Damper Pedal (Sustain Pedal)

Every piano has a damper pedal, and it is always located to the far right of the set of pedals. (If you purchase an electric piano, make sure it has a sustain pedal since you will need it.) The mechanism for every key on the piano is connected to a damper, which is a thick piece of compacted felt that sits on the string(s) for each note of the piano. When the piano is silent without any notes depressed, the dampers are all touching the strings. When one note is played, the damper for that note is lifted off of the string(s) as long as the key is pressed down. That allows the strings to vibrate and produce sound. When the damper pedal is pressed down, ALL of the dampers are lifted off of ALL of the strings until the damper pedal is lifted, allowing sympathetic vibrations to occur. This makes the piano sound louder due to the increased vibration, and it also allows the pianist to connect sounds differently. Played with skill, the damper pedal helps to create a warm, continuous sound quality. The use of this pedal is marked in beginning music, but only marked in very specific instances in advanced music as its use is assumed at that point.

The Soft Pedal

The soft pedal is always the far left pedal. When this pedal is depressed on a grand piano, the hammers are moved slightly to one side so that they strike two instead of three strings on most notes, reducing the volume somewhat (only the lowest notes use only one string). When shifted, the hammers strike the strings in a less packed down and grooved area of the felt surface, which also results in a softer tone quality. On an upright piano, the soft pedal reduces the striking distance of the hammers by moving them closer to the strings, but its usefulness is limited since it does not change the tone quality. In music this pedal is marked as the una corda, dating from 18-19^th century instruments that shifted the hammer from a one string (una corda) position to a two string position (due corda), with tre corda (three strings) indicating a release of the pedal.

The Sostenuto Pedal

Located in the center, the sostenuto pedal is used the least. When this pedal is depressed on a grand piano, it will hold any dampers that are raised at that moment, allowing the damper pedal to function normally for the remaining notes or allowing the other notes to be separated. On some pianos this pedal only sustains notes in the bass range. The purpose is to be able to sustain bass notes or chords in situations where both hands are quickly needed to do something different in another area of the piano.  On many upright pianos today this pedal has been replaced with a practice pedal that drops a piece of felt in front of all of the strings and locks into place, greatly reducing the sound for practicing purposes only.

One of the most important ways to address performance anxiety is to practice performing. The more often you play for other people, the less intimidating it will become. Try to play at least a small section of a song on a weekly basis for anyone who will listen, such as a family member, friend or small group of people who are supportive.  Playing periodically in a group performance class for other students who take lessons from your same teacher is helpful, and studio recitals extend that circle to friends and family of those who are on the same journey of studying music. Also consider playing music for others in a retirement home or nursing home, where those in attendance are incredibly grateful to hear live music.

Another tool to help with performance anxiety is to frequently record your own playing using a tape recorder or digital recorder. Listening to the recording is not always necessary or helpful, as the goal here is to practice playing under pressure.

The mental aspect of playing under pressure is also worth exploring. Our awareness is significantly heightened when performing, causing tiny slips and stumbles to feel  huge and dramatic. Sometimes we have a specific fear, but usually we are harder on ourselves than anyone else could be.  Consider what the worst thing is that could possibly happen, and work to put the event into perspective. Positive visualization can help, such as imagining yourself completing the steps of a smooth and successful performance from beginning to end. Creative imagery calms the mind—imagine playing at the lakeshore in a peaceful sunset. When practicing at home, occasionally imagine that you are playing for a roomful of people and act accordingly.

Many other small things that make a difference with anxiety. While we tend to focus on practicing to adequately prepare our music, it is also important to exercise, sleep well, eat properly before playing (avoid sugar or caffeine jitters), arrive early, allow for some quiet time, and take some deep breaths.

With practice and good preparation, playing for other does become easier. The best part of all is that the confidence gained by working through our fears at the piano and learning to prepare well for performance carries over into every aspect of life. Giving presentations of any sort becomes easier, such as book reports for children or presentations in your professional work.  Before long, you may be eagerly awaiting the next recital or musical gathering of friends!

The metronome has multiple uses.  One is to give us an external beat to work with while we learn a rhythm pattern, such as switching from duple to triple.  The metronome helps establish a specific speed for a passage of music.  Some composers indicate that a particular kind of note is equal to a specified number of beats per minute, which we can establish with the metronome to help us play the music at the intended tempo.  The metronome is also used to help play a passage of music at a steady speed.  We have a tendency to speed up when we know something well and slow down when something is difficult, so playing at a steady speed requires knowing the notes well enough to get from one place to another on time.  The metronome can increase our awareness of the places that need more practice, but we must carefully listen, work out the tricky passages, and recheck progress with the metronome.  The metronome is of no help if we completely tune it out while playing music, so use it selectively.

Where to find one of these gadgets?  Apps for smartphones and ipads are quite inexpensive.  Music stores and online sites carry small battery powered digital metronomes.  Many include a tuner for other instruments, and more expensive ones can play multiple layers of beats at the same time which is helpful.  The old fashioned kind of metronome is larger with a metal bar that physically moves back and forth, but the mechanism can be easily damaged.   Any properly functioning metronome will do the job, and the rest is up to the musician!