How To: Play octaves in 1st and 3rd position on violin

Do you want to improve your violin playing technique? This violin lesson teaches you a great exercise to improve your octave technique in first and third position. This exercise is based on the Yost system. This exercise is designed to increase your familiarity and comfort in all positions, develop confidence and accuracy in all positions, develop an understanding of what to listen for while shifting, and improve your ear training and overall intonation. When practicing this exercise you should relax your fingers, hand and wrist; move arm first from the biceps to the new position dragging the hand and the finger, gliding on top of the string, never pushing forward with the fingers; tune with the biceps before putting finger down; get the 1st finger in tune so the 3rd finger will tune itself; always lift and drop 1st and 3rd fingers at the same time; know what position you're in at all times and say it out loud before you go; press on lower string more with the bow and keep bow close to the bridge. These steps will make this violin exercise easier and more effective. If you want a more advanced version of this exercise you can try playing the fingered octaves broken in thirds exercise alternating between 1 and 3, and 2 and 4. With this how to video you will be able to play these octave exercise in first and third position on the violin.