Miscellany from a Siskind

Some Exercises Using the Pedal for Jazz Ballad Playing (and other pieces)

To Become More Conscious of the Way You Pedal

• change the pedal with the left foot instead of the right
• change the pedal using the side of your foot (with your foot rotating rather than moving up and down)
• change the pedal every eighth note (and only every eighth note)
• change the pedal every quarter note (and only every quarter note)
• change the pedal every dotted quarter note (and only every dotted quarter)
• change the pedal every half note (and only every half note)
• change the pedal every off-beat (and only every off-beat)

Exercises to Make You More Aware of Your Counterpoint

• change the pedal with each note played in the soprano voice (and only those notes)
• change the pedal with every note played in the alto voice (and only those notes)
• change the pedal with every note played in the tenor voice (and only those notes)
• change the pedal with every note played in the bass voice (and only those notes)
• change the pedal with every note played in the right hand (and only those notes)
• change the pedal with every note played in the left hand (and only those notes)