Hi all.
I'm new to using an iPad for sheet music. I recently got a new iPad with fourscore as my sheet music app. Currently I just tap the screen to turn pages but I would like to investigate how it would work with a pedal for turning pages, I guess that would be operated with the left foot? Do any of you have insight or experience of this and what model would you recommend for pianists?
dikrek Oh, great. Thanks for the effort🎶
johanibraaten I’ve had very good luck with that AI, I got a free subscription for a year. Does good product analysis and allows to switch between AI models too
dikrek How do you get it for free?
I use a Donner DBM-10, which is relatively inexpensive and works fine, though I am sure there are others that are equally as good if not better.
I find the main challenge with using these devices for piano is that your dominant foot is often already engaged with the sustain, thus forcing you to use your other foot to activate the bluetooth pedal, which can be a bit awkward unless you have very good independent foot coordination. Or sometimes when you have the una corda pedal engaged and are simultaneously using the sustain, you have no feet available.
I actually found it easier to install mine underneath the base of the keyboard stand so that it can be activated by pressing upwards with my knee instead of my foot. This way I can still use it without having to remove my feet from the piano pedals.
This works for me, but you'll probably need to experiment a bit to find the best solution for you.
johanibraaten I use the Donner Wireless Bluetooth Page Turner.
I place it beside the una corda pedal and use my left foot to turn the page while playing, although it does require some practice.
David Lai they had a deal for anyone with a PayPal account they would give 1 year for free, not sure if that’s still a valid deal.
Otherwise the free accounts for most AI are very limited.
jdg78 I find the main challenge with using these devices for piano is that your dominant foot is often already engaged with the sustain, thus forcing you to use your other foot to activate the bluetooth pedal, which can be a bit awkward unless you have very good independent foot coordination. Or sometimes when you have the una corda pedal engaged and are simultaneously using the sustain, you have no feet available.
rach3master I place it beside the una corda pedal and use my left foot to turn the page while playing, although it does require some practice.
Thanks guys. I guess the left foot is the way to go despite the awkwardness since one might be forgiven for taking the foot from the una cord pedal for a few seconds while turning page whereas doing the same with the sustain pedal might cause worse unwanted consequences. Thanks also for sharing the models you're using. I just popped in at my local music store and they had a model from IK multimedia. I guess they're all doing the job.
jdg78 I actually found it easier to install mine underneath the base of the keyboard stand so that it can be activated by pressing upwards with my knee instead of my foot.
That's a very clever idea, the Mozart style pedaling😊. I guess the drawback with that is when you play on other pianos unless there is a way to attach it without glue or screws?
dikrek "Otherwise the free accounts for most AI are very limited."
that's so true!
johanibraaten That's a very clever idea, the Mozart style pedaling😊. I guess the drawback with that is when you play on other pianos unless there is a way to attach it without glue or screws?
Yes...In fact, I got the idea after seeing some 18th century fortepianos that used knee levers instead of foot pedals. I find it works surprisingly well.
I have mine attached with screws for home use only, but I suppose you could mount it temporarily using a strong tape.
I had the Pageflip Dragonfly but never managed to get used to it.
https://www.thomann.de/de/pageflip_dragonfly.htm
Then I changed it for the much simpler iRig BlueTurn which works better for me:
painano Thanks. The iRig pedal is the one my local music store has in stock. I visited them yesterday and the guy a talked to said it was popular among the musicians at the opera house since it doesn’t have ”clicky” buttons but more silent pad style controllers. And if you say it works good with piano it might be a good candidate.
Airturn Duo 500 is popular and the switches are very quiet. I use one.
There is a newer slightly cheaper and thinner model called the Ped 500.
I would avoid the "stompbox" style switches for solo piano as they are too loud.
I would avoid the PEDpro because the membrane switches are finicky.
PeteTheGreek Thanks, I googled the models you are suggesting and the Airturn Duo 500 seems to be the model I’ve seen the most in live event’s I’ve been to.