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.
It is absolutely essential that these muscles should be limbered up and
kept soft and pliable if you are to get any satisfactory movement of the
fingers at your instrument.
Do not overlook any of these exercises, new or old. Each is designed to
accomplish a certain definite object. Each must be practiced a certain,
definite number of times to get the best results.
This week, do Exercises 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
Lesson 5.
Test out your ideals.
What is it you have in mind to accomplish? Unless you have the way
plainly charted before you, unless you are guided by the ever glowing
light of a great ideal, you are almost certain to be dashed upon the
rocks of failure.
We graduate from the School of Life only with the coming of Death. To
some of us, Death comes early; to others, long years are granted for
delving into the ever changing mystery of being. But withal, what we
accomplish, is dependent on the ideal that guided and urged on our step.
Genius is infinite painstaking.
It is the determination bravely to learn the truth about ourselves and
our fellow men. With a fixed determination and a fixed ideal, YOU are of
genius calibre!
A month ago you set out to learn to play by the Short-Cut Method. This
method holds unquestionable advantages which are available in no other
way. It saves weeks of weary practice at the instrument because it
enables you to work to the very best advantage when you DO play. It
develops accuracy, speed and sympathetic understanding.
Here, then, is one ideal—the determination to learn to play, so that you
can give joy to others, and so that you can take greater pleasure in
self expression through the art of Music. The degree of your success
will be measured only by the sincerity of your purpose. It’s up to you!