I started getting organ lessons from Poppeia in May 2023, when I was at the very beginning of my organ journey. I came with the goal of taking the entrance exam a year later, which to me seemed unattainable in the beginning (even though I have experience in classical piano), but she was very positive and supportive. She has a lot of knowledge, and we had a great connection.

We started with a small collection of pieces, and she presented the different types of playing (style-wise) in ways that were very comprehensible to me. It helped me a lot that she also plays/sings examples or we talk about what a passage should express: she always made sure that I understand and feel an idea, that it makes sense to me and that I know why we play in a certain way, so I am not only trying to copy what she does.

The organ lessons were always a safe and comfortable space to ask questions; and when something wasn’t working, she was always patient with me, and we could go back to the basics and solve the problem together.

I also enjoyed that, even though our main target was getting the pieces at a good level, she often told me interesting facts about the instruments, making me understand how they work at a deeper level.

One year later, I passed my entrance exam, and I am very thankful for all the effort, time and support that she showed me. I was always enthusiastic to go to the organ lessons.