Relaxing shoulder

[namui]

Occasionally, my daughter (7 years and 3 months) stiffens her right shoulder unconsciously (she is practising Burgmuller op.100 No.14 for a competition). As she is playing, just by telling her to relax or just by lightly touching the stiffened shoulder, she consciously relax it out with ease. But without external signal like that, she will continue with stiff shoulder to the end of the piece.

How then, could we train her to relax all the way by herself ? I and her teacher have discussed this issue for two weeks, but we still don't figure out good way to solve this. We hope that at this young age, it is still possible to correct this habit.

Just if someone has some idea to suggest.

THanks

[bitus]

I just noticed i sometimes have the same problem. And really, the only thing to do is to try to think as much as possible about your position, at least for 1 week or so, until your body does it alone. It is much harder, because you have to concentrate both on the playing and on the position.
As far as specific advice, i would recomend her to keep the shoulder as low as it gets (because that is natural). Energy stucks in places where muscles are stiff. If it's getting serious, it might be good for you to go and press very lightly on her shoulders while she is playing. If she keeps on playing with a stiff shoulder, it will be very harmful and very hard to corect later. My teacher used to be very hard on me when my position wasn't correct, because she understood the implications.
Hope this helps.
Bitus.