed.

But if you're looking to do liturgical work, I personally think it is of the utmost importance to study directly with a teacher who is experienced in the Liturgy (starting with your local church's organist is a good idea!). ....I myself have only recently come to the organ, and despite having earned a Masters in Classical Flute Performance where I definitely have a good grasp of Western music, I still find it necessary to take lessons. Sacred music is a completely different animal with a vastly different repertoire and set of traditions, and personally, I can't learn enough!

Henrik,

Learning Classical music is definitely helpful since most liturgical music of beauty is structured the same as classical music.

Learning on keyboards will help you get ready to play the liturgical organ.

An experienced organ teacher with a liturgical background will lead to to music which is appropriate for your abilities now and in the future. In addition, they will teach you certain special techniques needed on the organ and prepare you, as well, to begin playing pedals.

It is not necessary to play the pedals, but when you can there is much more music that you can play.

So you need:

A teacher who will teach an adult - which means they will be aware that you will be more apt to spend time autodidact than a child would and need to be taught differently. Teaching children requires presenting them with ideas. Teaching adults involves answering questions along with presenting ideas. Some teachers love this aspect of teaching adults, some do not.

And it absolutely has to be someone who does not believe the fallacy that you must play the piano before the organ. Most of what you learn in piano playing technique does not apply to the organ and is a waste of time if you only want to play organ. In fact, you'd be better taking harpsichord lessons - almost all harpsichord technique applies directly to playing the organ. This is how Buxtehude and Bach learned and I have never read a bad word about their playing technique!

[let the arguments over what I have written begin]

Teacher or at least a mentor who regularly listens to your playing helps you develop in the right direction. They notice bad habits and help you correct them.

What keyboard/synth should I buy if I want to learn to play the organ?

Get two 61-note Midi keyboards, hook them up to your computer and use J-organ (free download).

You really need to talk to a local organist or organ teacher. None of us can know where you are in your abilities, what is available in your area, or what you really need. We are too far away to give detailed advice.

Hank,

Many US organists have a piano or keyboard at home, relying on the use of an organ at a church with pedalboard. The organist suggested to you by my friend in Sweden you are in touch with can advise you. The NORD has a light touch, much lighter than you will find on many pipe organs in Sweden - as Charles W says above, your organ teacher can guide you. The Roland harpsichord I suggested for manual work because of its touch. There is a man in Sweden who builds MIDI pedalboards that can be added to this harpsichord or to any digital keyboard for home practice. You can do a search under SUZUKI ORGAN to find him. Be advised that many US-built organs have 32 note AGO pedalboards while most organs in your area are 30 note, usually BDO. Once again, your teacher can advise.

BDO Pedalboards are much simpler to build than AGO ones.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedal_keyboard - Wikipedia article has some great diagrams and pictures showing the differences

http://www.familjenpalo.se/vpo/pedalboard - A detailed DIY on how to build a BDO Pedalboard.

If I were in a country where BDO pedalboards were common, I would have merely used two or three midi keyboards and then made my own pedalboard for a practice instrument at home. However, in Australia the AGO concave radiating type is considered standard (although there are plenty of other variations out there).