What to do after Mendelssohn violin concerto

April 24, 2008 at 05:50 AM · Because You've allready done Weiniawski here are my suggestions.

1. not intro and rondo capriccioso it's too much of a showpiece after doing those pieces, it sounds like you've been learning (and like learning) really flashy pieces, but from Mendelssohn you should do another really solid concerto, stock type concerti

2. Evaulate where you want to be for your age, and upcoming things (in the next year or so) like college auditions? possibly perfect a concerto for that

here's some piece suggestions though

Bruch Violin Concerto

Saint Saens Violin Concerto

Lalo Symphony Espagnol(flashy still, would be easier than Saint Saens)

Mozart 5

Barber Violin Concerto

hope this helps

April 25, 2008 at 01:55 AM · how about prokofiev #2?

When you said Lalo is easier than Saint-Saens, did you mean saint saens concerto or intro and rondo capriccioso?

April 25, 2008 at 05:21 AM · Hey, I did Wieniawski 2 before Mendelssohn (which I'm working on right now) too!

Can't offer you suggestions...just thought it was neat. =)

April 25, 2008 at 09:58 PM · wow, i used to want to play those EXACT same pieces. Weird. Tzigane, i would guess, if probably the hardest of the three. out of those, I've only played Intro and rondo capricioso.

April 25, 2008 at 11:32 PM · Hello John,

It's a little difficult for us to suggest concertos for you, since Mendelssohn can be studied at so many levels - from intermediate/advanced students using it as a "challenge piece" to advanced grad students trying to explore deep nuances. Obviously, if you're playing it after Wien 2, you have a solid foundation, so you're likely between the two.

What I would do is assure that you have covered most "student" concertos, which is kind of an unfair way of labeling some great but less profound works for the instrument: Saint Saens 3, Lalo (very difficult if played well), Mozart 3/4/5, Vieuxtemps 4/5. I know students who have attacked Brahms, Tchaik, Sibelius prematurely, and have injured themselves practicing and learnt bad habits that will throw them off when they are finally ready to re-approach these works. The "student" concertos I mentioned are must-haves before confronting the concert repertoire, and you will be so glad you did. If you're interested in torturing your fingers a bit, dig out the Paganini Caprices. One prominent teacher has his students learn as much as they can of each in a week, so that in half a year, they've had their fingers ironed out by all 24.

Cheers, and best of luck.

April 26, 2008 at 07:42 AM · You mentioned Prokoviev 2.

I would absolutely not try this concerto, or for that matter Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, etc either. here's why

You could maybe play the notes, at a technical stretch, but all of those composers were affected by extreme tragedy when they wrote the concerto for violin, and they poured that tragedy into the piece. The amount of emotional depth that you have to access to fully play the piece is overwhelming until you are well into your 20s or 30s. (I think..) ask your private teacher though, because Mendelssohn can be studied at many different levels (agree!~) good luck