AGO Service Playing Certification

Each year, many AGO members receive certification of their service playing skills with the Service
Playing Test. The Service Playing Certificate is recognized by many churches and employers as a
demonstration of proficiency at the organ and brings organists many professional benefits. The test is
entirely practical, and the required skills come into play at the worship service(s) you play each week.

The content of the Service Playing Test follows the order of a Sunday worship service and has six basic
parts. For additional details, see the AGO Professional Certification Requirements for 2020:

 Play three organ pieces chosen from a list of works from different historical periods. For
example, your pieces might be a fugue from one of Bach’s Eight Little Preludes and Fugues, a
movement by Mendelssohn, and a short contemporary work.
 Choose two hymns from the 2013 Revised AGO Examination Hymn Booklet, and play two
stanzas of each as though accompanying a congregation.
 Transpose a hymn, again from the AGO booklet, no more than a whole step up or down (you
can choose the hymn and work it out in advance).
 Play the accompaniment to a psalm chant, taken from the AGO hymn booklet.
 Play two anthems chosen from those listed in the certification requirements.
 Sight-read a short passage of music.
Grading Criteria for AGO Certification
Repertoire: Awareness of stylistic period; imagination and musical excitement; phrasing and
articulation; rhythm; tempo, note accuracy; registration.
Sight–reading: accuracy of notes and rhythm, keeping a steady beat without hesitations – tempo is
moderate, not rushed or halting.
Hymn–playing: Accuracy; rhythm, sensitivity to text via registration and articulation, leaving space for
breathing, consistent spaces between stanzas, harmonizations that enhance singing but do not get in
the way of singing or message of hymn text.
Transposition: accuracy of notes and rhythm, keeping a steady beat and maintaining voice lines and
voice leading.
Accompanying: Accuracy of notes and rhythm, attention to text and breathing places for singers, care
in registrations so that support is provided without being aggressive, awareness of dynamics, tessitura
and voice-leading – then, interpreting accordingly.
Harmonization / Modulation: Good voice leading, ease with keyboard harmony and sense of rules of
counterpoint; form [use of motive, sequence, 4 & 8 measure balanced phrases, having a “plan” without
meandering].
Following directions is a key factor.

AGO Colleague Certification

For organists who have already received service playing certification or have service playing
proficiency, the Colleague certification is the next logical step. The CAGO examination consists entirely
of your performances, and the examination is like a recital or the musical part of a service of worship,
where the organist is expected to perform each item creditably. This examination is designed to test the
candidate’s mastery of all aspects of the organist’s art, since this is the demand that is placed upon the
professional church musician. Membership in the AGO is not required for Colleague certification,
however, there is a $100 surcharge for nonmembers.

The colleague exam is entirely practical and has seven basic requirements that fall into two categories:
repertoire and keyboard skills. For additional details, see the AGO Professional Certification
Requirements for 2020. The CAGO exam is given twice a year – in May and November. The specific
dates are published each year in the Professional Certification Requirements. Any chapter of the AGO
can administer the exam for you (contact a particular chapter). Currently, the test is recorded, and the
recordings are sent to AGO Headquarters for evaluation. Candidates usually receive the results 2-3
months after taking the test; if unsuccessful, you have five years to successfully compete the section
you missed. Applications for the November 2019 CAGO exam will be available after July 1, 2019 with a
deadline of September 15, 2019. Applications for the May 2020 exam are available after December 1,
2019; the application deadline for the May 2020 exam is March 1.

 Perform organ literature of moderate difficulty.

 Accompany a choral anthem and a vocal solo.
 Lead and accompany a congregational hymn.
 Sight-read a brief passage of organ music on three staves.
 Harmonize a melody.
 Transpose a hymn-like passage.
 Improvise a simple interlude involving modulation.

Performing Colleague Repertoire

Performing repertoire pieces and accompanying anthems, solos, and hymns require highly developed
skills and are an essential part of the certification exams. Many colleague candidates will be
encountering the current year’s repertoire pieces for the first time. As a general practice procedure,
candidates should start by listening to a new piece while playing it slowly, analyzing what is heard, and
familiarizing oneself with its background while gaining a firm grasp of the appropriate style elements.
Each year, articles by certification committee members appear in The American Organist Magazine.
The articles focus on the specific study and practice aspects of the current year’s exam repertoire.

Grading Criteria for AGO Certification

Repertoire: Awareness of stylistic period; imagination and musical excitement; phrasing and
articulation; rhythm; tempo, note accuracy; registration.
Sight–reading: accuracy of notes and rhythm, keeping a steady beat without hesitations – tempo is
moderate, not rushed or halting.
Hymn–playing: Accuracy; rhythm, sensitivity to text via registration and articulation, leaving space for
breathing, consistent spaces between stanzas, harmonizations that enhance singing but do not get in
the way of singing or message of hymn text.
Transposition: accuracy of notes and rhythm, keeping a steady beat and maintaining voice lines and
voice leading.
Accompanying: Accuracy of notes and rhythm, attention to text and breathing places for singers, care
in registrations so that support is provided without being aggressive, awareness of dynamics, tessitura
and voice-leading – then, interpreting accordingly.
Harmonization / Modulation: Good voice leading, ease with keyboard harmony and sense of rules of
counterpoint; form [use of motive, sequence, 4 & 8 measure balanced phrases, having a “plan” without
meandering].
Following directions is a key factor.

AGO Associateship Certification

The American Guild of Organists was chartered in 1896 by the Board of Regents, University of the
State of New York, to administer a comprehensive series of examinations for professional certification.
Examinations have played a central role in the Guild’s work since its founding. Being professionally
certified can play a major role in your life and career. Candidates for Associateship certification must
demonstrate proficiency in the following areas.
 1. Perform major solo organ works of all periods.
2. Be familiar with major periods and styles of organ repertoire.
3. Understand organ history, design, and maintenance.
4. Harmonize melodies.
5. Play a hymn using introduction and interlude between two stanzas.
6. Accompany from figured bass.
7. Analyze musical form.
8. Sight-read choral opens score (4-stave) and organ score (3-stave).
9. Transpose
10. Improvise and compose in small forms.
11. Have knowledge of music literature and history, especially (but not limited to) organ and choral
music and various traditions of liturgical music.
12. Transcribe from dictation.

AGO Fellowship Certification

The American Guild of Organists was chartered in 1896 by the Board of Regents, University of the
State of New York, to administer a comprehensive series of examinations for professional certification.
Examinations have played a central role in the Guild’s work since its founding. Being professionally
certified can play a major role in your life and career. Fellowship certification is the highest level of
certification offered by the AGO. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in the following areas.

1. Perform organ literature of advanced difficulty.

2. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of organ repertoire.
3. Know and apply authentic performance practice.
4. Understand organ tonal design.
5. Apply authentic and effective registration.
6. Understand the mechanics and maintenance of the organ.
7. Accompany with flexibility and musicianship.
8. Sight-read open scores including lines in the C clefs.
9. Transpose
10. Improvise
11. Compose and arrange.
12. Demonstrate practical knowledge of orchestration.
13. Have a broad knowledge of music history and literature.
14. Be able to write in contrapuntal forms of both 16th and 18th century styles, and to analyze
examples.
15. Transcribe from dictation.