WHY UNDERTAKE ORGAN
STUDY?
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The quality of civilization
can be measured through its music, dance, drama,
architecture, visual art and literature.
--Ernest L. Boyer
Music is a part of every culture and is a need of each
human being. The mastery of music brings about a
synthesis of the intellectual, emotional, spiritual,
physical, and aesthetic capacities of an
individual.
"In a world fixed on the pursuit of materialistic
goals with ever-increasing fervor, students whose
gifts might lead them toward a life of selfless,
artistic service often feel isolated . . . ," says K.
Newell Dayley, former BYU Music Department Chair. He
further explains that those students are often
counseled to channel their time and energy towards
more "safe" job-oriented pursuits, leaving their
talents undeveloped. Later in the lives of these
students, ". . . with the clarity and wisdom born of
time and experience, they sense with sadness what
might have been if they would have refined their gifts
with courage and tenacity. . . . To those students
with musical gifts we extend our support. May they
look beyond the immediate concerns of a materialistic
society and refine those gifts with faith that such
actions will lead them toward a life of fulfillment
and meaningful service."
Sharing Talents and Giving Service
In the latter part of the mission statement for
Brigham Young University we read: "In meeting these
objectives BYU's faculty, staff, students, and
administrators should also be anxious to make their
service and scholarship available to the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in furthering its
work worldwide. In an era of limited enrollments, BYU
can continue to expand its influence both by
encouraging programs that are central to the church's
purposes and by making its resources available to the
church when called upon to do so."
There is a strong probability that one who plays the piano will at some time be
called to play the organ for church services. By taking advantage of the opportunity
to study organ at BYU, one can further develop talents and skills in preparation
for more effective church music service. There is increasing urgency and need
to prepare ourselves to teach and train others to become organists for the wards,
branches, and stakes of the church. This is one important way we can fulfill the
motto of the university- "Go Forth to Serve."
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