Does anyone know what books are good for learning the 2nd and 4th positions? I've been working on the Herbert Kinsey books, I think they're very good for technique but the studies for 2nd and 4th position is a bit boring for me, my teacher has found some random studies for me which are good but are there any good books for the 2nd and 4th position?

Also does anyone know what positions you should learn for each grade? From what I know:-
Grade 3 - introduction to the 3rd position
Grade 4 - good at 3rd position
Grade 5 - 2nd, 3rd, 4th position and there's a G major/minor scale that requires a 5th position shift.

Argh, there's so much to learn! I've been learning the grade 5 pieces, I'm fine with the 3rd position and my 2nd and 4th position changing is fine in relation to the piece of music cos I sort of memorise the shift. But I get all mixed up when it comes to sight reading and random shifts in different positions.

It's fun but It's going to take me forever to learn all the positions! I need to practice harder.

None of the grade 4 pieces I've chosen move out of first position. I'm not sure if that was a subconscious decision on my part or not.

Same here Ms Fiddle
I can shift, but none of my pieces include it...


Sorry violin111 i really don't mean to hijack your thread here - but what grade 4 pieces have you chosen Ms Fiddle?

To be honest, I'm still playing a lot of grade 5 pieces in first position. Not because I can't shift, but the shifts are only meant to make it easier to save crossing strings. Personally I prefer to cross strings than to shift positions so am doing that. Obviously at grade 5 you have no choice but to shift in a lot of the pieces. I'm playing the Tchaikovsky which goes up to a couple of high G's. My teacher said that as long as the examiner see's that I can change position (such as in my scales and sight reading and where I have to in the pieces)then it's best to do whatever will give the best overall performance.