| There are 3 pedals on most pianos. The one on | | | | How do you think the great pianists and |
| the left dampens the strings and makes the | | | | composers of the past did it? Do you think they |
| sound come out softer. The one in the middle - I | | | | asked themselves, "well maybe I should pedal |
| have no idea what that one does, but the one on | | | | here?" Of course not. They put pedal marks |
| the right - the sustain pedal - this one is the pedal | | | | down where they themselves used it in a piece. |
| I have my foot on when I play the piano. | | | | You should do the same. |
| I like to let the tones ring out, but if I keep the | | | | There's nothing like the ringing sound of overtones |
| sustain pedal depressed for too long, the music | | | | you get when you let the notes hang in mid-air. In |
| turns into a mud puddle - hundreds of overtones | | | | fact, this is one of the charms of the piano - that |
| coming out everywhere. Don't let anyone tell you | | | | mysterious echo barely discernible to the |
| that there is a proper way to pedal the piano. | | | | untrained ear, but there nevertheless providing |
| Each style of music uses the sustain pedal | | | | warmth and realism to the music. |
| differently. New age music, fortunately for us, is | | | | It's all accomplished through the use of the sustain |
| much more liberal with its use. Why? Because we | | | | pedal. When you want your music to breathe, use |
| usually throw the pedal "rules" out the window. | | | | it. Experiment with it. Don't be afraid to keep it |
| The key to pedaling is to listen for the sound | | | | depressed for as long as you want to. |
| YOU WANT then pedal accordingly. | | | | |