✨ Join Today & Get 14 Days Free! Start Free Trial →
tonebase Violin Course

Shifting: A Comprehensive Guide

Taught by renowned violinist 

Fabiola Kim

Embark on a comprehensive guide to mastering the art of shifting with Korean-American violinist, Fabiola Kim. This course delves into the importance of practicing shifts as a distinct technique, essential for fluid and expressive playing. Explore various types of shifts and the specific motions of the hand and fingers required to execute each one effectively. Kim's expert guidance focuses on using shifts not just as a movement between positions, but as a means of enhancing the expressive quality of your performance.

  • checkmark icon
    Difficulty: 
    all-levels
  • checkmark icon
    Duration: 
    1
     hours 
     hour

Course Syllabus

<p>Introduction</p>

<p>Kim lays the groundwork for mastering shifting techniques on the violin. She demonstrates basic motions and various types of shifts, setting a solid foundation for the in-depth exploration to come in the subsequent lessons. This session is crucial for understanding the fundamentals that will enhance your shifting skills throughout the course.</p>

<p>Shifting Fundamentals I</p>

<p>Delve into shifting fundamentals in this lesson, focusing on the essential concept of the guide finger, Utilizing Yost exercises to practice seamless shifts between 1st and 3rd positions. Kim also provides insights into the correct thumb and finger pressure techniques, vital for achieving smooth, inaudible shifts.</p>

<p>Shifting Fundamentals II</p>

<p>Advance your shifting technique in this lesson, where the focus is on the crucial timing of the bow and the exploration of the distinct characteristics and techniques required for both upward and downward shifts.</p>

<p>Shifting Fundamentals II</p>

<p>Advance your shifting technique in this lesson, where the focus is on the crucial timing of the bow and the exploration of the distinct characteristics and techniques required for both upward and downward shifts.</p>

<p>Advanced Concepts of Shifting II</p>

<p>Continue your journey into the more advanced aspects of shifting principles. This lesson integrates the practice of scales and double stops, accompanied by corresponding exercises from Dunis and Sevcik. These exercises are specifically chosen to reinforce your understanding and application of shifting techniques.</p>

<p>Shifting Applied in Repertoire</p>

<p>Conclude your comprehensive journey into shifting techniques with Fabiola Kim in this final lesson, where the focus is on applying the previously discussed concepts to specific concerto repertoire. Additionally, learn to determine the most effective fingering and decide when to shift or reach, always prioritizing what best serves the music. This session ties together the entire course, equipping you with the skills to apply your honed shifting technique in a concert setting.</p>

Click here to download the course workbook PDF and see the full syllabus →
Access this course and hundreds more.

Click below to access hundreds of exclusive cello courses, available only on tonebase.

Unlock Course →
meet YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Fabiola Kim

Hailed by the New York Times as “a brilliant soloist,” who “played with extraordinary precision and luminosity,” violinist Fabiola Kim enjoys a dynamic and versatile career as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, and pedagogue. Ms. Kim was appointed Assistant Professor of violin at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance and serves as faculty at the Colburn School.

read full bio →
Fabiola Kim
explore our courses

Join today & unlock 100s of courses!

Preview our curated selection of courses below. With lessons covering fundamentals, technical training, style and interpretation, you won't find a more thorough and enriching learning experience anywhere else.

preview
Practice Principles

with James Ehnes

preview
Essentials of Violin Playing

with Pinchas Zukerman

preview
Dounis Exercises - A Complete System

with Nancy Zhou

preview
Right Hand Technique

with Giora Schmidt

preview
Rimsky-Korsakov & Strauss

with Glenn Dicterow

preview
The Ergonomics of Violin Playing

with Grigory Kalinovsky

preview
Dounis Principles of Violin Playing

with Daniel Phillips

preview
Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64

with Simone Porter

preview
The Art of Violin Playing

with Adam Han-Gorski

preview
18 Tips for the Practice Room

with Daniel Kurganov

preview
Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004 (Bach)

with Charles Yang

preview
Kreutzer's 40 Etudes

with Eszter Haffner

Real reviews from real customers.

Our members rate us at 4.8/5 stars. Here’s how a few of them transformed their violin skills since joining tonebase.

“Instead of scouring the internet for hours for performance tips and tricks, I now have access to a wealth of high-quality content from renowned artists at my fingertips!“

Omid S.

joined Sep. 2022

“Sincerely speaking, a few months with tonebase help me solve many issues I have had with my fingers for years if not decades.“

Giao P.

joined Mar. 2021

“We [in the community] all give each other wonderful, positive feedback. The teachers also give incredibly detailed ways that we can improve our playing."

Eric P.

joined Apr. 2020

Try free for 14 days.

Choose your plan below to start your free trial.
Subscribe & Save
Yearly
Monthly

Yearly

$
29.95
/mo
Billed at $359 yearly
Join 25K+ Active Members

Monthly

Monthly

$
59.95
/mo
Billed monthly
Join 25K+ Active Members
Pay Once, Access Forever
Get unlimited access for life!

Lifetime

$
895
/once
Billed just once
Join 25K+ Active Members
All plans include:
  • Unlimited access for 14-day free trial
  • Full 90-day satisfaction guarantee
  • Access to 500+ video lessons & courses
  • Structured & guided course content
  • Free PDF workbooks & annotated scores
  • Feedback from our active Community
  • Bonus: The Ultimate Practice Toolkit

"I don't regret for a minute having spent the money on the membership. There's something for every musician on tonebase – I recommend you give it a try."

Photo of Dave
Dave McLellan

Concert & Chamber Musician

Join 10,000+ active members on the the world’s largest classical music platform.