Sinden.org

The results of Higher Education Arts Data Services's survey of music schools reveals that the number of organ performance majors is down across the board.

The number of organ majors at the baccalaureate level (237) and master's level (123) are at their lowest level in eight years.

Taken as hymn numbers in the Episcopal Hymnal 1982, these numbers correspond to "Let us now our voices raise" and "Alleluia, song of gladness" respectively.

The total number of organ performance majors (498; "Beneath the cross of Jesus") is also at an eight-year low.

The sharpest decline is shown at the critical baccalaureate level, which has sustained a 28.4% drop over the past three academic years.

With fewer students entering an organ degree program after high school, one can expect the other degree programs to suffer in the coming decade.

The good news in all this? I singlehandedly accounted for .813% of all organ students in a master's degree program in the 2005/06 academic year.

I can also infer that I hold slightly less than 1% of all master's degrees in organ performance awarded in 2006.

Labels: hymn, shortage of organists