For example, while reading, at table, or while listening to music, allow your hand to lie upon the table, raise the fingers, and let them fall, one at a time, quite independently of the wrist; particularly the weak fourth and fifth fingers, which require to be used a hundred times more than the others, if you wish to acquire evenness in the scales.

If it attracts attention to do this on the table, then do it in your lap, or with one hand over the other.

To drum with your fingers and stretch your hands on the backs of other people is not often practicable, and is not necessary.

That was only pardoned in the zealous and original Adolph Henselt, who, though otherwise such a modest and amiable artist, even now, in St.Petersburg, makes himself ridiculous in this way, by his practice of finger movements.
Now you perceive the reason why I cannot answer the question which has been asked me innumerable times.

How much do your daughters practise?
I cannot count up the finger movements and the stray ten minutes just spoken of; but it is certain that they practise fewer hours in the day than many thousands who learn nothing, for they never practise and never have practised wrongly, but always correctly and advantageously.
One thing more.