Piano pedalling technique is reasonably straight forward once we get the basic setup correct. The physical aspect isn’t difficult.
Once we get the correct seating position the challenge of ‘good’ pedalling begins. This might sound odd, but the most important body part for pedalling on the piano is your ears.
A while ago I wrote an article on piano stool placement which primarily focussed on how to help hand and arm technique. I didn’t really go into the pedalling side of the setup.
Today I want to go over the following:
Common mistakes that lead to difficulty when pedalling
Steps to take that give you a fighting chance
Stools I’d recommend
Common Mistakes for Bad Pedalling Technique
The first thing is incorrect stool height. If you have your bench too high then you will have to stretch to reach the pedal. If the bench is too low then you will feel cramped and uncomfortable.
Secondly, if you have a stool that’s not stable this is distracting. You’ve got plenty to think about without having to try and keep your balance.
Posture isn’t only about getting your hands and arms in place. It’s important that we’re not leaning too far back, forward or to the side. This along with our feet being out of place puts us off balance making it harder to pedal.
Steps to make Pedalling Easier
Let’s get the setup correct so when you’re ready to start pedalling you only have to worry about the musical sound you’re trying to create.
Having an adjustable bench really helps here. You want your hips to be slightly higher than your knees. This is a great way to give you control. Also make sure that your stool is stable. As I mentioned before, wobbling is a distraction.
Place your bum in the front half of the stool. There shouldn’t be too much of your hamstring on the bench. This leads to a good foot position.
Ideally your feet should be flat on the floor at the side of the pedals. When you’re ready to use them keep your heel on the ground and get the ball of the foot on the pedal. Don’t try to control the pedal with your toes. From a vertical perspective, your heel should be slightly further forward than your knee.
Finally, bend at the ankle when using the pedal. Don’t be tempted to raise and lower the upper part of your leg. That is hard work and can lead to fatigue if you’re playing for a long time.
Piano Stools I’d Recommend
Piano stools come in all different shapes, sizes and prices. I’ve seen custom piano stools that cost more than my piano. I feel the balance is wrong when that happens. It’s like staying in Carboard City while driving a Ferrari.
I have a few different stools. One is an adjustable leather stool. It’s reasonably comfortable and the fact it’s adjustable means you can change it to suit your height. The only issue is if you’re looking for book storage.
The piano stools that I use on my keyboards are the Navarrez piano benches. They are very comfortable, steady, easy to assemble and are adjustable.
The stool that I use at my piano is a Hidrau Piano Stool. This was a bit of an extravagance but I love it. When I was recording, the wooden stools were creaky. The Hidrau doesn’t make a sound. It’s heavy duty and height adjusted by hydraulics which is a lot easier than turning the knobs at either side of the stool (if you’re like me you will normally turn them the wrong way first).
Apart from stability, comfort and adjustability there are a couple of things to think about. You may want to duet so look for a wider stool that can take 2 people. You may also want to store some music in the stool so that’s something to watch out for.
Just remember, you’ll be spending a long time sitting on your piano stool over a number of years. Ensure to get something that is comfortable.
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