pedaling on bach? the trick please..

[fenz]

i want to use pedal in bach's english suite - sarabande, because it feels dry when i play without pedal. but i feel difficult to play it with pedal without make blur sounds. please tell me how to use the pedal correctly.. thanks 

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

I'd like to know 'the trick' too. 
I'm not sure which English suite you are talking about, and I'm not a expert at all, but here's what my teacher tells me to do:
She says that I should use half pedaling (I think that's what its called...) where you just put a little weight on the damper pedal but don't press down all the way.
And also, she says that I have to be very careful and precise with my pedaling, and plan it out so that the pedal is depressed at the exact right moment to avoid blending harmonies.
 Basically, she encourages pedal, as long as it doesn't sound too obvious and as long as I'm not blending any harmonies.
 I think there's probably different opinions on how to use pedal though, because my previous teacher said that I wasn't allowed to pedal my Bach at all. . . 
Personally, I'm guilty for under-pedaling everything...  and I like Bach with less pedal anyway...

[bustthewave]

I'd like to know 'the trick' too. 
I'm not sure which English suite you are talking about, and I'm not a expert at all, but here's what my teacher tells me to do:
She says that I should use half pedaling (I think that's what its called...) where you just put a little weight on the damper pedal but don't press down all the way.
And also, she says that I have to be very careful and precise with my pedaling, and plan it out so that the pedal is depressed at the exact right moment to avoid blending harmonies.
 Basically, she encourages pedal, as long as it doesn't sound too obvious and as long as I'm not blending any harmonies.
 I think there's probably different opinions on how to use pedal though, because my previous teacher said that I wasn't allowed to pedal my Bach at all. . . 
Personally, I'm guilty for under-pedaling everything...  and I like Bach with less pedal anyway...

Gawd I'm a pedal ***... It's so hard for me to play without it. It never really mattered though because up until last week, I only played my own stuff, but I did learn the half pedal trick (Which I use sometimes). This is interesting to read though  on just how ind epth the pedal can get.

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

Yeah, there's more to pedaling than just pressing the pedal up and down with your feet =D

I also forgot to say that my teacher said that to figure out where to pedal, you should practise until you can play it really smoothly without pedal, and then listen for where you still need pedal for connection. And then play again and see where you need pedal to enhance the music. She says its all instinctive and takes a lot of careful listening.
I guess I still need to work on my pedaling instinct and my pedal technique in general. Whenever I have doubts, I just don't pedal at all. =/

[keyboardclass]

I wouldn't use it for connection - in his day (well a little after) it was considered  the 'loud' pedal.  Use it where a passage should stand out more.

[fenz]

Thanks all for the responses   

Yeah, there's more to pedaling than just pressing the pedal up and down with your feet =D

I also forgot to say that my teacher said that to figure out where to pedal, you should practise until you can play it really smoothly without pedal, and then listen for where you still need pedal for connection. And then play again and see where you need pedal to enhance the music. She says its all instinctive and takes a lot of careful listening.
I guess I still need to work on my pedaling instinct and my pedal technique in general. Whenever I have doubts, I just don't pedal at all. =/

I have tried to use half pedaling as you said, but it still sounds blur.. Maybe I should practice again until I have right feeling to use pedal