What is involved in Grade 1 viola? How many keys would I be expected to be able to play in? I can play in D major, G major and C major at the moment.

I suppose I should ask my teacher, but I'm too embarrassed in case she thinks I'm jumping the gun a bit

What scales and arpeggios as well?

I'm itchin' to do an exam

Have a look here

http://www.abrsm.org/resources/violaSyllabus0801.pdf

You should also be able to pick a paper copy of the full strings syllabus at your local music shop. Yup, it's free!!

To answer your questions though, you only need the keys you've already done to get Grade 1. I'm working towards it too and did my prep test 4 weeks ago. The scales are one octave eac of G and D starting on the open strings and two octaves of C. Ditto arps.

Don't be afraid to mention exams to your teacher. You could always just say that you're interesting in working for Grade 1 and how should you go about it etc. You'll need to work on the aural test bits with your teacher.

What books have you been using so far?

I've been mainly using Team Strings for viola as it's the one that my son had and my teacher said that it would be okay just to stick with that. I've also been using a book that she lent me, but I can't remember what it's called *lol* Everything seems to be in C, D or G at the moment.

Yippeeeee!!!!!!

I spoke to my teacher tonight and she feels that I would be ready for Grade 1 in November

I have lots of practising to do over the summer and she'll give me the pieces in September.

Go for it, hun! I'm planning on March next year, but it's only an idea. I'm just happy to work through my theory exams and basic viola stuff for now. I know I could do it and pass well, but I'd rather wait a bit longer, I think.

Got a syllabus and picked your pieces yet??

She's going to give me the pieces in September. I know which scales and arpeggios I have to do.

You're not going to choose them yourself?? Or does that just mean that she'll help you get the needed sheet music then??

You're not going to look at the pieces til September?

She said that she'd get the syllabus and get some pieces ready. She normally does Trinity exams, but I'm opting for Associated Board so she didn't have the pieces on hand. She's not teaching during this Summer so I'll start having my lessons again in September.

I'm sure there'll be plenty of time to learn them before November I'm being optimistic!

Speaking for myself, I'd get hold of the syllabus myself and start looking at some of the collections in it. You don't want to leave this all to your teacher, I feel. It's so easy to get the syllabus. You can either download it from the AB's site (someone already posted the link further up this thread if I remember rightly) or just collect a paper copy from your local sheet music shop. Whilst you're there, you could look at things like 'First Repertoire for Viola Book1', 'Time Pieces for Viola Vol 1' and so on.

Yes, I'm sure you can manage with 2 months to practise for the exam in, but as you're so keen, why not be more pro-active about it?