The most common criticism of the Hanon exercises is that having students drill on purely physical exercises results in an unmusical, mechanistic attitude toward the piano. Critics argue that practicing in an unmusical way dulls one's musical instincts, especially when forced upon children and beginners (though in the introduction Hanon does state that the book should be begun a year or so after beginning piano study), who need to cultivate their musicality rather than inure themselves to rote physicality. It is also argued that it is more efficacious to practice one's musicality as one practices one's technique; training in most art forms involves practicing technique, however repetitively, within artistic context. It is further argued that musicality drives technique; the flow of musical expression is a potent motivator to finger agility. In the notes accompanying his work Hanon considered his exercises less "dry" than other "five-finger exercises".