How to Shift a Violin From the Wrist
Beginning violin players learn how to play in the first position on the finger board. This is the area adjacent to the chin of the violin. Given the violin's long neck, many more notes can be produced by playing in positions that are higher up the finger board. The most commonly learned position after first is third. The third position encompasses all of the notes that the first position does (with added notes on the E string that first position cannot reach) but changes the fingering, allowing a violinist to play passages more easily. This skill is essential for violinists wishing to advance their playing capabilities.
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Instructions
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Play the violin in the first position and pay particular attention to the position of your third finger on each string --- its position marks where you need to place your first finger to shift to third position. Practice moving your hand from its original position against the chin up to the area of the finger board where your third finger rests normally.
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Keep your wrist relaxed when shifting to third position. This is extremely important when shifting position on the neck of the violin --- your wrist should feel comfortable in high positions, which requires that you keep your thumb and index finger aligned on the finger board and neck. When you keep these two fingers together, it will keep the rest of your hand relaxed and make it easier to play in any position above first.
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Practice shifting to third position until it becomes a fluid motion. After you get accustomed to shifting, work on getting your first finger to be in tune without having to make adjustments after shifting. Practice this by playing your third finger on the D string and then shifting to third position and playing your first finger. The two notes should have the exact same pitch. Repeat this until you can easily switch between the two fingers.
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References
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