My son plays the guitar, when I was trying to learn it he kept telling me I was holding the pick wrong. I tried and tried to hold it the way he showed me but like you say it kept slipping. I still haven't figured out how to keep it in my hand. Still don't know how to play the guitar either. I play the dulcimer and I don't think I hold it right for that either and have been trying to change but as you said, it's certainly not easy to break habits. I agree with you do it right from the beginning and you won't have the frustration of changing later.