MECHANICAL FINGER-EXERCISES.
_First movement._
[Illustration: Fig. 24.]
[Illustration: Fig. 25.]
Take for each hand three cylinders, three quarters of an inch long,
and from half to one inch in diameter, according to the size of the
fingers; place them between the upper ends of the fingers, and while
gradually and conveniently extending the muscles, by bending the
fingers, move the latter as shown by the above figures, 24 and 25.
_Second movement._
[Illustration: Fig. 26.]
[Illustration: Fig. 27.]
Move the cylinders further down, to the roots of the fingers, and
perform the exercises according to Figs. 26 and 27. In doing this, put
a small round piece of wood between the thumb and the forefinger, at a
distance sufficient to extend the former as much as possible.
Leaving the other fingers as before, put a large cylinder between
the thumb and forefinger (28 and 29), so as to entirely fill up the
intervening space. In doing this, be careful to extend the thumb as
much as possible. In case the tension of the fingers is small, take
smaller cylinders: or if the latter should be too hard for tender
hands, cover them with some soft substance, such as velvet, or the like.
[Illustration: _Third movement._
Fig. 28.
Fig. 29.]
* * * * *
Perform all these exercises vigorously, and, if possible, just before
practising the musical instrument, twice or three times daily, each
time for a few minutes, especially in the morning, on getting up. As
a matter of course, after eight or 10 hours rest, the muscles of the
fingers and wrist, like those of the rest of the body, are somewhat
stiff, and ought to be prepared by proper gymnastic exercises, before
beginning to play. Besides, _provided over-exertion be avoided_, there
is not, according to the best medical authorities, the least danger to
be apprehended, from these exercises, for the joints and muscles of
even the very smallest hands.
If players of the piano and the violin should object that, in the act
of _playing_, the fingers need not be as much extended as prescribed
here, or assert that the finger-exercises, scales, and _études_ as
at present used are perfectly sufficient, and that nothing more is
wanted, I can only repeat, that the fingers must be _prepared_ in
order to render them strong and flexible; that, for this purpose, it
is necessary to exercise them _gymnastically_, and that, as I have
explained before, these preparatory exercises will save much time
and trouble, and facilitate the work of both teachers and pupils;
_further_—that, by the diligent practice of these gymnastics, the
fingers become elastic and independent of each other; you acquire
thereby complete control over them, and _when you have done this_, you
can move them and do with them as _you will_.
ANOTHER MOST EFFECTIVE mode of stretching and loosening the tendons and
ligaments which encompass the large middle-hand bones, or “knuckles,”
may be performed as follows:
Place the forefinger of each hand, up to the middle joint, firmly on
the table, and in that position press it up and down with a certain
degree of force, for a few seconds; then withdraw it, and apply the
next finger in a precisely similar manner; then the two other fingers
in succession, each finger remaining on the table alone, unaccompanied
by any other.
Afterwards apply the 2nd and 4th _together_, exactly in the same way,
for a few seconds; then the 3rd and 5th; lastly the thumb.
The pupil may do this many times a day with great advantage; for by
this process the ligaments and tendons of the knuckles are stretched
and loosened, and the muscles are set free.
Of course always with due moderation.
ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT exercise, bearing chiefly on the tendons and
ligaments of the large metacarpal joints or knuckles, is the following:
With the thumb and forefinger of the one hand take hold of one finger
of the other hand, and shake it up and down, for one minute, to its
root. Then take the other fingers in succession in like manner. To be
applied equally to both hands, and to be done, especially with the 4th
and 5th fingers separately, as often as leisure permits.
* * * * *
To this category belongs also ANOTHER EXERCISE of the metacarpal joints
or knuckles. Into the palm of one outstretched hand place the closed
fingers or fist of the other: then open and close the _latter_ as fast
and as long a time as is agreeable, always continuing to press upon
the palm. Change hands and repeat. Ever remember that the difficulties
of bringing the fingers into order lie, physiologically, almost all
in the middle-hand bones or knuckles; and as the five preceding
exercises,—and especially the three last,—act in a very efficient and
special manner upon the ligaments, tendons, and muscles of these and
the other joints of the fingers, they _cannot be made too often_.