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I am rather new to playing the organ, and as of yet have no teacher (will very likely be getting one soon), and I just practice in my church after school (I'm in high school). Well, I really need major help with playing the pedals. Is there some magic way to play that I am not aware of? I'm just using Bach's Pedal Exercritum for now. But looking at a lot of pieces that I want to play, its obvious I'm going to need to learn how to play efficiently with my feet.
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Re: Help With Pedals
No magic only blood sweat and tears: practise. -
Re: Help With Pedals
You will want to learn how to play the pedal with both your "toe" and "heel". Then, do as the Havoc said.
John
Allen MDS-317 at home / Allen AP-16 at Church / Allen ADC-3100 at the stake centerComment
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Re: Help With Pedals
Try to locate a copy of John Stainer's Organ Method. It is a good book to start with. Flor Peeters has some very good exercises too, a bit more advanced.Comment
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I'm using Pedal Mastery For Organ by Joyce Jones. It's pretty good. And just practicing helps.
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Re: Help With Pedals
I agree with the other comments: there's no magic, it just takes a lot of practice. Youneed to practice enough to create "muscle memory" so your feet just go where they need to go without your having to think about it. </P>
A few bits of advice (based on learning the hard way):</P>
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<LI>Start wearing organ shoes right away (Organmasters). If you play without them for a while first, you'll likely feel very awkward when you start wearing them. I played in sock feet for many years, but realized I needed to start wearing shoes if I wanted to get serious about my pedal technique. At first it felt like typing with mittens on, but as I adjusted I realized it was much easier on my back and feet, and has helped my pedal playing a great deal. Besides, it just looks a lot better to wear shoes.</LI>
<LI>Get a good book on pedal technique, and spend time on pedal exercises. This will help you to learn good heel-and-toe technique and keep you in the habit of using both feet. There are a lot of one-footed organists around; sometimes it's because they learned and/or practiced on a spinet organ, and sometime it's just because of bad habits such as just playing the bass line of hymns in the low octave, or keeping the right foot on the expression pedal all the time (another bad habit fostered by playing spinets). I played a spinet in church for many years in my teens, and have had to work very hard to overcome one-footedness.</LI>[/list]
I wish you well on your new adventure as an organist. The organ is a wonderful instrument, and there's always more to learn.</P>Comment
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Re: Help With Pedals
I think playing the melody of a hymn or piece you know by heart on the pedals is a good way to start. Try to make it as legato as possible to force you to use two feet. Use a 4' choralbass or an 8' Hautbois. Then, play the same notes, but out of time. First, all 8th notes, then all triplets, then all 16ths and so forth. Then, go back to playing in time and add the alto voice, and even tenor or bass for a real workout. </p>
Also, JSB's TRIO SONATAS. They may drive you bonkers, but they will help-guaranteed, no matter how slow you have to go.
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[quote user="Philip the organist"]Also, JSB's TRIO SONATAS. They may drive you bonkers, but they will help-guaranteed, no matter how slow you have to go.[/quote]I agree completely, although these are quite difficult - even for advanced players.</P>
They are also perfect for teaching independence between hands and feet.</P>
I believe Bach had these in mind for teaching his children. [:)] If that is true, you know they are excellent.</P>Comment
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Re: Help With Pedals
[quote user="soubasse32"]
[quote user="Philip the organist"]Also, JSB's TRIO SONATAS. They may drive you bonkers, but they will help-guaranteed, no matter how slow you have to go.[/quote]I agree completely, although these are quite difficult - even for advanced players.</p>
They are also perfect for teaching independence between hands and feet.</p>
I believe Bach had these in mind for teaching his children. [:)] If that is true, you know they are excellent.</p>
[/quote]</p>
My teacher says he wrote them for Johann Christian Bach. If they helped JCB attain to his high status, they should be of help to us too. [:)]</p>
I've played them on the pedal clavichord a few times. That was fun-I have perfect pitch though, so it took me a while to get used to the A=415 tuning. [:S]
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Re: Help With Pedals
</P>Also, JSB's TRIO SONATAS.
I'm not sure that what accounts to be about the hardest music written by the most brilliant organ composer ever is the place to start learning pedals. Added that you should play them with toe only it doesn't make for a place to start. While I hate the Flor Peters output the pedal stuff mifght be the way to go.</P>Comment
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Re: Help With Pedals
[quote user="Havoc"]
</P>Also, JSB's TRIO SONATAS.
I'm not sure that what accounts to be about the hardest music written by the most brilliant organ composer ever is the place to start learning pedals. Added that you should play them with toe only it doesn't make for a place to start. While I hate the Flor Peters output the pedal stuff mifght be the way to go.[/quote]If Bach is the "most brilliant organ composer" then there is no better material for a beginning organist. Why not start with the best? [:)]</P>
Yes, thepieces arehard ... but like anything, they can all be learnedIF the pace is slow enough and the student is determined. I do let students use their heels. More advanced studentsmay explorethe 'all toe' method - but it works best on flat pedalboards and baroque-style instruments (which I don't typically teach upon).</P>
I actually start beginning students on the Eight Little Preludes & Fugues (of disputed authorship). Once they have a basic comfort level with playing pedals we go immediately to the Trio Sonatas. From that point the students progress quite rapidly indeed. [8-|] </P>Comment
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Re: Help With Pedals
What BWV number would they be?Comment
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Re: Help With Pedals
The Trio Sonatas are BWV 525-530.Comment
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soubasse. - which should i learn first?Comment
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Re: Help With Pedals
Hi apple!So nice to see you over on this forum once in a while. [;)]</P>
I'd recommend learning #2 (BWV526,c minor)or #3 (BWV527, d minor) first. They are a bit easier, at least in the first movements. [:)]</P>Comment
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