Falbe's principles in teaching were entirely heretical according to the traditional school; he gave Michael no scale to play, no dismal finger-exercise to fill the hours.
"What is the good of them ?" he asked.

"They can only give you nimbleness and strength.

Well, you shall acquire your nimbleness and strength by playing what is worth playing.

Take good music, take Chopin or Bach or Beethoven, and practise one particular etude or fugue or sonata; you may choose anything you like, and learn your nimbleness and strength that way.

Read, too; read for a couple of hours every day.