You play advanced repertoire with ease
No more fear or freakout moments.
Play more advanced pieces & orchestral repertoire with ease!
Learn Violin Positions FAST!
The idea of playing advanced pieces expressively with position & shifting confidence makes your HEART soar!
But…there’s a big PROBLEM.
Every time you have to shift to a note in a higher position, you freak out in fear that you will play a note horribly out of tune and then it happens….the note is a shrieking out-of-tune note. You fall into despair that yet again you played it out of tune.
You love the violin, you love your violin journey, and you identify as a violinist…you SHOULD be able to play high notes in tune right?
In orchestral playing, you latch onto your stand partner and play quietly just to match her pitches because you really have no idea what you are doing or even what fingers to play in the upper stratosphere.
You find yourself constantly shifting down to first or third position because you lack the knowledge of how to play the same passage staying in the same position.
Your tone in the upper positions on the E string is screeching and fuzzy on the G string.
You try to vibrate in the upper positions to help the tone and we won’t tell anyone that you actually use vibrato to help get the note in tune resulting in a super wobbly tone without any type of pitch center.
You have this nagging voice in the back of your head saying…”I would be a better player if I would just dedicate myself more to studying violin positions and shifting.”
But where do you start? You need to know it all NOW!
Too embarassed to ask for help, you pull out some dusty old etudes…
but without a practice plan or strategy, position playing yet again gets pushed to the wayside as you think I really should know this by now and shame sets in.
You ask yourself why can’t I play as well as other violinists after years of study, private lessons, perhaps even a university degree, and yet accurate fluency in upper positions evades you.
You are already limited on time for your practice sessions and spending hours on position studies even if you did know what to practice doesn’t fit your current situation.
Your previous teachers didn’t spend much time with you on position studies and only talked about positions when they came up in pieces. They just expected you to already know or play accurately without giving much guidance other than yelling, “You’re out of tune!”
Most of the time you don’t even know what position you are playing in when you play pieces or ochestral rep.
Believe me, I get it.
After my University studies, I was thrown into professional playing rather quickly. I remember a specific concert cycle where I was playing with my ex-boyfriend on the same stand and I was on the outside. I was slightly embarrassed and surprised after the first rehearsal that I really didn’t know what was going on when we were up in the upper stratospheres.
At any rate, I wanted to NAIL that concert cycle and I studied my music inside and out. I let nothing go unscathed. My confidence soared with KNOWLEDGE! I applied the same methods that I teach in Position Mastery Academy and I did indeed NAIL that concert.
Position Mastery Method was birthed as a solution for adult violinists who need to learn positions NOW.
Not YEARS from now like it is presented in traditional Etude books.
This method has helped many violinists play in positions they have never played before in a super quick study. I even taught an 80-year-old violinist this method and she was tickled pink to play in 7th position for the first time EVER!
Violinists feel that they understand the violin like a grid after going through Position Mastery. The unknown becomes known as the positions are literally de-mystified.
You aren’t guilty for the education you did not receive. I remember feeling so less than because I didn’t have the knowledge. I always had the passion, drive, and a huge heart that loved playing violin.
I always felt like I was playing catch up to the violinists around me at the University level. My teachers had me jump ahead to be audition ready without filling in the holes that we skipped like position training.
Maybe you feel like that too….you just got thrown into the fire and you were hanging on for dear life.
It doesn’t have to be that way anymore. After spending 8 weeks within Position Mastery you will have ALL the tools you need to improve your current violin position playing and learn new positions in the shortest amount of time possible.
Through my own struggles and witnessing others with similar issues, I know for a FACT that we can work together and get you playing beautifully with knowledge as your foundation in the upper positions.
No violinist needs to struggle for years to master violin positions. With diligent daily practice applying techniques taught within this violin position academy, you will have confidence playing in higher positions.
With this program, you don’t even have to lose time to think what to practice or search for more violin position exercises. Your technical practice is all laid out for you and all violin position books are included for you to see massive improvements even if all you have is 15 minutes a day of concentrated mindful position practice.
