Group 1
Welcome to the latest TWO WEEK INTENSIVE on tonebase!
What is that pedal on the far left used for? In this Two Week Intensive, Dr. Leann Osterkamp He will join you in exploring the function and correct usage of the una corda (soft) pedal. Meant for all levels of pianists, we will learn and discuss about when to use it, where to use it, what it does to the music, and why it can enhance your performance!
Pianists of all levels are welcome.
More Detailed instructions coming soon!
- Sign-Up : October 30
- Course Period: November 6 - 20
- Class Size: ALL are welcome!
- Optional check-In via Zoom: November 15 at 10am PT
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5557629304
Assignment #1
https://youtu.be/pho9mNo2-e0?feature=shared
What Should Your Videos Include
Week 1
- Watch the video for Week 1.
- Spend some time learning the short passage provided.
- Practice playing the passage without the soft pedal. Make some notes about its tone, character, color, etc.
- Now, practice playing the passage with the soft pedal, modifying any other musical elements you feel necessary with this addition. Make some notes on the following questions: How does adding the soft pedal change the music? Do you have to make changes to your sustain pedal, articulations, phrasing, or other aspects when adding soft pedal? What does it modify in the passage’s character?
- Film yourself playing the passage twice, once without soft pedal and once with soft pedal. Submit this video for the teacher and your friends to see!
- BONUS: Before you play your version that includes soft pedal, discuss what you think soft pedal adds to the interpretation. Discuss any modifications you make while playing to enhance or highlight the new character and tone.
Assignment #2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&v=1nAgi8-CVCA
This week has three options to choose from (pick one)!
- Find a short passage in your current repertoire that you think benefits from the addition of soft pedal. Practice it with soft pedal and then record it to submit for us to see. (If you wish to include some music from directly before or after the passage to show us how it fits into the larger structure, bonus!) Feel free to also discuss on video why you picked the passage and why you think it benefits from the usage of soft pedal.
- Find a short passage in the broader musical repertoire that you think benefits from soft pedal. Learn it, practice with the addition of soft pedal, and record it to submit to us to view! Feel free to also discuss on video why you picked the passage and why you think it benefits from the usage of soft pedal.
- Find a short passage in the broader musical repertoire that you think benefits from soft pedal. If it feels a little too much to learn and record a new piece this week, just submit a short video explaining what the passage is, where it’s from, why you picked it, and why you think soft pedal makes the section come to life!
TWI Check-in
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Hi Leann,
Thanks, this is a fun and interesting exercise.
I am attaching video 1 - without the left pedal.
Also video 2 - with the left pedal. I think the left pedal makes the sound quieter and more hushed, but also makes a rounder and less resonant tone. Does it come through in the video?
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Dr. Leann Osterkamp He thanks! Using the left pedal does have an interesting effect on both sound and playing.
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https://youtu.be/yOQ7WMc7dqg?si=wjyaCXDdBFdB3JEy
Here's a quick video "without" una corda and then "with". I like the dreamy quality we get when we use it.
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Gail Starr nice job! One can definitely hear the change in character and tone that you are bringing out! On your initial play through (without pedal) I noticed that you did the "breaking" technique, where the left and right hand were not quite coordinated on many downbeats (sometimes the RH was delayed by a second). This device was actually used a lot in Romantic/modern music performance practice some years ago.... some attribute it as a "Russian" stylistic choice, I think, primarily, because a few famous Russian educators were known to use it frequently.
Recently, that technique has kind of gone "out of style," save for a few exceptions (I think primarily because, in competition settings, it is seen as an inaccuracy). Interestingly, your second recording, where you had more dramatic character/tone changes did not employ it as strongly! I think by focusing on the tone color more, it automatically made it so that the other device was unneeded.
Just food for thought, as you continue exploring :)
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Dr. Leann Osterkamp He So cool that you noticed I was playing around with "breaking"! I didn't even know that was the name for it.
Over the weekend, I was collaborating with an older professional violinist from Poland on some Romantic repertoire and she was a big fan of this. I actually didn't care for MOST of the interpretations she kind of "forced" me to adopt. But, since she was the soloist, her mannerisms wore off on me a bit
.Luckily, she doesn't live anywhere near me, so this was a one time project.
I'll go back to a more normal way of playing for my next video.
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Gail Starr nicely played! I could hear a big difference between the two takes.
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Jarkko Janhunen Thanks! Dr. Osterkamp gave me some great pointers for next time, too.
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Dr. Leann Osterkamp He Hello! What are the reasons that some artists would use the “breaking” technique? Thank you in advance!
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Bradley Marcotte it's more of a playing mannerism/style, not a technique. Usually, one typically sees it in some performances of more large-scale virtuosic Romantic/Modern repertoire. It is basically a mannerism that "hyper" romanticizes an arrival point, kind of like how violinists might add portamento to "cheese" up a moment.
I would say that it is a tradition/style most artists just do by ear after being trained in that style.... it is not a technique that artists choose to employ or not.
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Dr. Leann Osterkamp He Yup, the older Polish violinist I played with over the weekend REALLY liked doing that!
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Just in case this is useful!
This is the checklist Dr. Osterkamp mentioned for week 2:
1. What is the performance practice of this passage?
2. WHY am I compelled to use soft pedal here
3. When I add soft pedal what to I hear?
4. How is it different than without soft pedal? What changes?
5. Do these changes in character change in the piece? If soft pedal doesn’t add anything in context, reassess using it
