The belief that barlines are signs for one to stop or yield
Beginner piano students can be tempted to see written music as fitting into separate little “boxes” of information. While initially this seems to them an easy way to digest all the signs and symbols, it means they don’t think about the next “box” until the current “box” is completed. This separation is what causes some students to limp slowly over each barline before proceeding forward.
This problem with a pianist’s gait can be very distracting. Without seeing the written music as continuous and flowing from bar to bar (measure to measure) and line to line, they cannot establish a steady and predictable pulse. The listener therefore is distracted, and is incapable of being swept up and carried away by the music.
Symptoms
Prescriptions
Plus One
In lesson
Starting at the beginning of the piece or the section with which your student is having trouble, use a sticky note to cover up the notes after the first note in the second bar (measure). Instruct your student to play just this small chunk: bar 1 plus one note from bar 2.
Once she can do this successfully without pausing, move the sticky note one bar forward, so that it now covers the notes after the first note of bar 3. Continue in this manner for about six bars and then restart the process from bar 7, then from bar 13, and so on.
At home
Depending on how this progresses during the lesson, and your student’s history with line limping, the lesson activity may be enough to cure this ailment. If you feel the issue still needs more attention, however, try assigning this ‘Plus One’ exercise for just one section a day. Use your discretion: most young students will not have the stamina or the time to complete this exercise for more than a few bars in each practice session.
Forward Thinking
In lesson
Ask your student to try to keep her eyes on your pen as she plays. As she is playing stand beside her and point your pen at her music, just beyond the notes she is currently playing. Try to stay about one or two beats ahead of her playing.
Repeat this exercise a few times to encourage your student to draw her eyes forward while she’s playing. You may find this is enough to cure the line limp right away. If it doesn’t sink in immediately, don’t worry. Keep at it over several weeks at every lesson and eventually she should be able to look forward and think ahead to what’s coming up. Thinking ahead is the key to the long-term cure of line limp, and to great reading in general.
At home
Have your student make a note on her score in her own words to remind herself to continue to try to move her gaze forward at home. While most students will not be diligent enough to follow through on this advice the first week, over time it will take effect and the reminder will be enough to practice this skill.
Related Diagnoses
Finger Hiccups
Obstacle Sneezes