LESSON 11.
Sometimes, as we go along in a course of lessons, we are inclined to lose sight of the original purpose. It often is well to look back and see what we set out to do, and what we are accomplishing.
In the first place, we started out to develop strength, flexibility, freedom of movement, independent action, and perfect control of each one of the fingers. Our purpose in doing these things is to enable one to save time in learning to play any musical instrument through specializing on the finger work which constitutes some nine-tenths of the battle. At the same time, other benefits are expected—greater self-reliance, greater accuracy in sight reading, and greater ease in accompanying.
In order to accomplish these ends, we have been freeing the joints from stiffness and lameness. We have been training the fingers to move more widely and more freely. And we have been developing the muscles, so that the fingers have been developed, strengthened, given greater speed and facility of action, and their endurance increased.
With greater strength, has come greater independence in action. By this time, you ought to be well started toward perfect control of each of the fingers.
Since the whole course is based on careful, scientific investigation, the work has been built up in difficulty as the lessons went on, so that there has been nothing really hard about them. They are interesting and progressive. That is as it should be. As the course proceeds, whether you have new or review work, bear in mind that what is given is exactly what you need, and what will help you most.
Practice Exercises 17, 18, 20, and 21.