Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay
Does your student struggle finding hand position at the beginning of a song? Difficulty with changes in hand positions within a piece? Trouble playing a particular chord possibly with accidentals? Maybe it is an issue of consistently reading a particular note or series of notes above or below the staff? To resolve issues fairly quickly, try this repetitive approach.
For example, let us say I have a student challenged in playing a particular chord. Once they finally do find the chord, I ask to them stop and place hands in their lap. Then I ask them to play the chord again. Repeating the process of hands in the lap followed by playing occurs over and over until they are very fast and the struggle goes away. It usually goes slow at first and take numerous repetitions depending on the level of difficulty. Once the visual and/or kinesthetic memory kicks in, the stumbling block has been removed. Students know they may have to repeat the process at home if they continue to struggle. Usually by the following week problems are solved.
When a student takes too long finding their hand position, I ask them to close their eyes and place hands either in their lap or behind their back. Then I have them open their eyes and find the position again. Having eyes closed keeps them from relying on their sight for the position. Occasionally, I will ask an unrelated question while their eyes are closed. I find that an interruption sometimes slows the process in their thinking. While any questions will do, I usually ask what is your favorite food, restaurant, movie or subject in school. A few more repetitions with questions and problems usually go away fairly quickly.
Sometimes the student needs help breaking down the problem. If it is finding the hand position for a two-hand chord, I might simplify the challenge of finding hand position by focusing on each hand separately before asking them to put the hands together.
I am often met with a groan as they anticipate what is coming next when once again they are asked to place hands in their lap. Despite such a reaction, eventually they learn it won’t take too long to resolve with some applied effort.