Note about playing the pedals: Organ pedals are typically played using either the toe or the heel of either foot. Scores often include symbols to show which part of the foot to use. A caret (^) means to use the toe, while a small circle (o) means to use the heel. When the symbol is placed above a note, it refers to the right foot; if it’s below the note, it indicates the left foot.

In most cases, you’ll use your toe to play pedal notes. When doing so, try to play with the area between the ball of your foot and your big toe, and slightly angle your feet inward for better control and comfort.

Pedal Technique Checkpoints:

1. Keep your eyes on the score

2. Keep the heels (or heel/arch) together when toes reach up to a 4th apart

3. Keep the knees comfortably together when feet play up to an octave apart

4. When playing white keys, play just clear of the black keys

5. When playing black keys cover half of the key or less with your toe

6. Tip the feet inward and play on the inside edge of the bottom of the foot (exception: when reaching the right foot to the far left of the pedalboard or the left foot to the far right, it is okay to tip the foot outward)

7. Pre-locate: as soon as a foot finishes playing a key, prepare that foot over the next key.