Full Version: How Long To Learn A Concerto?
My first student concerto piece was by F. Seitz Concerto No. 2 in D. It is a first position piece that lasts about 11 minutes. It took about 6 months to learn and about 3 more to memorize for a performance. I know that the lenght will vary from student to student and depends on the difficulty of the concerto. So let me limit the question to first position pieces like the above. How long did it take you?
If your concerto is the one I think it is, it took me about a month and a half. 
what grade standard is that would you say?
Wow! Cecilia, you are pretty good. Do you recall what grade or how long you were studying the violin when you played Concert 2 in G by F. Seitz?
Violingirl, I don't know how to answer your question. My teacher went to our house to teach. I did not go to a school of music. We did not have a grading system or exams. And he never told us what grade we were or what grade a violin piece is. That is why I am baffled when I read the posts in this forum about the exams you take. What happens in an exam? Is it merely violin playing? Are there oral parts? A written exam perhaps? What we do have are recitals. He prepared us to learn pieces, memorize them and then all his students gather in a auditorium and play for all parents and friends.
However, I see the third movement of my concerto piece in Book 4 of Susuki Method of teaching as well as the first and third movement Concerto 5 in D also by F. Seitz. In that same book are the first and third movement of Vivaldi's Concerto in A minor. The latter has some part in the third position. What grade do you have to be to play the above pieces?
Violingirl, I don't know how to answer your question. My teacher went to our house to teach. I did not go to a school of music. We did not have a grading system or exams. And he never told us what grade we were or what grade a violin piece is. That is why I am baffled when I read the posts in this forum about the exams you take. What happens in an exam? Is it merely violin playing? Are there oral parts? A written exam perhaps? What we do have are recitals. He prepared us to learn pieces, memorize them and then all his students gather in a auditorium and play for all parents and friends.
However, I see the third movement of my concerto piece in Book 4 of Susuki Method of teaching as well as the first and third movement Concerto 5 in D also by F. Seitz. In that same book are the first and third movement of Vivaldi's Concerto in A minor. The latter has some part in the third position. What grade do you have to be to play the above pieces?
the exams consist of
3 set pieces ( a choice from each of 3 selections)
Scales/Arpeggios (set ones for each grade)
Sight reading
Aural tests
You can find more details if you follow the 'Exams' link from the home page.
3 set pieces ( a choice from each of 3 selections)
Scales/Arpeggios (set ones for each grade)
Sight reading
Aural tests
You can find more details if you follow the 'Exams' link from the home page.
The first movement of the Vivaldi has been on some grade 6 syllabus or other for years...
I was about grade 5/6 when I learned the Seitz, and had been studying the violin for 3 years. However I think that the Bach double violin concerto (the 2nd violin part is in that Suzuki book, I think) 1st movement would be about grade 7 standard, so I don't really know.
I was about grade 5/6 when I learned the Seitz, and had been studying the violin for 3 years. However I think that the Bach double violin concerto (the 2nd violin part is in that Suzuki book, I think) 1st movement would be about grade 7 standard, so I don't really know.
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