=Drill 14=
[Illustration]
Test the movement by tracing the first stroke in the air. Start the
motion below the base line, and as the pen moves rapidly upward let it
strike the paper at the beginning point. Drive the pen through the
exercise rapidly and lightly. Make four connected m’s before lifting the
pen, and three such groups across a line. You will make the letters too
large, irregular, and awkward at first, and will have trouble with the
union (connecting lines), but keep right on. Make the four lines in a
minute and move the paper after each group. As taught in drill thirteen,
lesson fifteen, the parts of small m are made with over-motion, but to
use an over-motion between letters would give no connective line and
hence no dividing line between the letters. Keep in mind as you
practice, that the over-motion makes the parts of m, and that the
opposite or under-motion forms the connecting lines. You may count 1, 2,
3; or slide, 2, 3; or over, over, under. Drill fourteen should be
practiced a minute or more at the beginning of each practice period.
Four drills have now been suggested for use at the beginning of every
practice period. They should be practiced, not only in the beginning
stages, but until the entire course has been mastered. These drills
furnish the very best movement exercises, and at the same time give the
right kind of practice in form building. Students who thoroughly master
them in size, form, and speed application will find the remaining drills
easy. As it teaches the correct use of the under-motion in connecting
letters, small m is perhaps the most important of the four.