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Ok, I know this may seem like some pretty simple questions to most of you, but I've never taken any formal piano classes, so here it goes.

I was checking out some Clayderman (Yes, Clayderman) sheets, and it points out "Ped" at the beggining of each measure. My questions are:

1. For example in this sheet, I'm supposed to press the pedal down for the whole measure, then release it completely a moment before starting the next one, and pressing it down again when the next measure starts, right?
2. If for example I get a sheet that points out to press the pedal down, and then says nothing else, when am I supposed to release it? or should it have some kind of symbol to indicate me to release the pedal?
3. any way, wth is the pedal for?... I don't have one right now, but I may be getting one next week, so I'm curious.

Thx for taking your time to answer these simple questions, you've helped a grateful n00b

Hi!

1. Yes, pretty much.
2. With some music, you get a pedal sign, where you press down the pedal. There is then a line that continues with a sort of ^ sign, which is where you are supposed to the release the pedal and then press it down again (as long as the line contines. I've found that to be in more modern music.

Other times, you get the symbol to press down the pedal, and then another symbol to relase it.

And if there is a pedal sign written down and no sign to relase it at all, either you have to make that decision or don't press it at all. You have to make sure that if you do use that pedal that you don't "megre" chords together. If you are playing in a bar where the music is based around the chord C, for example, you must release it before you go into a bar with a G chord.

3. The sustain pedal is good for smoothing out pieces. It can also be used in pieces where the hands are jumping around a lot and and the notes still want to be played. I can't stand over use of the sustain pedal, but for some pieces it's pretty vital.

Someone will probably explain this a whole lot better for you! But good luck

The use of the pedal is an acquired skill. To state it somewhat simply:

The (damper) pedal is used to lift the dampers off the strings, thus allowing the strings to continue to vibrate even after the hands have left the keys. Many piano compositions have pedal indications, some put in by composers, some by editors, but you must realize that these are only approximate, because the resonance of each piano differs. Pedal markings are not necessarily given for each time the pedal "needs" to be changed.
Your ear is your best guide. In most music the sounds of adjacent notes and/or chords should not overlap. Hence, if you are using the pedal to increase the sonority of a chord and to give a more legato sound to your playing, you have to listen closely to the result so that, as the melody and harmonies change, the sound is never "muddy" or "blurry" unless, of course, that effect is desired.

Good mastery of the pedal may take some time.

Regards,

See - Told you someone would be able to explain it better than me