Busy Season for Violin and Plan for the next 2 years

June 16, 2006 at 7:52 AM

After joining the new community orchestra, I'm eager to get the music for the next concert in late August. However, rehearsal only start in mid-July. We'll be performing Don Juan Overture and a woodwind double concerto by R. Strauss and Beethoven's 5th symphony. Many people would think "Not the 5th again!". I've never done it. So at least after this concert I can join the club of those who has and start to say "Not the 5th again!".

I read in the June 06 issue of The Strad with an article on faking in orchestra. In the list of most difficult music written for orchestra violin section, Don Juan Overture is listed. Wish me luck!

Exam date for Grade 7 has yet to be announced, but I have my fingers crossed hoping it will be in September instead of August (clash with concert). At the moment, I'm doing "touch up" with the 4 exam pieces, attempt some sight readings and aural tests during lessons, but mostly concentrating on technical works with double-stops, bowing exercises, and high 3-octave scales & arpeggios. I start all my 3-octaves on G string so as to get used to higher positions... When I get to the top position in the F scale... horrible, horrible sound! Better nail this now or I'll suffer next year when doing 4-octave scales.

For next year's exam, I'll be looking at 2 movements from Bach Partita in D minor (2nd and 4th, don't remember the names), Beethoven's Romance in F (or G), and 2 others I haven't quite decided yet (maybe Mozart's Concerto in G?). In terms of technical works, there'll be bowing exercise with excerpts from Bach's Prelude and Concerto in E, and Paganini's whatever that has to do with sautille bowing. Then there's double-stop in 10th. I reckon 10th is actually quite damaging to the left hand! I can't wait to get Grade 8 under my belt because there won't be any technical requirements beyond Grade 8!

For Associate level, I'm thinking I need to at least do one of the Vivaldi's 4 season concertos (maybe Summer or Winter). People also ask if I can play the 4 season when they find out that I play the violin. Am so thinking that one Beethoven's sonatas would be good for my music diet. Perhaps also one of Sarasate's Spanish dances? One more piece to fill.

That's the plan for now. Can't think/plan any further.

From Ben Clapton
Posted on June 16, 2006 at 8:39 AM

I assume that so long as you pass the exam this year you'll be going for Grade 8 next year. Be warned that the jump from grade 7 to grade 8 is a rather large one, and again from grade 8 to A.Mus. Don't be suprised if it takes you two years per grade.

Also remember that you need to choose one from each list. Your Bach and Mozart is in the same list. Here's some other works to consider: Rimsky-Korsakov's The Bumble-Bee (Arr. Heifetz, a great crowd pleaser), Quasi Ballata or Un Poco Triste from Suk's 4 Pieces Op. 17. If you take two years to do grade 8, you can also do things like Kreisler's Liebesfreud or the Praeludium and Allegro in the style of Pugnani, Wieniawski's legend, or the Scerzo and Finale from Beethoven's Spring Sonata (Op. 24).

Good luck for your exam when you get to it :>

From William Yap
Posted on June 20, 2006 at 2:05 AM

Thanks Ben.

It's quite obvious that there's a big gap between Grade 7 and 8. I've already started learning some of the exam pieces and technical works... and hope the early preparation will get me ready in 1.5 years instead of 2.

I'll need to get the latest version of the AMEB syllabus to see what's in the list in which section.

For now, let's just concentrate on passing Grade 7! :-)

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Busy Season for Violin and Plan for the next 2 years

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