JUST IMAGINE YOUR HEART SINGING WITH JOY AS YOU PLAY FREELY & CONFIDENTLY IN THE HIGHER POSITIONS!
No more tears.
How would you feel if…
Play with confidence!
“This Academy took the mystery out of the positions. As a relative newcomer to playing, and one with aspirations to play with friends and small groups around town, this course helped me understand how to use positions to make travel within melodies easier and better sounding. It opened my eyes to the structure of the violin so that I feel less intimidated when I need to to move up, down and side to side. It clarified the mechanics and will be very useful as I attempt to play with different groups and their selections. It has given me more confidence to play with others.”
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I would like to thank you again for Position Mastery Academy. It has made a WORLD of difference in my violin playing! Anchoring some of the notes with the second finger is amazing! My shifts are so much more consistent now. Guiding my attention to the dynamics and using the bow more efficiently has helped a lot.
I am sooo grateful for Heather and her Position Mastery Academy!!
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I often use GPS to get me where I need to go. Position Mastery Academy(PMA) is like a GPS for the fingerboard on the violin. You begin with exercises in each position. Then you start shifting between the positions. The live classes along the way are so helpful and fun too! When I look at the fingerboard now I think, that’s 3rd position & 6th position is here & I know this is 7th position but playing in 7th on the G string is a challenge…..and a stretch:) Also, 2nd & 4th positions don’t seem like “a no man’s land” anymore.
I have studied Kreisler’s Praeludium & Allegro with Heather. I don’t believe that would have been possible if I hadn’t gone through PMA. So I think it’s obvious that I highly recommend it!!
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“Position Mastery Academy is extremely helpful. I was quite familiar (and reasonably good) in 3rd and 2nd position, and 5th position and beyond on the E string (for orchestral playing). My technique was always to rattle down into 3rd after playing a high passage. I have now learned (but not fully) 5th position across the strings and look forward to continuing to learn with Position Mastery.”
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Introducing…
VIOLIN POSITION LEARNING METHOD ENGINEERED SPECIFICALLY FOR ADULT VIOLINISTS
7 POSITIONS IN 8 WEEKS
This helps adult violinists from intermediate to pro to…
- Develop well-rounded & well-balanced position-playing skills
- Turn position-playing insecurities into position-playing strengths
- Play advanced pieces & orchestral rep with ease
- Play confidently with others
Study positions via the position mastery method which allows you to learn positions faster than traditional method books.
Position Mastery Academy includes step-by-step video tutorials, exercise books, fourth finger studies, scales, etudes, and daily assignments sent via email over the span of 8 weeks followed by Seamless Shifting 8-week study plus 6 LIVE WORKSHOPS to support you in reaching your violin position playing goals.
Here’s the thing…
- You aren’t going to learn violin positions by osmosis.
- You aren’t going to confidently learn violin positions just by playing pieces.
- You don’t have time to study violin positions via traditional methods that literally take YEARS!
- Not having position-playing knowledge equally balanced across 7 positions is like hopping around on one leg.
When you enroll in Position Mastery Academy you GET…
Daily time commitment for best results:
Weeks 1-2: 30-45 minutes
Weeks 3-4: 60-75 minutes
Weeks 5-8: 90-105 minutes
Position Mastery is an accelerated positions program, that covers seven positions in eight weeks. These seven positions and foundational position training are divided into four modules, each taking two weeks to complete. Upon completing all four modules, not only will you have playing knowledge in seven positions, you will have a clear-cut strategy on how to make any insecure position your strength. You will be able to create your own customizable position maintenance/educational study strategy to support your violin journey for years to come.
- By the end of these 8 weeks, you will have a better understanding and an improved position playing skillset from 1st to 7th position.
- You can refer to these video tutorials and materials 24/7!
- You can choose to work with the exercises on your computer, iPad or smartphone or download and print them up to study them on your music stand.
$888 value (way less $$$ than paying for weekly private lessons for 3 years to learn the traditional way.)
