Just a few thoughts:
I strongly agree with the "go carefully" approach. Playing the lute is
(or should be) physically easy. Think how little effort you actually
need to hold down a string, or to pluck a string. It's much less than
you might think.
I'm a bit sceptical about "exercises" in general - it seems to imply the
approach that says you have to play the scales and arpeggios before you
can play the Mozart. I think also of the "pumping nylon" nonsense which
some guitarists indulge in.
When you try to play the music of our lutenist predecessors of 500 years
ago, you quickly realize that there are problems which need to be solved
which are not already solved by the fact you can play scales in C# minor
at ninety miles an hour. So it's important to concentrate on the real
problems, rather than getting distracted.
I have also often found I play better after a break. Presumably this is
because the physical habits are a bit less strong, leaving some room for
the careful mental work which is so important.
Martin
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