Independence

The various organ fingering techniques, which were introduced in the previous topic, are the tools that you will use in building finished phrases, sections, and pieces. As you begin practicing the exercises to learn the fingering techniques, you can also begin applying them in exercises that teach independence in two important applications:

• between the two hands, and
• among the fingers of each hand.

When one plays with "independence of line" or simply, "independence," the details in one line or part do not influence other lines or parts. A break in one line, for example, does not cause a break in another where there should be a legato connection.

As you learn manual organ technique, divide your practice time between two strains:

• fingering technique exercises, and
• independence exercises.

The exercises in the Manual Technique section of the workbook are divided into these two subsections.