Seamless Shifting is to be started upon completion of Position Mastery.
Daily time commitment for best results:
Weeks 1-2: 20 minutes
Weeks 3-4: 25 minutes
Weeks 5-8: 30 minutes
Seamless Shifting 56 days of effective shifting practice strategies. Traditional shifting exercises are mind-numbing and ineffective as you still find yourself playing out of tune and have a difficult time shifting to and from higher positions.
Many violinists are under-taught shifting therefore specific shifting exercises are under-practiced resulting in shifting insecurities and out-of-tune notes.
With diligent daily practice applying techniques taught within Seamless Shifting, you will no longer have to fear or have freak-out moments when shifting in pieces or orchestral music.
In Seamless Shifting, you have ALL the tools you need to improve your current shifting skills and incorporate effective shifting exercises within your violin technical studies.
Seamless Shifting consists of an 8-week shifting study with practice plans, video tutorials, exercise books, scale books, etudes, fourth finger studies, and daily assignments sent to you by email to help you stay on track and stay motivated.
- By the end of these 56 days, your shifting knowledge, application, and implementation will radically improve.
- You will find that you shift freely and accurately within pieces.
- You will have a clear-cut strategy on how to make any shifting insecurity your strength.
$444 value (way less $$$ than paying for weekly private lessons for 3 years to learn the traditional way.)
Master the Positions with Finger Patterns series is the key to understanding 2nd thru 7th positions. After years of teaching positions with traditional method books and saying the same things over and over again, I decided to write out what needs to be done.
Many violinists after years of study, still struggle with how notes relate to each other across the strings, and these method books, in a beautiful melodic way, address these issues. Practice techniques of checking pitches with open strings and lower positions to stay on track with intonation are melodically implemented directly into the exercises.
This 7-volume series presents the positions in the same way you learned first position but perhaps didn’t realize it…with finger patterns!
- Immediately downloadable & printable upon enrollment
- Develop positions fluency and note-reading skills FAST
- Intonation radically improves with these exercises.
$136 Value
Fourth Finger Studies Series consists of strengthening finger relationship exercises specifically designed to develop the fourth finger’s consistency, reliability, muscle memory, and improved intonation in varying positions
Not only does Fourth Finger Studies cover fourth finger relationships on one string it emphasizes fourth finger practice for string crossings as well.
- Out-of-tune fourth fingers become accurate and consistent
- Your fourth finger becomes just as strong as your other fingers.
- Your fourth finger is no longer a useless appendage on your left hand.
- You no longer devise crazy ass fingerings to avoid the fourth finger at all costs.
- Octaves go from hellish nightmares to a walk in the park.
$56 Value
Major/minor scales & Arpeggios in 7 positions series is your go-to major, minor scales and arpeggios across the instrument for first thru seventh positions. This scale series helps violinists want to improve sight reading, playing ability, intonation, and overall fluency within positions.
Includes the following downloadable and printable ebooks consisting of major/minor scales, broken thirds, and arpeggi:
- 1st position A
- 2nd position B Flat & B
- 3rd position C & D
- 4th position D
- 5th position E
- 6th position F
- 7th position G
$44
Third Position & Seamless Shifting 5-Day Challenge Kits are part of my ever-popular 5-day challenge series. In these kits, you have fast-track methods to improve your 3rd position and shifting skills FAST! They are a great way to immerse yourself in these topics in 5 days and also I great way to review what you already know.
Check your knowledge with the challenge of the day to understand if you need more training in that area. If desired you can turn these into 5 week challenges and sit with the assignment for a week as opposed to just one day.
$50
“Strengthening Exercises for First Position” educates violinists how to excel in first position via six most common first-position finger patterns. These exercises are great for the beginner violinist wanting to master first position and the seasoned violinist wanting to discover and heal any intonation inconsistencies.
This book focuses on three distinct issues typically neglected in other method books with exercises to implement: the importance of holding fingers down, lifting fingers, and the importance of hovering fingers.
