Does it sound like harpists talk about pedal charts and pedal markings interchangeably? What do we mean by these terms? What are they?
Pedal charts replicate the set up of the pedals for any given section in the piece. I like to think of them as a map. They don’t give you the step by step directions, but they provide landmarks to ensure you are at the right place at the given time. You most commonly see pedal charts at the beginning of a piece, but it is also helpful to include at major sections in a piece, after long rests, or to clarify the pitches desired in a glissando. (Pedal charts are also referred to as pedal graphs or pedal diagrams)
Individual pedal markings (or pedal changes) provide the step-by-step directions. When a pedal needs to be changed, that is when it is marked. Harpists rely on these markings to know if and when a pedal needs changing. The pedal markings are almost as important as the written notes themselves.
Both pedal charts and pedal markings are important to include in a piece.
Has this been confusing for you in the past? Do you have other questions about harp pedals? Leave a comment and let me know!