 This is an instruction on playing major scales for students in the NCSSM Orchestra program. Today's lesson is particularly for violin players. Now, to understand how I teach scales, you have to understand the concept of finger patterns. I want you to consider that when you play the violin, there are really only four various finger patterns that your fingers can land in. And it all has to do with the half step. You can have a half step between your third and fourth finger. You can have a half step between your second and third finger. You can have a half step between your first and second finger. Or you could have no half steps at all, which I call open position. Now, we'll call these the three-four pattern, the two-three pattern, the one-two pattern, and the open pattern. Once you understand this, in first position or third position or any position you might be in, I'd like you to play some tetrachords, that is, four note patterns, using each of the finger patterns. For instance, in first position, you might play the three-four finger pattern. Or you might play the two-three finger pattern. Let's choose another position. I'll start in third position on the D string. The one-two position, I'll do it in first position on the A string. Once you understand the concept of finger patterns, you're ready to move on to one octave major scales.