Shifting: Thirty Studies for Young Violinists by Yaakov Geringas Review

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(More customer reviews)Traditional shifting methods offer 3rd position in about the 3rd year of playing, which is studied for at least 6 months before going on to 5th position. In traditional shifting on violin it takes several years to learn positions 2-6. And then, all the time you're saying, "What position am I in?" You're thinking in terms of the physical distances on the fingerboard first, the sounds of the intervals come second.
Yaakov Geringas writes in his intro that as soon as a student knows various finger patterns, he/she should be introduced into shifting. In fact, he asserts, the higher positions are much easier for little fingers because the notes are closer together and more comfortable for littler arms.
I decided to give him a whirl a couple of years ago. Much of his technique involves hearing the intervals, as the positions are all mixed up. I have used video, recording, and just plain demonstration in teaching this book; he also requires playing in first position first, to hear the piece and facilitate finding the note with your shift. He doesn't identify positions - instead, the player shifts from one note to another note, learning to hear the notes as he or she reads.
As a result, after a few months the student is ready to read almost any music and even design fingerings of their own that ensure smooth string crossings.
The little pieces Geringas wrote for this book are delightful, reflect several different moods, and always pull the student in. They're perfect for adult beginners too, as they offer faster learning skills to pull the adult learner closer to his or her goal in learning violin.
The reason I gave the book 4 instead of 5 stars, is because it's not self teaching, and probably isn't for everyone. It requires the ability to hear the intervals, and I have had a small number of students who were not able to do it. Also it seems to be a stand alone book in a completely diverse method - so I find that I am really scouring the literature to find something to teach when this book is finished.
I'm really so happy I bumped into this book though. It's kickstarted many students into learning to use the entire fingerboard of the violin.
(One further note: I researched Yaakov Geringas and found that he was a professor of violin in a university in Canada during the 1960's. Therefore, I'm not really sure he intended this book to be just for little kids. I wish I could find more about him.)

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Shifting: Thirty Studies for Young Violinists by Yaakov Geringas is the essential technical study album which introduces shifting gradually and easily, early in a young player's development. Students overcome the problems of string crossing and shifting to produce a smoother sound and greater variety of tonal shading. Exercises are included to help students prepare for the progressively leveled studies. Descriptive titles such as Up and Down the Ladder and Hide and Seek, combined with imaginative drawings, make technique fun for the young student.

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