Course ID : E85.2056

Instructor : Professor John V. Gilbert

I. Introduction

In my piano studying experience previously, pedaling was always regarded as the last technique to mention. For example, I was told to practice hand skill first and not to add the pedal until a piece is familiar, but I never had a chance to learn the proper way of using the piano pedal. I used to practice pedaling, this important piano skill in such a simple way for years. Fortunately, I met a piano pedal expert, my teacher Dr. Donohue who helps me a lot in the way of using pedal properly and artistically after I came to New York University . She shown me the right pedaling has at least eight levels! (My original answer was only two: half pedal and full pedal.) Thanks to her help, I now know that pedaling skills are as important as hand skills and became able to develop them in my piano playing. That is why I am doing this research and where the project idea comes from.

This project is an introduction to the basic skills of the right pedal by using flash, movie and other multimedia. The project will help student to understand

• the different names of the right pedal,
• the mechanism function and advantages of the right pedal,
• the notation symbols of the right pedaling,
• the proper foot place of the right pedaling,
• different types of the right pedaling,
• and give tips about artistic using the right pedal .

My research field includes the video record of Dr. Donohue's related lecture, library and online resources. The following softwares were used in this project:

iMovie, Finalcut, iPhoto, Dreamwaver, Flash, Adobe Photoshop, Sibelius 3, Overture, and etc .

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