Introduction
An organist needs organ shoes. Why? There are two main benefits when playing in legato style:
1. The heel. Organ shoes extend the natural heel to allow it to play with less muscle strain--especially when rocking between sharps (with the toe) and naturals (with the heel). There is a tendency to avoid using the heel when playing in bare or stocking feet.
2. The sole. Organ shoes flatten or normalize the bony and uneven "toe" end of the foot. The sole distributes the energy across a flat surface, making it less likely that the foot might play sharp keys back between the naturals. With practice and the proper sole, an organist can feel the keys just as easily with shoes as without.
Like many tools, organ shoes do not need to be elaborate or expensive to be effective. They can be as simple as house slippers or as specialized as custom-tailored shoes.
