Simpedia

Mark M., New York

Do you have the TWS Program on Using the Pedal? If not, I highly recommend it. Either way, if you follow its steps carefully breaking things down into individual projects, it is doable to teach pedal online. Especially when a parent is coaching, you can get them to give you a camera angle on the student’s foot.

Megan F., Nebraska

I have and it’s gone better than I expected. You’ll definitely need a parent to help with the camera, like Mark said. Neil also has a pedal instruction video in the MAC program that I share with them.

I do angle my camera so they can see my foot and my hand playing at the same time.

Ian B., California

I start by just describing the pedal and ask them to start using it. I don’t give them any guidance on lifting/refreshing other than telling them that they’ll probably notice a pretty static sound change. Step 1 is just getting the ears used to hearing the pedal and developing ability to add an additional appendage to their playing.

Step 2: Introduce pedaling technique/strategy using this video from the MAC program 😁👀⬇️

I also use a virtual piano in my lessons called Midiculous. Similar to Classroom Maestro, the keyboard also shows pedals that light up when I press them. So I can demonstrate a bit more of the WHEN of pedaling.

If you wanna know more about virtual keyboards for use in online lessons, click the link below…

https://rolls.bublup.com/view/94dcf272-26f3-49cf-a306-da5abe52fc63

Maureen K., California

I have. Make sure your students get a side profile of you at least down to your knees. I exaggerate the up-down of my knee as in do the “hand-foot.”

Joan H., Canada

I use my hand to show them what the foot should do. If using the pedal workshop – “handfoot” or if not – Play Up Down.