Review work in any study is of utmost importance. After an exercise has been dropped from the current week’s lesson, make it a point to do it, just the same, at least once or twice a day. In this way, not only will you be assured of losing nothing of the work that has gone before, but you will also progress faster with the new. All of the muscles depend more or less on each other, and what helps one, helps all.
And remember—decision of character outstrips even talent and genius in the race for success.
Exercises 5, 6, 7, and 8 this week.
LESSON 4.
Are you in tune?
The finest Stradivarius is only a sounding board and four strings—unless it is in tune. And then, it becomes a messenger of the soul, indeed.
So is it with each one of us. If we are in tune with the Infinite, the sky is blue vaulted above us; the birds cleave the sky with sweetest of music; there’s a song in the heart, and a smile on the lips.
How can we hope to interpret the secrets of the Master-workers in Music unless we ourselves are in tune? Take stock of yourself each day and see if you are really living.
The new exercise this week is for strengthening the fingers as well as for limbering up stiff joints. Around each of the finger joints, there are transverse ligaments—bands of muscle which hold the lengthwise finger muscles in place and bind them to the bones.
Unless one is using his fingers in a special and unordinary way, these ligaments become stiff and inflexible, so that the movement of the fingers is greatly hindered.