MECHANICAL FINGER-EXERCISES (CONTINUED).
It is not sufficient to play the ordinary finger-exercises and scales.
As has been shown in the opening chapters, and in the anatomical
representations of the hand, all the fingers are not equally strong;
for instance, the 4th and 5th fingers are, by nature, much weaker than
the others, and it is necessary to remedy this inequality.
Each finger ought, therefore, to have gymnastic exercises _for itself_,
and they ought to be performed on some solid body, which can be firmly
grasped. For this purpose take a round staff, from 12 to 18 inches
long, and half to three quarters of an inch thick, on which, at a
proper distance from one another, round indentations are made, and
into which the fingers are to be placed after the manner illustrated in
the adjoining and following figures.
[Illustration: The staff]
_Directions._
Place the thumb of each hand on one side, and the four fingers _very
firmly_ fixed on the other side of the staff; _raise one finger as high
as possible_, and let it fall down vigorously, like a hammer, 20 times
in succession, while the three remaining fingers, _stretched out from
one another_, like claws, remain immoveable. In the same way exercise
the other fingers; firmly, _slowly_, vigorously, and immediately after
the cylinder exercises just described. Repeat this three times daily,
each time for five minutes, altogether for 15 minutes a day, _but the
oftener it be done the better_.
Those playing the piano need not confine themselves to one particular
exercise, but may make use of all the figures at pleasure.
[Illustration: Fig. 32.
Fig. 31.]
[Illustration: Fig. 33.]
The fingers of the left hand may also be trained for violin playing, as
seen in Fig. 35.
[Illustration: Fig. 35.]
_Further upon the same._ After the cylinders, by far the most effective
of all means for imparting, gymnastically, strength and flexibility
to the fingers, together with evenness of vigour, individuality, and
independence, is, daily, in the room, or while walking, to take the
above-named staff, or, indeed, a smooth round stick of 18 inches
long, and half to three quarters of an inch thick, or an ordinary
walking-stick, and to perform on it as follows—With the four fingers
of one or both hands firmly pressed and stretched upon it, raise one
finger as high as possible, and, as above stated, let it fall down upon
it vigorously, like a hammer, while the other fingers remain firmly
pressed on the stick, 20 to 30 times in succession, then in couplets
with the 5th and 4th fingers, then with the 4th and 3rd, then with the
3rd and 2nd, 20 times each, the two fingers, in all cases, as stated,
lifted as high as possible, and the others remaining, _stretched at
even distances_, firm upon the staff; finally, with the four fingers
of each hand, 12 times ascending, and 12 times descending, but always
SLOWLY, energetically, with firm pressure, “and in time.” You may
_occasionally_ practise a little faster, but it must be the exception.
Slow moving, pressing, and stretching should from the chief gymnastic
rule.[7]
In a similar manner you may practise, _slowly and with energy_, with
one or with both hands, all sorts of difficult, muscular movements and
passages upon the staff, for example:—
_First series._ In couplets 20 to 30 _times each in succession_, with
the 2nd and 4th fingers, alternating, afterwards, with the 4th and 2nd;
then with the 3rd and 5th fingers, alternating with the 5th and 3rd; in
each case the two fingers stretched wide apart, and the other fingers
pressed upon the staff.
_Second series._ In couplets 20 to 30 _times each in succession_,
with the 2nd and 3rd fingers, first close together, then wide apart,
afterwards alternating in the same way, with the 3rd and 2nd. With the
3rd and 4th fingers first close together, then wide apart, afterwards
alternating, in the same way, with the 4th and 3rd. With the 4th
and 5th fingers, first close together, then wide apart, afterwards
alternating in the same way, with the 5th and 4th. In each case slowly,
the two fingers lifted as high as is convenient, 20 to 30 times in
succession, and the other fingers remaining firmly fixed upon the
staff. Lastly, all the four fingers together, in each of these varied
and different directions.
The number of times of each movement, and the duration of time, also
whether all should be made at the same hour, or otherwise, is left to
the discretion of the teacher and pupil. I would recommend, at first,
the selection of three or four modes or exercises for persistent
practice, to last over a given period of time, then to change to others.
But the regular exercise of the whole or part of them, _daily_, will,
in a comparatively short time, most surely impart immense strength
to, and render flexible, the muscles and joints of the fingers; will
enable you, if the directions be duly followed, to effect for yourself
perfectly equal and even fingering, and render the fingers entirely
_independent one of another_.
But let all be done with due moderation, and not driven to excess.
This gymnastic staff, or walking-stick exercise, however simple it may
appear, should, on no account, any single day be omitted. It produces
a most surprising effect if carefully and vigorously made; an effect
which will be the more remarkable in proportion as the fingers are
pressed and stretched far away from one another. By this means all the
various muscles, and even the tendons, joints, and ligaments are put
into motion, and both fingers and nerves are rendered strong and firm.
Besides, no time need be lost; as in performing these exercises you may
converse or engage in other occupations.[8]
In this manner, also, _the 4th finger may_ have a special training, and
become equally strong with the others. This finger is, on physiological
grounds, the weakest of all, and after a number of vain attempts at
remedying its well-known weakness, some physiologists of note in
Germany, have gone so far as to suggest the idea whether it would not
be well to cut the ligament joining the two fingers, in order to set
the 4th finger free.
But it is unnecessary to have recourse to such rude and unnatural
measures; the natural weakness of the 4th finger may be effectually
remedied, and may be entirely overcome, by the above exercises. The
same exercises, if _performed strictly according to the directions_
given above, are extremely useful for _all_ the fingers, which they
will render both strong and flexible.
These exercises may be _partially_ performed on musical instruments;
but they are _far more_ effective if made gymnastically, as directed,
because the fingers, in having a resting point, or lever, and having
something firm to grasp, are enabled to perform them _gymnastically_.
FOOTNOTES:
[7] The late Mr Clementi was celebrated for the perfect evenness and
beauty of his touch in playing rapid passages on the piano. The means
by which he attained this execution he was unwilling to disclose. It is
now known that he effected it by playing his scales VERY SLOWLY, and
with _great pressure_ of each individual finger (see page 96).
[8] The celebrated violinist, Bernard Molique, told me lately, in
London, that when he was called on to play difficult solo pieces in
public, he very often played them previously over _upon a stick_.