ESTEY ORGAN HARMONY PENNSYLVANIA FREE
This left his right hand free to supplement the music. Dixon was mainly left handed and he often played the accompaniment rhythm with his left hand as well as the melody using second touch. Once he had mastered playing in strict tempo, Dixon further developed his playing style, with a strong bass line, and both hands providing accompaniment and melody. The Wurlitzer's job had been to provide music for dancing, however, and neither organist could tackle the difficult task of keeping a strict tempo.Īfter auditioning, Dixon was given a trial, with the ultimatum that, if he did not make a success of playing the Wurlitzer for dancing, both he and the Wurlitzer would go. Previous to this audition, there had been two other organists, Max Bruce and James Hodgetts FRCO. In March 1930, Dixon was invited to audition for the position of organist at Blackpool's Tower Ballroom, which, at the time, contained a 2/10 Wurlitzer. Here he played a 2/6 Wurlitzer, and it was while he was here that Dixon was giving lessons to Harry Farmer.Īfter a time, Dixon left for a job at the New Victoria Cinema in Church Street, Preston, where he played a 2/9 Wurlitzer. He was employed as orchestral organist at the West End cinema in Birmingham, from where he changed over to become organist at the Regent Cinema, in Dudley. For practice he was also playing at the Regent Cinema on a 2/8 Wurlitzer, which he became fond of. A year later he became organist and pianist of the Heeley Palace in Sheffield, and was still teaching.
ESTEY ORGAN HARMONY PENNSYLVANIA PROFESSIONAL
At Chesterfield he was called upon more and more often to play the organ, and when he was 21, he became a fully professional theatre organist. To supplement this wage, he was also giving lessons.
After eighteen months, Dixon accepted a job as pianist and deputy organist at Chesterfield Picture House, where his wage was £5 a week. Dixon gained a lot of experience in this job, and greatly enlarged his repertoire and developed his technique further. The piece he played was Debussy's "Arabesque" and he was employed as pianist and musical director, for the sum of £3 per week. He enrolled at the University of Sheffield studying counterpoint and harmony, and was awarded Associate of the Royal College of Music (ARCM) when he was 17 years old.ĭixon auditioned at the Stocksbridge Palace, near Sheffield. He also had applied for the post of organist at Birley Carr Methodist church and was chosen from several applicants, and was also assistant organist at Hillsborough Methodist church. He was now practising at least 8 hours per day or more. At the age of thirteen, he had to give up his schooling in order to continue his music studies. By the age of twelve, he was already performing in concerts at local music festivals, and by the age of thirteen, he began taking lessons in organ at his local church. In addition to Dixon's tuition he also practised two hours a day on piano. Seeing the keen spirit and potential that he possessed for music made his father realise that his son was worthy of tuition. By the age of two, Dixon started to play the organ and piano. Dixon was born in Ecclesall, Sheffield on 16 October 1904.
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