Hi everyone,

At the moment i am prepraing for 2 orchestra auditions, thats all going fine and Ihave selected the pieces.
But from previous orchestral experiance I have realised that I have learnt the music to a performace standard a long way before the concert.

This leaves me without a challenge, this is why I am changing orchestras. However I would like a different kind of challenge and this one even looks good on CVs.

After my auditions are completed do you think I should challenge myself and go for grade 7 violin? Obviously I would need the grade 5 theory first, but is it worth it? I took a break since grade 4 to learn new bowings and imprive my technique generally and becuase I thought my previous teacher was not preparing me very well for exams.


I understand that the decision will be down to me but I would like to know what you other musical geniuses out there think.

Thanks for your opinions.

You should concentrate on getting the grade 5 theory. If your teacher thinks you're capable of taking the grade 7 violin exam, you should go for it unless you want to skip it and take the grade 8 exam. But then sometimes, it's not all about taking the grade exams. You can work on other pieces that are around grade 7. Or learn the pieces in the old grade 7 book.

I'm an adult learner, and for me being able to play lots of pieces to a high standard and concentrating on technical studies is more important to me than taking exams. Plus I find exams are quite expensive, I rather use that money to have more lessons.

Come to think of it, I won't be able to do the grade 5 theory before the summer session becuase frankly spetember to november/december at 1 lesson a week wpon't be enough to learn everything!

By the time I get round to a practical I would probably be capable of grade 8. Maybe I should skip grade 7 but get the book what kind of diffculty the pieces are etc..

That's what i did - i'm skipping grade 7 but have bought the grade 7 book to cover the pieces etc. before going onto grade 8 work. I think grade 6 to 8 is a very big jump so i wouldn't do it without covering the gap
Also grade 7 pieces would be a good level of pieces to play for auditions and concerts - not way difficult but interesting and impressive etc. so it's useful to learn the pieces. I got the book yesterday i absolutely LOVE all the pieces!
Just get the book and learn the pieces -you wont lose anything and the pieces are great Then if you're ready to take grade 8, do it, if not, just take grade 7. Nothing to lose

Yeah might just do some grade 7 work in my spare time while getting the required grade 5 theory.

Obviously I won't start until my orchestra auditions are complete of course.

Maybe it's worth going for 8 instead then - it'll feel good to know you've reached the top grade (it did for me, I was so relieved - but I was convinced I was awful...).

Let us know how your auditions go/went - maybe keep your scales and stuff ticking over... Try the Grade 8 ones and see if they're too tricky at the moment.

Well I do some scales every time i have a lessson. You have to remeber that I probably could not do grade 8 atm. However after I don the theory in order taht i could do grade 8 I would proabably becapable.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

P.S: both auditions are in the first few weeks of term. That is all either will tell me.