“Strengthening Exercises for First Position” is perfect for first-position newbies and seasoned first-position players wanting to improve intonation. The exercises mindfully practiced at a faster tempo can help more advanced players discover and fix their first-position intonation inconsistencies.
There are four exercises for each finger pattern:
Preparatory Exercise – an introduction to the finger pattern on all four strings with half steps marked.
Eliminate Flyaway Fingers – an exercise to encourage hovering fingers allowing for faster more accurate playing.
Marching Fingers – an exercise to be practiced in two ways, holding fingers down and lifting fingers.
Finger Pattern Exercise – an exercise exploring every finger combination possible with the finger pattern on one string.
Each exercise within this book focuses on applying healthy violin playing techniques for that specific finger pattern on that specific string.
$18
“Playing Through the Positions” takes you through all seven positions on the violin on all strings using every finger and varying finger combinations. Working with this book daily, you get to know the violin as a grid and improve intonation, shifting, and position within in all keys.
This book is NOT for sale individually and is only made available to students of Position Master Academy.
$25
“Seamless Shifting” volumes 1 & 2 takes you through every different finger shift possible from first through seventh positions on all strings.
Perfect to get to know the violin as a grid and improve intonation while shifting.
Excellent daily warm up…
$24
Supplemental PDFs include:
- Hand Frame Studies 4 part series
- First Position Pitfalls PDF
- Etude in C
- 2 Octave Scale and Arpeggi in 2nd Position
- 4th Position Follies
- 10 Tips to Stay Motivated
- One Finger Challenge
- Hand Frame Through Positions
- Get to Know the G String (single string studies)
- Get to Know the D String (single string studies)
- Get to Know the D String Part 2 (single string studies)
$44
Beginner No More! Master 3rd Position Now!
Solid 3rd position knowledge is a pre-requisite to starting Position Mastery. If by chance you feel that your 3rd position skills need some work, START HERE!
Within this course learn how to play in third position via six different finger patterns. The course focuses on finger relationships on the same string and across the instrument. Distinct issues typically neglected in other method books you will learn in this course like how to properly play high and low first finger in third position.
$133
Become a second-position master…
“Master Second Position with Finger Patterns” is the most extensive course for second position on the violin online. Practice techniques of checking pitches with open strings and lower positions to stay on track with intonation, are melodically implemented directly into the exercises.
This course is perfect for second-position newbies and seasoned second-position players wanting to improve intonation. The exercises practiced at a faster tempo can help more advanced players discover and fix their second-position inconsistencies.
$77
Position Power…
5 pre-recorded workshops
“Master Second Position with Finger Patterns” is the most extensive course for second position on the violin online. Practice techniques of checking pitches with open strings and lower positions to stay on track with intonation, are melodically implemented directly into the exercises.
This course is perfect for second-position newbies and seasoned second-position players wanting to improve intonation. The exercises practiced at a faster tempo can help more advanced players discover and fix their second-position inconsistencies.
$225
Power Packed Position Practice Hacks!!!
6 live group workshops held on Zoom
Group Coaching Calls online via Zoom. Reminder links are sent out 30 minutes prior via email.
2023 Schedule
- MON 14 AUG 9 AM Chicago
- WED 16 AUG 8:30 AM Chicago
- MON 21 AUG 9 AM Chicago
- WED 23 AUG 8:30 AM Chicago
- MON 28 AUG 8:00 AM Chicago
- WED 30 AUG 8:30 AM Chicago
Possible Application Pieces to choose from:
- Meditation from Thais
- Gluck Melodie
- Schubert Standchen
$500 Value
6 LIVE Workshops! Get direct feedback from Heather as you work through the program. These yearly calls add an extra layer of training not found within the Academy.
Wksp 1
- PMA walkthrough Q&A
- The most efficient position practice strategy
Wksp 2
- Proper left arm mechanics for playing in positions
- Hand frame through the positions
- Playing octaves in positions
Wksp 3
- Reading high notes (above the leger lines) on the E string
- How to hear the upper register notes better
- Playing in tune (improving intonation) in the higher positions
Wksp 4
- Position Practicing Hacks (play an octave lower etc.)
