Perfect timing of pedal

[concerto_love]

This is my first time using pedal, and I got some problem with the timing.. Soetimes the sound get weird if I use it. And I don't know, when is the time that we can use half-pedal or full-pedal. Is it diferent??

Thanks a lot 4 reading!

[slobone]

Not sure what you mean by timing, but I was taught that generally speaking the pedal comes down just after the chord it goes with, not exactly at the same split second. Same with lifting it up. It takes some practice to get it right.

[Bob]

If it's brand new and feels awkward, just break it down into pieces and go over and over that motion.  I've had success with students doing that.

Understand how the pedal works.  It keep the bar off the keys so the sound continues.

Key down, pedal down, key up or new position, pedal up pedal down.  Something like that in time might help.

Pedaling is how much you want the sounds to blend together.  Half pedal won't make everything a complete blur, so if you want just a bit a blur, half pedal.  Or anywhere inbetween.

[slobone]

The other thing that's tricky about pedal is that it doesn't sound the same to the person sitting at the piano as it does from further off. Of course that's true with all the sounds coming from the piano, but the difference is especially big with the pedal effect.

So at some point have your teacher demonstrate what different kinds of pedaling sound like while you sit on the other side of the room. That will help you figure out how much you want to do.

[gyzzzmo]

Pedalling depends on the piano you're playing on, perfect pedalling is very hard and you have to get used to the piano.
The general trick of pedalling is ofcourse, release the pedal when the chord is changing. Blurring is the thing you want to avoid. If the sound gets 'weird' you're too late with releasing the pedal, or you're not releasing the pedal enough (on some piano brands).

I know this is all abit vague, but 'perfect pedalling' cant be learned by giving 'general tricks'.

gyzzzmo