Page:Letters to a Young Lady (Czerny).djvu/29

 following one is struck, and it must then be taken up exactly at the very moment that the next finger comes in contact with its key. This must, of course, also be observed in passing the thumb under the middle fingers, or in passing the latter over the thumb.

If we offend even against only one of these three principal rules, the equality and beauty of the run is destroyed, and the utility of the practice lost. Each scale, therefore, must be practised in the order prescribed in my Pianoforte School, first with the right hand only, and then with both hands, and, at first, extremely slow, always consulting the judgment of your teacher, or taking the counsel of your own good ear as to whether the fingers sufficiently observe all the rules.

From week to week you must increase the degree of rapidity, till at last all the fingers are in a condition to fly over the keys with lightness, firmness, and distinct and beautiful execution. Every day, when you seat yourself at the pianoforte, let the scales be, for one half hour, the first thing which you attack; as by this means the fingers will be got in readiness for every thing else.

But I will not torment you longer to day, for I hope soon again to receive intelligence of your further progress, and I remain, Miss, Yours, &c. &c.