Many parents and adult students wonder whether higher positions can really be taught effectively through online lessons. I’ve taught violin positions in person since 2004 and online since 2014. With the right approach, online lessons work just as well for this as in-person instruction.
Why Higher Positions Feel Difficult
When students first move beyond first position, they lose the visual and tactile landmarks they’ve relied on — the hand frame, the familiar spacing between fingers, the feel of the neck against the palm. It’s less that higher positions are inherently harder to play, and more that students need to build a new mental map of the fingerboard before they feel confident.
Flashcards and Scales to Prepare for Repertoire in Higher Positions
When introducing a new position, I use Introducing the Positions by Harvey S. Whistler — Volume 1 covers third and fifth positions, and Volume 2 covers second, fourth, sixth, and seventh. We start with the first exercise for each position in the book, typically a scale, and build from there. If a student is working on a piece in a different key, we’ll play a scale in that key within the new position first, then move into the related exercises.
A key part of my approach is flashcards. After introducing a position through its scale, students make their own flashcards — the note on one side, the answer (string and finger) on the other, along with the letter name of the note. At the next lesson, I check their flashcards and have them play back what’s written, confirming they’re practicing correctly. Students can also check their pitch against a tuner — if a card says E natural, they can verify they’re actually playing an E natural. For students who are struggling, I’ll record various exercises for them so they can practice with the recording at home.
The goal with flashcards isn’t just recognition — it’s being able to find and play the note cold, with no preparatory steps. That skill matters in real repertoire. For instance, I use the opening of Brahms’s Symphony No. 1, first movement, as a real-world example — the first violin part opens on a C natural, which is commonly played in fifth position. Similarly, his Symphony No. 3 opens with the first violin line beginning on an F natural, also typically played in fifth position. Being able to locate a note like this immediately, without shifting up gradually to find it, is exactly the skill flashcard work builds.
How This Works in an Online Lesson
Position work translates well to online lessons. When a student stands parallel to the camera, I can clearly see their hand position and finger placement, the same way I would in person. I listen closely for pitch and tone quality, which tells me just as much about accuracy as watching the hand does. Flashcard checks, scale work, and tuner verification all happen the same way online as they would in a studio lesson.
Beyond polishing orchestra pieces for rehearsal or learning solo pieces, this approach has a real payoff. Once students are comfortable navigating positions, they’re able to work through orchestra music mostly on their own — which is crucial, because then we can spend our online lesson time on other advanced techniques instead of note-finding.
I’ve seen this play out directly with one of my online students. Before he learned positions, I helped him extensively with his orchestra music — working through passages together, note by note. Now that he’s learned all seven positions, he no longer needs that kind of help. He works through his orchestra music independently, and our lesson time goes toward refining and building on what he’s already figured out on his own.
Learning Positions for the First Time — or Coming Back to Them
This method works well for many students — those learning positions for the first time, and those returning to violin after time away who need a refresher on positions they’d previously learned.
Ready to Get Started?
I teach in person in Falcon Heights, North Oaks, and Mounds View, and I’ve offered online. My online lessons page includes video excerpts of students playing and a look at how I teach from home.
Contact me to schedule a free intro.