Hey everyone...I'm working on a piece that switches quickly up into third position and I sound pretty bad on the switch. Kind of scratchy and I tend to swoop into the right note until I've found my position. Does anyone have any suggestions for fixing that? Thanks a lot.

You can always go into third a couple of notes before that pesky note when it's easy to switch and just stay there until it's convenient to go back. Hope that helps!

So I know this post has been dead for a while, but I thought I'd post with a little input in case someone else has the same problem.

When it comes to shifting, you need to put A LOT of emphasis on your first finger. Even if you are shifting from a 2nd finger in first position to a 3rd finger in third position, think about where your first finger is and how far it has to move to get to that position. I practice first finger shifts from position to position so that I can feel how far my hand actually has to go before I add in the other fingers. You have to remember that your first finger is your base. Treat it as such and use it to help you!

Hope that was of some help!