I'm toying with the idea of trying to take grade 7 violin. I took grade 6 years and years ago.

I wouldn't be expecting to get great marks - I'd be quite happy with 100! - taking it partly at least as exam practice because it's just SO long since I did a G6-8 exam. I never did great as a child but I'd practise more as an adult anyway.

I have played some G7 music both on violin and viola.

Vague thoughts of maybe aiming for March which would give me flexibility with the two syllabuses.

Scales should be OK-ish, reasonable anyway.

So.... does anyone have any suggestions of pieces from the outgoing and incoming syllsbuses? I might be able to get some help from more advanced violinists but will be working largely alone, and I'm not bothered about playing a less spectacular piece and not aiming for amazing marks. That said obviously I'd like to play music that I won't get sick of.

Are there any pieces that are relatively straightforward, insofar as anything can be for grade 7!?!?!

Strengths are probably a good ear and relatively secure position work. Weakness would be not great vibrato and fingers not as fast as they should be. I'm not a great player and wouldn't expect to get great marks... would just like to give myself a chance of passing!

Make ANY sense??!?!

Of course it makes sense! I'm using a few pieces from the 2008-11 syllabus, I'll try and tell you what I think/thought of them .

A1: Bach - Position wise this isn't terribly tricky (imo), until you get to about half-way through where you're reccommended to use 4th position. There are a lot of quavers though, but they don't have to be played ridiculously fast, and there isn't a need for excessive vibrato either.

A2: Biber - More tricky in terms of position, requires a warm tone on longer notes. In variation 2, the majority of the notes are semi-quavers, although it's mainly playable in 1st/3rd position.

A3: Haydn - Quite tricky, according to my former teacher, but once you get the hang of the notes I don't think it's too bad. It seems to require to be played very stylistically, but then what music doesn't?

B1: Adoration - I love this one! Once you know what the notes are, there's a lot of room for personalising it, but it does need a fair amount of vibato to keep it warm.

I've not really looked at the others in any great detail yet, but B3 (Sibellius, Rondino) seems to be quite straightforward .

I don't know if this will help you at all, but that's what I think of some of them.

I'm using pieces from the current syllabus.
Straightforward ish pieces I think are:

A2: Mozart: relatively simple and you are often "accompanying" the piano as I was told at a music festival. There lots of held on long notes to show off your vibrato(however small) and no extremely high notes. Fingerings are mostly simple and is quite easy to get the hang of.

A3: Telemann: slightly more difficult as goes faster, but with work its not too bad. it's nice because you can set your own dynamics and is a happy piece. it's also unaccompanied so gives you a bit more freedom. this could be a bit hard for you as you said you had problems with 'quick fingers'

B1: Smetana: although you have to get the correct bow speed to get all the crescendo's etc, but notes are quite easy apart from 5/6 rather high and more difficult bars.

C1: Malcolm Arnold: this ballad goes quite high but is quite short and once you get your fingers around the notes isn't too bad.

C6: John Williams: Not necessarily straight forward, but a lovely piece and you should give it a go. I think everyone should try and play schindlers list!! though this could be harder is your not confident in your vibrato.

Hope some of this helps!! Have a go at it! Good luck.
x

Thank you both - really helpful


I have a friend who I am pretty sure has the music, so definitely should have a go at this, it is a lovely piece!