The case for a continuous sustain pedal value

2016-10-16T09:44:43Z

Many digital keyboards, software, etc., foster the use of a discrete on/off instead of a continuously valued sustain pedal. Pianoteq supports both. My QRS PNOscan supports both, but it takes the not-user-friendly utility WinNessie to change the default "bang-bang" sustain pedal that is either on or off to a continuous range.

Once you've got that continuous sustain pedal (or for inspiration to do so), here are some excellent "Pedal Technique" videos by Graham Fitch for Pianist Magazine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV1GW3P...V1GW3PGx8o
Basic pedalling video, including setting the pedal BEFORE playing, to open the piano for big resonant tones, direct up-and-down simultaneous keying and pedalling in order to maximize the piano's resonance, and three ways to pedal waltz rhythms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_d8oas...V1GW3PGx8o
Legato pedalling, which is what most people think pedalling is. It is also known as syncopated pedalling, and was popularized by Liszt in the late 1800s. Discusses the good and the bad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5uiyX7...mp;index=6
"Finger Pedalling" in Baroque and Classical music - don't 'clutter up' your playing with too much pedal. He discusses overlapping notes with the fingers, simulating pedalling. Additionally, this can simulate sostenuto pedalling, such as just holding a bass note while playing the other left-hand notes in a more staccato-style.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzNElOu...V1GW3PGx8o
Advanced pedalling, including fractional pedalling, 'half pedalling', fluttering the pedal, and how bass notes 'play through' the pedal.

Modartt user forum - The case for a continuous sustain pedal value

The case for a continuous sustain pedal value