Week 2 Assignment
Assignment Week 2:
Video Link:
Do one more round of no pedal-practice, using the same repertoire from Week 1.
Review your mental mind map and/or written pedal-markings on the score. Now apply them to practice.
Give a 'rhythm" to your foot pedal-ing (watch video for details), so we are changing and balancing the pedal at an appropriate pace. If it is challenging to put everything together at once, start with practicing just the LH only and pedal. Then take it step by step.
You are welcome to upload recordings of your progress! Even if you do not share any recordings on this platform, I encourage you to record for yourself the "before and after" of pedal practice for your personal studies. Experiment also applying this same practice techbique to the other pedals (una corda and sostenuto) if your repertoire requires it.
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Here are my pedal markings for Beethoven.
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Kerstin Hi Kerstin! This looks great to me! I also appreciate your attention to the articulations and lifting the pedal when the repeated staccati occurs, which will help clarify the character. And also keeping the pedal within the same harmony works well for this Beethoven concerto. For moments when the pedal lasts longer, I would suggest to apply half-pedal, rather than all the way down, so the notes do not become too 'wet' sounding. Looking forward to hearing how it works out when you apply these markings!
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Eloise Kim You are right with the staccato part. I have a little pedal on the first beat. And in bar 261 I think I give the pedal on the first key, not on the second. I can‘t really catch it and it should be piano. Anyway I have to listen carefully. Each piano is different. Thanks.
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Kerstin This sounds terrific, Kerstin! I love the color changes and attention to the articulation you are giving into this excerpt. And very well done with the pedal! You are indeed correct that each piano is different, and the way we pedal will often need to adjust depending on the room we play in as well--some rooms give more resonance than others. So what we have 'originally planned' could sometimes change even during the performance itself. It is a lot of experimenting even while having a mapped out plan, but that is the beauty of music! Bravo work to you!
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Eloise Kim Thanks. With Chopin is much more difficult. And it‘s still not in tempo. So I am not sure. On this part I need only a little bit pedal for athmosphere. But how to write it down? But it is worth to think it over . https://youtu.be/xOOc259dbag?si=lu0BXmXTV-qaVBu6
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Here's one of my first attempts: since I'm trying to "blend" (or evaporate) the sound of the LH downbeats into the RH second beats (on m 17, 18, 21, 22), I decided that I should sing the RH while playing LH and pedaling so I could hear the evaporation/blend better. This is going to take more practice to get the coordination and choreography consistent, but I think it's a good start. Thanks!!
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Michelle R Wow this is a beautiful method of practice! Thank you so much for sharing. I loved it, Michelle! I often suggest students to sing while practicing because our natural voice is the 'goal' we want our piano playing to imitate-so that is fantastic that you added singing the RH while working on the pedal choreography with your LH. Naturally, your LH was also playing with a very natural sounding longer line because it followed along with the lyricism of your RH singing. The pedal pacing also sounds great too! Bravo!
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Thank you so much, Eloise . Singing really helps me to hear and feel the music better, especially the phrasing. And I had just had a vocal lesson today, so my voice was warmed up and I felt more confident than usual!
I'm learning a lot in this TWI, and feel encouraged to experiment and play while at the piano. Much appreciated!
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Here is my pedaling plan for the opening 8 bars of Beethoven Op 90/2. Eloise, if you think this looks reasonable, I’ll make a short video.
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Ellen Weaver Hi Ellen! The pedal plan looks great! I like your attention to the details of the melodic line and also releasing at the rests. I look forward to your video of applying this to the excerpt when you are able to record :)
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Hi Eloise Kim I generally change pedals when a chord change but there are pedal and release sign on some beats. So, I'm planning the pedalling as attached. Thoughts are:
1. If there is a pedal and consecutive release sign then don't press and release in-between even if there is a change in the LH chords.
2. Barring condition (1) refresh pedal on LH chord changes.
3. Don't paddle on the turn as it sounds murky.
Is this how it's supposed to be played?
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Ambs Hi Ambs! Impressive work! This looks terrific to me. I like your detail attention to both the release and pressing-down of the pedal. At measure 16, smart idea to release the pedal so the turn embellishment of the RH is heard with clarity. Bravo to you! I am excited to hear how this works out when you physically add this altogether to your playing, and feel free to share any videos too
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Hi Eloise Kim , I used the recommended pedal marking in the score, same section as the previous week (attached for reference). Acheieving the balance between hands is hard, also trying to work on playing the melody flatter fingers , though I don't think I am there yet
. Thank you-
Sheetal Patel Fantastic job, Sheetal! This sounds beautiful, and I am seeing much improvement with the flatter finger and relaxed movement technique! The application of the pedal sounds great. I totally understand this flatter finger and applying that relaxed arm motion technique may feel a bit foreign at first but you are already adjusting well into it
Bravo! Sending my cheers to your continuous practicing for this work! -
Eloise Kim thank you for your kind words. Your feedback through this TWI has been incredibly valuable and I shall be applying it across my other pieces too.
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Sheetal Patel My pleasure! That means a lot to me
. Wish you all the best for your continuous music learning, and so happy to have you here at this TWI!
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