Group 2
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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Here's my recording for the second assignment.
I am currently bringing back Shostakovich Fugue op 87 No 7. I'm only going to play here a snippet from bar 19 to 47. It's very much a work in-progress; I haven't managed to go through the entire piece yet and there's a lot of polishing to do still.
On bar 33 where it's returning to the main theme, I very much want it to have a floating, dreamy kind of sound so possibly an appropriate place to apply the left pedal, which then gradually lifted around bar 39.
I think the left pedal can be applied again later on in the piece, mostly likely at the end where it's soft and gentle.
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Priya Viseskul very cool concept! I think that is a great example of one of the characters that can be achieved with left pedal!
Only because "dynamic/tone" control has been such a discussed topic these two weeks, monitor how you are moving your torso when playing. When we are very musical and feel everything happening, we all have a tendency to want to sway back and forth a tad. Sometimes, when we sway away/back from the instrument, it inadvertently shifts our arm weight back and away from the keys, which can cause temporary lack or control, dropped notes, and possible memory slips. It was VERY minor in this recording, but something you can add to your practices as you continue to polish the piece, just to avoid it becoming a problem later on. :) Hope that is helpful!
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Priya Viseskul I love how you play this piece! Very beautiful!
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Dr. Leann Osterkamp He I will take note on my body movement when practising - thank you for the advice and also the TWI!!! It's great to have a new perspective on using the left pedal!!!
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Vidhya Bashyam Thank you
I hope to give it a lot more time and thought working through it now as it was quite a rush learning it from scratch for the new year challenge earlier.
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