Questions - Violin Exams Options

[Caitlin]

Hi,

As I'm a new teacher (Singapore) and I've some students taking exams in 2005, therefore I need to clarify some doubts... thanks.

1) In which grade do they need to use vibrato?

2) For the piano accompanist, may I know what are the various charges for grades? (Singapore rates)

3) As you know, the beginners use stickers for indication of fingerings, can they continue pasting this during exam? Grade 1 should be ok but grade 3?

[jo.clarinet]

As no-one's answered yet - I'm not a violin teacher, but I used to play and took all the exams up to Grade 7 - I think vibrato is expected by Grade 5, but would be welcome before that if it was appropriate in any of the pieces.

If I was an examiner, quite honestly I'd think it was a bit feeble if people came in to do an exam with marker-stickers for the fingering, even at Grade 1, and I'd be inclined to see those candidates as less musical than those who could place their fingers correctly on a 'clean' fingerboard!
I'd remove them if at all possible, if I were you. It doesn't look good! :o

[Appassionata]

I agree. My teacher is keen to remove all pupils stickers for Grade 1 - unless they are very young or really unable to do without. He also says that vibrato should be used at Grade 4/5 upwards.

[violincjj]

I've entered many kids for Gd 1 and about half of them still have finger tapes....

There's no significant difference in the marks they get with or without the tapes, my average runs at a fairly steady 10% pass, 50% merit, 40% distinction.

When they grow out of their first violin and move up a size I don't need to put tapes on generally though we might have an odd single sticker for an odd note...

The thing is that I want them to practise playing and hearing the CORRECT notes and not get used to hearing the wrong ones!

[Caitlin]

True.. my students make a fuss when I wanted to remove the tapes.. so i had no choice but to remove only one..