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Does know of anyone using their left foot for pedaling ?

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tpvibe Thu, 11/03/2011 - 15:09

The correct English should be:

Do you know of anyone using their left foot for pedaling ?

Also, I've seen a video of Gary Burton playing a MUSSER with a pedal that extends the entire length of the instrument. Anyone know what modification that is ?

Marie-Noëlle Thu, 11/03/2011 - 16:58

In reply to by tpvibe

Most Premier vibes have extended pedal. It allows to pedal at nearly any place of the keyboard. Still Gary Burton stated in one of his video lessons that one should not need to move his feet while playing on an ordinary vibes to reach all the notes...

As for me I sometimes feel the need to switch from right to left foot. When switching, I feel better for a while, but quickly I feel like getting back to my right foot. Of course I can't do this in the middle of a tune...

So I do switch sometimes, but I don't think it's a very good thing. I'd think more than it means I have a wrong position and put too much weight on my left foot. Any ideas about this? Advice?

Otherwise you might find this topic from 2009 interesting: www.vibesworkshop.com/node/2274/

- M

PS: you should be able to "Edit" your post if you want to correct it... can't you?

Marie-Noëlle Thu, 11/03/2011 - 18:11

In reply to by tonymiceli

Dear Mr Miceli,

As new member arriving on the site, I should suggest you use the little window on the left of your screen named "Search". Please fill in the blank under "Search this site" and click on "Search". Even though it's far from perfect, you will get all the posts related to the subject you are searching, with in bolt the said words.

Should you need any further help, please do not hesitate to get back to me,

Yours truly,

Marie-Noëlle Pretto
For www.vibesworkshop.com

tonymiceli Fri, 11/04/2011 - 00:38

In reply to by Marie-Noëlle

:-/ :-| :-\

nico Fri, 11/04/2011 - 05:35

In reply to by Marie-Noëlle

MN, your post made my day:-))
It is facinating to see that you're never getting tired helping anyone on this site, even those who need a lot of it.

Regarding left pedalling:
Why shouldn't you switch foot when it comforts you?!
Specially if your instrument dictates you to do (narrow pedals, I hate them).
What's more important: comfortable playing, or doing what others dictate.

Nico
www.vanderplasbaileo.com
twitter #vibetech

Marie-Noëlle Fri, 11/04/2011 - 06:08

In reply to by nico

I like it when you get "out of your shell"!! Haha!! :o)

As for switching foot... I like your point of view and wish I could see it that easy... Still I have two questionings about doing this:

- It's tricky to switch cuz I can't do it properly in the middle of a tune and keep on playing correctly. Of course I'm not ready for a 4 mn tune, so I can still do it only during my practice sessions and use my right foot for recording or live performance... but is it really a good habit?
- If I feel the need to do it and it's simply because I have not a good position, maybe I'd better improve my position... but for this I'd need advice and I have no teacher here to correct me... so I keep doing it...

Joe Doubleday's experience is very interesting... I understand that it worries most of his teachers, but then again if he really found a good balance, a good way to switch and that he feels better doing it?...

More thoughts guys?

- M

PS: I LOVE large pedals too. Thanks a lot for thinking about it in the design of your instruments! I was so happy when I saw the Premier for sale. It was one of my wishes and I couldn't believe it was as close as what I had dreamed of!!

Jdoubleday Fri, 11/04/2011 - 01:47

In reply to by tpvibe

I use both feet and don't have any problems with things. I especially do it if I have a written line in the top register. I feel like it helps to center my body around the area I'll be playing so I can be more accurate. Some teachers really hate when you switch feet though.

Marie-Noëlle Fri, 11/04/2011 - 06:24

In reply to by Jdoubleday

Very interesting testimony. Can you tell us more:
- How did you get to that "method"?
- How do you do it while playing?
- Are you comfortable with it?
- Did you find it tricky when starting?
- How do you deal with your teacher who (I understand it) find it weird?

Thanks!

vibraman Thu, 11/03/2011 - 15:19

i heard evelyn glennie uses both foots for pedalling. i have a friend who played a classical concert with her and on the high ranged vibraphon passages she switched pedalling with the left foot he noticed.

i also remember a post by david friedman that one of his students raphael meinhart is using the left foot too if i remember correctly. both are great players :)

as far as i know the musser piper modell has a wide pedal bar so do the vanderplas modells.

totiangeloni Thu, 08/12/2021 - 17:56

In reply to by patriciopinero

Alguna vez probaste usar el pie izquierdo?
Yo creo que si, pero solo para ver que tal resultaba jeje