- Scales and Etudes
- Mechanics of Working across the instrument in positions as opposed to shifting up through positions (scales across the instrument and single strings)
Wksp 5
- Shifting effortlessly and properly
- Developing Shifting Accuracy to upper positions
- Improving Accuracy Shifting Down
Wksp 6
- Producing a gorgeous tone in the upper positions on the different strings
- Proper vibrato in higher positions
- How not to hit other strings while playing in the upper positions
“Position Mastery and Seamless Shifting Academy is an amazing adventure! Thanks Heather for your special insight on how to teach and implement this training!! Heather has an interesting and enjoyable way of practicing and learning the positions on the violin! I have gained confidence and an increased understanding of the positions and the ease and purpose of using them!
I am enjoying knowing where I am in the positions! Thanks, Heather for your fun and perfect way of teaching students to shift correctly! The most wonderful thing about these past 6 months of learning from this Academy is the improvement of my intonation and tone!
Being able to hear the pitches and hit the center of the pitch has improved my playing 100%! I have more confidence and feel I am progressing quickly! I am also happy to know I can review this course anytime and keep working to be the best Violinist I can! Thumbs up Heather!!”
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“I learned that some keys are easier to play in certain positions which helps in eliminating unnecessary string crossings and shifts. I learned a lot about my own violin and the sounds it produces in the higher positions and why I might want to play certain notes in a different position to produce a sound that is more expressive in the music.
Overall, the learning curve went way beyond just the positions!”
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This Academy is very complete, encompassing not only the positions, but shifting with the one finger challenge exercises, hand framing, developing a strong fourth finger in all the positions and bowing technique while shifting.
I enrolled in this class because I was encountering positions above third in my orchestra music more often and I didn’t know how to approach them. I had never learned to read the notes above D in third position on the E string. Although I am finished with Position Mastery, I am still working on the exercises in 6th and 7th as these are very new positions to me.
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Who is Position Mastery Academy for?
Amateur Adult Violinists
Including intermediate, advanced, and returning violinists.
- Confidently play with others
- Rock out your orchestral rep for the community orchestra
- Play advanced pieces with accurate intonation and musical expression
- Understand the fingerboard like a grid that it is
- Know exactly how to practice efficiently for the most progress
Violin Teachers
Including Suzuki & Traditional Methods
- Confidently demonstrate for your students
- Have the knowledge to present positions and shifting in a new light
- Confidently play more advanced pieces for your students’ growth
- As you teach shifting and position fundamentals to your students you learn even more
Pro Players
Including Orchestral, jazz, pop violinists, and fiddlers
- Confidently play your gigs with more accuracy and less anxiety.
- Gain more fans and followers now that you LOVE being seen and heard.
- Attract more work and moolah as your skills are being noticed cha-ching!!!
- Confidently create music in new positions resulting in more dynamic performances.
- You want to learn to play in higher positions but you find the learning process overwhelming
- You find yourself playing out of tune the higher you go on the instrument
- You don’t know how to read positions outside of third position
- You are embarrassed your position playing skills are not up to par with the rest of your playing
- You are guilty of the mad guess scramble hoping by luck you will hit the note in tune
- You want to improve intonation and have the mystery taken out of position playing on the violin
- You were never properly trained the positions on the violin
YOU HAVE EVERYTHING TO GAIN AND NOTHING TO LOSE!
Years ago, when I ran an in person private studio, yearly tuition totaled $3125 at $60 an hour…since then my rates have doubled.
In Position Mastery Academy, I teach the EXACT same techniques but you don’t have to pay $3125.00 for these violin lessons and yet you will receive the EXACT same results if you implement the information found within this program.….
If you are ready to take the next significant step in your violin journey – I am ready to share this innovative educational system with you!
How much is it worth to you to finally have all the technical tools, video tutorials and exercises needed to foster the confidence in violin technique that you are longing for?
