Balance in volume

• Volume is different, when playing prelude, or when playing for a congregation in a sacrament hymn, or yet again for a rousing closing hymn in stake conference.
• Asking someone to listen and give feedback on volume (or anything) helps, because we can't always guess accurately how it is in various parts of the room.
• But even while sitting at the organ, we can make our best guess as to the volume balance and how it feels -- not...
• ...not to drown out or dominate the singing, but to support and encourage it, and balance with it.
• I have got it right and got it wrong, at different times.
• An example for hymns?: a little softer in the intro, then a little louder (relatively) when the congregation joins. (Again, try to hear how it should be.)
• For adjustments, you probably want to practice trying different volumes, guessing in advance where it should be for a hymn, then adjusting slowly.
• And asking the music director is a good idea. They can show you how they indicate whether to play more loudly or softly.
• Some music directors really are uncomfortable directing and prefer to follow you. In that case do your best--you can be very helpful sometimes.
• volume would be softer for prelude, usually.
• Can observe what they do in general conference, with the music at different times/situations.