Grade 1 Syllabus - For Abrsm Staff, An odd note note covered in A,D or GMaj scales Options

[Libitina]

I've found a note in the forth bar of music piece C:1 which isn't learnt from any of the scales required for the grade 1 violin syllabus. Is this a common practice. ?

Curiously

Libitina

[Debra]

Hi, yes --- in short. I recently done my violin grade 2. I found that pieces and even sight reading tests can contain notes outside of the range given/expected in the scales. On asking about it, i was told that you should be able to still play these notes and should know where they are on the fingerboard. I do agree with this as you should know all the notes anyway (at some point). What i did was to make sure that i knew the scales over the two octives. After a while, you get to know the fingerboard and read the music and just play the notes as written. Hope this helps!!

[Libitina]

Hi, yes --- in short. I recently done my violin grade 2. I found that pieces and even sight reading tests can contain notes outside of the range given/expected in the scales. On asking about it, i was told that you should be able to still play these notes and should know where they are on the fingerboard. I do agree with this as you should know all the notes anyway (at some point). What i did was to make sure that i knew the scales over the two octives. After a while, you get to know the fingerboard and read the music and just play the notes as written. Hope this helps!!

Hi Debra, Don't you think this is really strange, after all , stringed instrument players don't even have to tune their instrument until grade 6. so I would have almost expected this from grade 6+.

Strange.

Rachel

[maya3]

No, not really. Playing only pieces in 3 keys and using only around 20 notes would narrow their choice of pieces. After all you have as long as you want (within reason) to learn the pieces. I don't think you can compare tuning and pieces, they are no the same in any way. Sight reading however is only in the range and keys of the scales for that grade.
x

[Debra]

Hi, The origonal question has nothink to do with tuning your violin, which is done at grade 5. So i am not sure what you mean. Also, it is really difficult to tune a violin initially. I can remember trying for about an hour when i first got mine, then the teacher had to put it in tune properly! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif)

It is perfectly possible and i have played a number of sight reading tests at grade 2 that go just our side the range given in the syllabus. As i explained before (which was explained to me by a professional violinst from the royal college of music) you are expected to know the notes on the fingerboard in first postion, and be able to read the music, also, these pieces are prepared. The sight reading is also prepared in the context that you practice the sight reading and learn the notes.

Also, as you progress, the music becomes increasingly more difficult, and i am sure that every single aspect of music playing is not mentioned in the syllabus. This, may sound a bit unfair, but i really do not think it isn't, when you think about it logically ----- you are expected to start thinking for yourself at an early stage perhaps. So one or two notes ouside the range is not mind blowingly difficult.

People who sit piano exams do not have to tune a piano in an exam at all ! ---- thank goodness. But this is not seen as unfair or make the piano easy to play. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

[elisabeth_rb]

Viola grade 1 also has a piece that is clearly in a grade 2 scale. My teacher said that there's often something like that to 'stretch' the more able candidates.

[Debra]

YES, exactly. Well done!!!

[sarah123]

From the grade 1 violin syllabus:

PLAYING AT SIGHT a short piece in simple time within the keys, notes and overall range of the scale
requirements set for this grade. Some accidentals, dotted and tied notes may be included. See paragraph l on
page 18.