For anyone out there who has taken or is taking G3 violin this year. I am having trouble deciding which pieces to go for so am wasting precious time going through everything (in the ABRSM book) to help me decide. I have definately decided on my C section I have settled on Sweet Lorraine, but with A & B sections it is a choice between A1. A2 and the Canon from another book. I had decided on Canon first of all but haven't learnt vibrato yet and feel this needs vibrato. On slow pieces when I am nervous I also have trouble with bouncing bow. The A1 and A2 pieces also have their problems at certain points. I was then going to do B3, the Puccini but again, it is slow so decided to do B1 the Chopin but that gives me problems in the centre piece getting the staccato quick enough. Does this section have to be played staccato? It is on the CD.

Those that have already taken G3 and got their results which pieces did you choose and those that are considering taking it in the Autumn which ones have you settled on. Listening to the CD doesn't really help as everything is played so fast.

I really must decide soon so that I can play just the chosen pieces!

Don't we all. I have the same problem


Learning new music is a waste of time? ????

Only if getting a certificate is more important to you than becoming a musician. Has someone given you a deadline for achieving Grade 3? Will you be shot if you miss it?

I think she means more wasting time messing around looking at the pieces rather than actually learning them. I think learning new music is important, but agree that just blasting through the odd piece loads of times trying to decide whether you like it is rather a waste of time. I'd prefer to use the time actually concentrating on learning the piece well.

I have two students preparing for Grade 3 just now. They are both doing Pachelbel's Canon from the alternative lists, and neither of them has really tackled vibrato yet. But it's not expected at Grade 3 (even if it's played with vibrato on the CD) so please don't put it aside for that reason. However, if you feel you would not be happy playing it without vibrato, there's still time to learn it. Even a little would help - and don't forget that vibrato often tends to be overdone these days anyway.

Both these students are preparing the Chopin. Remember the Vivo instruction at the beginning is only a rough guide, and since it's a waltz it needs to be played slow enough to dance to. As you rightly say, the pieces on the CD are always played too fast. The middle section isn't marked staccato, so it doesn't have to be played that way. But you could aim to play it slightly detached if you think it suits the style better.

They are also doing C1 (Old Joe Clark) by the way - but it's all a matter of choice.

As far as the bouncing bow is concerned, a little extra pressure on the bow is often helpful. But you could also check that your bow hold hasn't slipped. Check the tension of the hair too.

Hope this helps - and good luck.

I took grade 3 in March

I played A2 - Lady Hundsdon's Puffe. I just played this slowly for ages and ages and then gradually brought it up to speed because I have a problem with finger joints 'locking' (my age hahahaha). I quite like music from this period so I did enjoy it and concentrated on phrasing for the few weeks before the exam.

I played Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair from the B list. I didn't really get on very happily with any of the B pieces so I learned them all and then chose this one two weeks before the exam. Because shifting was very new to me my intonation was a bit slippy (much better now) but I did manage a little slow vibrato which seemed to go down well with the examiner - but it's not required at Grade 3 so you shouldn't worry. I also get bow bounce in the slow passages so this piece really was a challenge for bow control. On the day nerves affected my intonation but my bowing turned out okay. I paractised lots of long slow bowing in my scales and that helped.

I also played Sweet Lorraine. My accompanist and I took this at a really slow jazzy pace and I put some slides in to make it sound even moodier... but this one I had been playing for about six months altogether. It's a great tune and a real contrast to the others.

I'm currently learning the entire grade 4 book. I find it easiest to do this and then pick the best ones a few weeks before the exam. I really like the variety of 'repertoire' this gives me although I play other things too.

Remember you don't have to play them all as fast as the cd - it's a guideline. I made Sweet Lorraine quite 'sloopy' and slowish sounding and still got high marks.

Thanks everyone. I had another go today and think I will do Lady Hunsdon's Puffe as I like the style of it. I may also stick with the Chopin but without trying to do the middle section staccato which slows me down. I am quite content with Sweet Lorraine.

I even tried to do a little vibrato for O mio today and it seems to have improved somewhat. Perhaps I'll try and practice a little bit of vibrato each day and hopefully I will get there in the end. There's a few more months to go yet so Ill play them through again with my accompanist soon and see how I do.

Pachelbels Canon is on the grade 3 list??

Can I go back and take grade 3?? I never actually did it in the first place