I've been teaching myself piano, and was wondering at what standard does pedalling become expected, and what about pedalling where it is not marked in the music? (Not that I'll manage this on my keyboard - it doesn't even have touch-tone!)
Thanks

My view is that you need to start a little peddling (perhaps just to obtain more depth of tone) from as early as Grade 1. I teach peddling from quite early, and build up so that pupils are happy to use the pedal more instinctively once they get to the higher grades. Legato pedalling I start from about Grade 2 or 3 depending on the student's level of confidence in playing without the pedal. If you are teaching yourself, you should be careful to take things slowly when learning the pedal.

Some other teachers may disagree with my views and have different ideas about when to begin pedalling, and even if you can successfully teach yourself pedalling. I'm sure others will share their views with you.

Rosemary: I think it is assumed you will use the pedal fluently and automatically from about Grade 5 but there are pieces even on Grade 1 at times which need pedal (if you can reach it!).

Learning to use the pedal is an integral part of learning to be a pianist and that's where it's helpful to have someone show you (preferably a teacher of piano) how to do so. You don't just use pedal where it's marked on the music - you need to develop sensitivity to how the pedal can affect and influence your ability to play pieces of music.

It's hugely difficult to grasp use of pedal playing a keyboard without one. Playing a keyboard without touch sensitivity too is going to make the going hard for you when you come to play a true piano.

Is there somewhere you could go and play on a piano occasionally so you get the feel of both these key aspects of piano playing?

I am currently working with a pupil preparing for Grade 5 who practises at college because her own home-based keyboard has touch-sensitivity but no pedal. During this critical summer holiday period she'll get nowhere much with the jazz piece she's chosen because she has no use of pedal at her disposal and the stretches are such in the music she'll not achieve a finished result just by smooth finger technique. This is a serious handicap - thank goodness she can do some work on the List A and B pieces more productively.

Hope that helps to answer your question a bit. Best of luck anyway .

I learnt how to use the pedal at around grade 3. But, I didn't get used to it until about grade 5 where I could use it without markings. I think there is no neeed to learn it straight away but it is important that you do before going onto intermediate pieces.

I used peadling when I was 10 years old, so that's about G3-4. I was(am) very small, so I couldn't reach proporly till that age.

You should definitely be doing it by grade five, I think.

You should definitely be doing it by grade five, I think.

I'm not sure but i'm on grade 7 and I use pedeling quite allot. I started it quite late (only the past year or so) so if i was you..i'd start it now because it took me quite a while to get into it lol! But even for the peices i just play..i used the pedle all the time because it sounds really nice and empty if i don't use it!

As soon as they can put things hands together without too much difficulty! For most that is around grade two, but I play pedal games a bit earlier for fun, if a piece would work better with it, and to explain how the piano works.

Just had a grade three result back and one piece the examiner mentioned the pedalling could have been crisper (score 27), so if you put it in an exam piece, try and make sure it sounds good!

I use a keyboard often and have bought a pedal for it. It works in the same way as a sustaining pedal on a piano but the technique is not the same really. Is there any way that you could practise on a piano? A keyboard without touch sensitivity is fun but far from ideal as I am sure you know. Good for wiggling the fingers though!

Pedalling came naturally to me i think i used it from grade 1 and it has helped my playing.

The pedal on fully electronic pianos may sustain notes, but I have not yet heard one that can produce the overtones that you hear on your acoustic piano with all of the strings free to vibrate.

Practice on pianos without a pedal sounds dodgy.

We seem to have 3 schools of thought - pedalling from Grade 1, Grade 3 or Grade 5.

I know for a fact that the repertoire for ABRSM Grade 4 needs sustaining pedal, so I would reject the Grade 5 idea - far too late!

I actually think Grade 3 is quite late as well, even for the young learner.

My latest start for pedalling would be Grade 2. Remember it is an integral part of playing pianoforte, it is not just an optional extra.

Thanks for all your help. I do get to play a real piano occasionally, if I stay behind after school or at lunch. I'll have to do that more often when I get back. Hopefully I'll be able to play the notes by then.
Thanks again.

I started using pedal as soon as I started piano. Although, I did already have some musical experience and it just seemed natural to me to use it! I think it is written in pieces at about Grade 3/4 standard...maybe thats a guess!!

i, like you also taught myself on a keyboard to play. So when i started to get lessons is was a bit nervous about using the pedal but it's surprising how naturally it will come to you. I don't know about grades 1 and 2 but for grade 3 it is useful to know how to use it because I find that the pieces that require pedalling are actually nicer than the others.