Take hold of the thumb of the one hand with the fingers of the other, or with the whole hand, and shake it or bend it to its root, without, however, overdoing either. In short, perform every day some exercise with the thumb, whereby it will be sufficiently brought into exercise. CHAPTER XI. FREE GYMNASTIC EXERCISES FOR THE WRIST.[6] _First movement._ [Illustration: Fig. 17.] [Illustration: Fig. 18.] Move the wrist, _without moving the arm or elbow_, vigorously up and down in a perpendicular direction, from 20 to 40 times, first slowly, then more quickly; finally, as quick as possible. In doing so, let the elbows rest close to the body, so as to bring both hands and wrists into the proper position. As soon as you are tired, leave off. _Second movement._ [Illustration: Fig. 19.] [Illustration: Fig. 20.] Move the hand horizontally or vertically without moving the arm. To understand the practical utility of this exercise (19, 20), it ought to be borne in mind that the entire action of the wrist is effected by two principal joints, one of which, the smaller of the two, lies at the root of the hand, and is called the “joint of the hand,” by means of which it becomes possible to move the hand, independently of the arm, at its root. The other joint, the larger of the two, rises from the elbow, and is called the rotatory joint of the forearm. Holding, then, all the five fingers close together, move the smaller joint perpendicularly or horizontally, as you please, without in any way moving the arm, and at the same time holding the elbow close to the body. _Third movement._ [Illustration: Fig. 21.] [Illustration: Fig. 22.] Move the wrist in a slanting direction right and left, as above, first slowly, then quicker and quicker. Hold the elbows as before. By this movement, both the joints mentioned above will be put into action, 21, 22. [Illustration: _Fourth movement._ Fig 23.] The young violinist, who generally finds the sideways movement of the wrist of the right hand so difficult, will derive great advantage from all these wrist exercises. Holding your arm quite still, move the free hand or fist vigorously round in a circle, 20 times to the right, and 20 times to the left, first slowly, then more quickly. By this exercise all the muscles of the hand and the arm will be put into motion, and though the most difficult of all, this is at the same time one of the most important exercises. All these several free movements of the hand and fingers may be repeated _many times_, with advantage; still by simply performing them, short though they be, daily and regularly, the prescribed time only, the desired end of strengthening the muscles of the fingers and wrists, and rendering them vigorous and flexible, will be surely attained.