| Take an old method book on pedaling and look at | | | | The action of a piano feels lighter with the damper |
| the pedal symbols at the bottom of each measure. | | | | pedal down because the foot is holding the dampers |
| Study the patterns of when the pedal is held down | | | | off the strings instead of the fingers. I recommend |
| and when the pedal is lifted. Check out the chord | | | | to all my students to first learn a piano piece with |
| changes in the progression. If played correctly, your | | | | out the pedal. That way you're learning proper timing |
| music will not sound like one long blur! | | | | and just over all being comfortable with the song. |
| Having an understanding of the piano pedal | | | | Then go ahead and add the pedal where indicated. |
| mechanism helps too. If you look inside an acoustic | | | | Another important reason for not using the pedal |
| piano you will notice that dampers rest on the strings. | | | | initially is that technique improves fastest without the |
| Whenever a key is pressed while holding down the | | | | pedal because you can hear exactly what you play |
| damper pedals the dampers are lifted from the | | | | without interference from previously played notes. |
| strings allowing the strings to freely vibrate. This | | | | You should be actively controlling the tone, keeping |
| produces the harp-like sounds or sustaining of sounds. | | | | those fingers close to the keys. |
| It is not to be used to produce an increase in volume | | | | I like to use the pedal for Fur Elise with those |
| as most people believe, but is to sustain the sound | | | | beautiful broken chords. |
| being produced until the pedal is released. | | | | Did you know that the pedal was practically |
| Brief Definitions and Uses of the Piano Pedals | | | | non-existent before Mozart's time? The pedal was |
| Damper pedal: Right pedal used to sustain sound, | | | | basically fully developed by Beethoven's time, |
| used to produce harp-like effects. | | | | although it was not yet totally accepted as a serious |
| Sustenuto pedal: Middle pedal used to prolong a | | | | musical tool. So, we have Chopin to thank for the |
| sound and allows you to play against it with out the | | | | use of the pedal in our piano playing. Chopin used the |
| harp-like effect of the damper pedal. For example if | | | | pedal extensively to inject an additional level of logic |
| you wanted to play a heavy sound in the left hand | | | | into his music and fully exploited all the different |
| side of the piano and then play a quick staccato | | | | ways of pedaling. |
| against it in the upper register of the piano. It is best | | | | You can get a legato effect without too much |
| done with this pedal. | | | | blurring by rapidly lifting and depressing the pedal |
| Una corda pedal or soft pedal: Located on the left | | | | every time the chord changes. Enjoy your pedal |
| used to produce soft sounds, because the hammers | | | | practice! |
| inside the piano only hit one string. Una- One. | | | | |