ThisĀ  is the scale sequence I teach for beginning string players through more advanced stages:

  1. Monkey Song (also called a tetrachord). This is half of the scale. I usually teach this with a rhythm such as Mississippi Stop Stop on each note.
  2. One octave scale starting on open strings. There are three for each instrument. I start by playing it with a rhythm on each string then progress to playing it with quarter notes, half notes, then whole notes on each note.
  3. One octave scales starting with a “Ringing Tone.” (This would be a third finger start for violin and viola or a fourth finger start for cello.)
  4. Two Octave Scale starting with the lowest open string.
  5. One octave scales starting with first finger. There are also three of these for each instrument. I start by playing it with a rhythm on each string then progress to playing it with quarter notes, half notes, then whole notes on each note.
  6. One octave scales beginning with Low 2 or second finger for cello.
  7. Two Octave Scales that shift third position for violins and violas.
  8. Three octave Scale for Violin and Viola Only.
  9. All Key Signatures in First position. (From Sevcik Opus 1, Book 1)
  10. One String Scales.
  11. One octave scales on two strings in all positions.
  12. Two octave scales on all four strings in all positions.