At the Primer Level we lay foundations. We are beginning everything that will follow. And, in the words of Plato, “You know that the beginning is the most important part of any work, especially in the case of a young and tender thing.” Guiding a young student to form a rounded hand shape so the fingers can move freely from a very tall bridge is, indeed, “priming” the hand to play with strength and security. Yet, importantly, using the analogy of Blooming Flowers suggests a gentle expansion of the hand from a closed position. Bracing individual fingers or playing fifths, as Dr. Faber demonstrates in My Invention and Frogs on Logs, gives the student an excellent chance to drop with arm weight into a hand prepared to support that weight without tension. Building structure in the hand—a good foundation!

To learn more, see the Primer Level Technique & Artistry Book.