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Regulars
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When is the appropriate time to begin exposing ones self to 2nd, 3rd, 4th, ... finger positions ? Is this something that should wait until one fully masters first foinger positions to the point the can play comfortably and sound quite well or, should it be something to learn concurrently with 1st finger position ?
I ask because I am anxious to learn advanced fingering but I may be jumping too far ahead of myself. What happens is I try to understand and learn 2nd finger positioning, and it appears daunting and I get confused and discouraged. Perhaps I am trying to learn too much too fast and I need to slow down and stay more focused.
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Should one practice for a year before learning 1nd, 3rd positions etc?
If a student practices for 1/2 hour per year compared to a student who does 1/2 per day?
"Go for it" I say, but then I'm an impatient so-and-so! at the best of times!
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
The usual progression is learning first position and then including third position.
The decision to make the jump is usually decided by the music to be played. More third position requirements sneak in as music becomes more interesting.
Of course, there are intensive instruction books for third position.
Second position is not as popular in method books.
I can manage OK with third position, no second position and only a little fifth (fifth position that is). 
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Great answer Oliver.
Learn to play in first position so that you are comfortable and when the need arises learn 3rd position. I believe it's a little like learning two languages at the same time. You could mix them up. If you have a good brain and feel the need to learn all the positions simultaneously, then by all means, go for it. If you are playing by ear I don't think it makes as much of a difference. Playing with music means learning the fingering for those positions too.
Some players begin playing violin and play all positions after a year of playing. Some fiddlers play their whole lives and never leave first position and play some great stuff too. Obviously you are more limited if you must stay in one position.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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