Choose your preferred educational method below:
PAY IN FULL
3 INSTALLMENTS
Is Position Mastery Academy (PMA) suitable for newbies, beginners or advanced violinists?
Position Mastery Academy is an excellent resource for violinists that are ready to start playing outside of first position.
PMA is also EXCELLENT for violin teachers! However, PMA books have to be purchased separately for students in private studios as stated in terms of use and terms of conditions.
Is PMA suitable for Violists?
Unfortunately, not.
How will the exercises be delivered? Can I print them out?
After enrolling, you will be directed to the registration page. Once enrolled and inside the program, download the corresponding books and then you may print out the exercises.
How will the program be delivered? Are books included in the program?
As soon as you enroll and pay, you’ll be jumped to the Studio registration page. Once registered and approved, you will be able to start INSTANTLY. The books can be found in the LIBRARY where you can instantly download.
Is there a refund policy?
Due to the direct downloading of the book and instant access to membership site, all sales are final and non-transferable. The course and E-book is built to a very high standard, you will have everything you need to start your weekly violin exercise journey.
After enrolling in the course and I quit playing the violin, can I have a refund?
Sadly, but no.
Does Position Mastery Academy include any private violin lessons?
The VIP offering includes 4 private sessions online with Heather at a student rate.
Can I download the E-Book on my I-pad or tablet?
YES, most definitely. Please follow this link here for exact directions how to do so.
How long do I have access to Position Mastery Academy?
As long as Position Mastery Academy is offered at the Studio, you have access to the Academy. Your access is for lifetime of the Academy. Not your lifetime and not my lifetime, but the lifetime of Position Mastery Academy. You also have access to all additions added to this Academy in the future.
IF, for whatever reason PMA moves to a new location or merges with other Academies, you will always receive this information to the email that you provide us. It is highly recommended you submit an actual email you check regularly to receive updates.
Be sure to read the Terms of Use. for further information. When you enroll you are agreeing to Heather Kaye Violin’s Terms of Use.
What does Position Mastery include?
- Access to 25 Books and 17 Exercises
- All Exercises are in PDF format, downloadable and printable
- 4 bi-weekly pre-recorded calls
- Exercises are protected files accessed in the website
- Supplemental training videos when applicable
- Recommended book links for specific violin techniques
- Facebook Group Access for support
- Free Course upgrades
- Lifetime Access (lifetime of the program) to the mini lessons and exercises…no renewal needed!
What does Seamless Shifting include?
- Immediate Access to all included Books and Exercises
- All Exercises are in PDF format, downloadable and printable
- 4 bi-weekly group calls via Zoom (Will Be Recorded)
- Exercises are protected files accessed in the website
- Supplemental training videos when applicable
- Recommended book links for specific violin techniques
- Facebook Group Access for support
- Free Course upgrades
- Lifetime Access (lifetime of the program) to the mini lessons and exercises…no renewal needed!
Is there a study group for the Academy?
YES!! All of Heather’s Academies at the Studio have an EXCLUSIVE FB study group. Details on joining will be given to you after you enroll and pay.
I can’t afford the tuition for PMA.
I completely understand that this is an investment in your violin journey. Please understand, that the teachings you recieve from me are from a lifetime of study, University education and post university education with some of the best teachers in the world. This investment is only a grain of sand in the investment that I personally made in my own education. You are worthy to invest in your self and if you truly want to improve your position and shifting in a concentrated amount of time, this Academy is for you.
You do have the option of purchasing the books only, but do keep in mind that without the video lessons you will definitely not progress the same. The exercises in themselves are wonderful and unique but not nearly as effective without the video instruction.
ENROLLING IN POSITION MASTERY ACADEMY IS A COMMITMENT YOU ARE MAKING TO IMPROVE YOUR VIOLIN JOURNEY.
THERE ARE NO PAYMENT CANCELLATIONS, NO REFUNDS AND YOUR ENROLLMENT IS COMPLETELY NON-TRANSFERRABLE.