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Wim,<br><br>
He is not asking for the moon. He _is_ asking for things to be a
certain way. It is a reasonable request.<br><br>
FWIW, this has been (in nearly 40 years of concert work) one of the most
consistent (other than unstable tuning and poor regulation) complaints I
have heard from artists ranging from Brendl and Cherkassky (for some
differing perspectives on pianism) to folks never heard of. That
is, and very specifically, the lack of control of sound, largely, but not
exclusively experienced on most pianos when using the una corda.
Unfortunately, most concert videos/films do not give one very much chance
(if, indeed, at all) to observe pedal technique. It is something
which one picks up by going to concerts, master classes, etc., and, both
selectively and closely, paying attention to specific aspects of what a
given pianist is doing.<br><br>
Hang in there! However difficult, this is a real opportunity to
stretch yourself; and, I applaud your tenacity and commitment!<br><br>
Best.<br><br>
Horace<br><br>
<br>
At 07:56 AM 3/17/2005, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><font face="arial" size=2>Our
piano prof uses the soft/shift pedal constantly. As he put it, "we
never use 1/2 or 1/4 or so by design - it is used to the depth at which
it is necessary in the music, and is a matter of taste and using one's
ear." <br>
<br>
I watched him play a CPE Bach piece, and he "rode the clutch",
so to speak. I don't think played one note without some soft pedaling. I
can understand what he is saying, but I have never seen anyone use the
soft pedal like he does. To me it almost seems like he has developed a
habit. I don't hear the subtle difference he claims the soft pedaling is
supposed to create. <br>
<br>
As a result I need to voice every hair on the felt on every hammer to
make sure all of them sound exactly the same at the infinitesimal shift
positions. <br>
<br>
My question is, has he gotten in a bad habit or is this "standard
procedure"? I realize there is not much I can do about it, other
than work like a devil to get it right. But for my own curiosity, is he
asking for the moon on this?<br>
<br>
Wim <br>
Willem Blees, RPT<br>
Piano Tuner/Technician<br>
School of Music<br>
University of Alabama<br>
Tuscaloosa, AL USA</font></blockquote></body>
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