Start Again Syndrome
Students who play from the beginning every single time will never play the ending of their pieces well, and they won’t be confident picking up after a slip in the middle of the piece.
Start Again Syndrome: At Sixes and Sevens
This cure is a fun (and a little bit sneaky) way to get your students starting from different spots, and practicing the ending more than the beginning.
Steps
- On day 1, split your piece into six sections and write the numbers in pencil on the music.
- Roll a die and play the section with whichever number it lands on.
- Write that number in the chart and repeat the process seven times.
Download the At Sixes and Sevens steps and tracking chart by clicking here.
Start Again Syndrome: Back It Up
This requires some resolution! Backing up all the way from the end is the surest way to cure Start Again Syndrome.
Steps
- Play the last bar (measure).
- Play the last bar and the second last bar.
- Play the last 3 bars.
- Continue all the way until the start of the piece.
- Modify for at home practice by asking your student to back up 2-4 bars at a time, instead of bar by bar.