What is this study about?
Playing the organ engages the brain in a unique way: both hands and feet work simultaneously on different
voices, the score continuously delivers complex visual patterns, and the body has to coordinate registration
changes, pedal strokes and dynamic decisions all at once.
This study investigates how a targeted, neurodidactically optimised organ training affects
cognitive abilities — specifically pattern recognition, working memory, cognitive flexibility, dual-task
capacity and attentional control. The focus is explicitly not on organ playing in general, but on the effect
of specially developed exercises grounded in neuroscientific and learning-psychological findings. Outcomes are
measured with a purpose-built cognitive task battery covering five domains.
The pilot study at the Diocesan Conservatory for Church Music of the Archdiocese of Vienna has already
delivered promising initial results. Starting next semester, we are expanding the investigation to a larger,
international group of participants.
Study director: Prof. Mag. Dr. Andrea Pach, Diocesan Conservatory for Church Music of the
Archdiocese of Vienna. Neuroscientific and statistical supervision: BRAIN-HR Dr. rer. medic. Franz Hütter,
M.A. and Nicolas Stege, M.Sc. The study follows the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and the
recommendations of the Forum of Austrian Ethics Commissions.
Study procedure
Participation spans a defined study period in Winter 2026 / Summer 2027. It consists of four phases:
1
Baseline assessment
Online questionnaire with demographic information, self-assessment and cognitive task
battery (approx. 25–35 min.)
2
Online coaching
Approximately every 14 days a video conference (Zoom) with the study director —
introduction and guidance for the neurodidactically optimised organ exercises.
With benefits for learning ability and personal development.
3
Practice phase
Experienced organists continue their usual "organist routine". Beginners should
practise daily wherever possible — either for their lessons or with the exercises from the app, for 30
to 60 minutes.
4
Follow-up assessment
Repetition of the questionnaire and the cognitive tasks after the practice phase
What you get out of it: All participants gain — through the regular online coaching sessions
and via the app — direct access to neurodidactically grounded organ exercises that are rarely taught in this
form in conventional organ lessons. These exercises are specifically designed to train cognitive abilities
such as pattern recognition, attentional control and dual-task coordination — a benefit that extends well
beyond the study, with significant potential for personal and professional transfer. All study participants
receive exclusive Founding Member status: permanently discounted access to the app and community — for people
who were there before everyone else knew about it.
The questionnaires are completed online as an HTML tool — entirely in the browser, without
uploading data to external servers. The data collected is processed exclusively in pseudonymised form.
Who can participate?
Participation is open to people from the age of 8 — up to the highest age. There is no upper age limit.
Participation is open worldwide. (Below age 8 the legs typically do not yet reach the organ pedals — that is
why participation is only possible from age 8.)
Requirements
- Organ skills, or at least basic piano skills (you may already play the organ, or you may be coming from
piano and beginning organ playing)
- Access to an organ — whether a church organ or your own digital organ at home
- For beginners, willingness to practise the lessons or the guided exercises at an organ for at least
30–60 minutes daily during the study period, wherever possible
- Willingness to participate in the approximately fortnightly online coaching sessions via video conference
(Zoom) with the study director
- Sufficient German-language skills to understand the questionnaires (data collection is conducted in
German)
- Stable internet connection and an up-to-date web browser (for the online questionnaires and video
conferences)
Important — guided exercises rather than free practice: For optimal practice, participants
receive access to an app with targeted exercise modules. To achieve an optimal benefit with transfer into
daily life, participation in the online coaching is an important prerequisite. The aim of the study is not
only to obtain measurable results for a scientific treatment of the topic, but also to accompany every single
participant and to support each one individually in their personal development.
Data protection & consent
Your data are collected exclusively in pseudonymised form. No names are stored in the research data — only a
self-chosen code known solely to you. Processing is carried out in accordance with the GDPR (Regulation (EU)
2016/679) and the Austrian Data Protection Act (DSG).
Participation is voluntary. You may withdraw at any time without giving reasons and without any disadvantage.
Data already collected will be deleted upon your request.
Participation of minors (in accordance with the Forum of Austrian Ethics Commissions):
For participants between 8 and 13 years of age, the written consent of a parent or legal
guardian is required. The young participants are additionally informed about the study in an age-appropriate
manner and asked for their own assent.
For participants aged 14 and over, a handwritten written declaration of consent (with
signature and date) is required. In addition, a parent must be informed and give their consent.
The corresponding consent form will be sent to you after registration. It must be returned signed by
post or as a scan by email before participation in the study can begin.
Contact & questions
For questions about the study, registration, or data protection, please contact:
Study director
Prof. Mag. Dr. Andrea Pach
Diocesan Conservatory for Church Music of the Archdiocese of Vienna
Email: info@andrea-pach.com