Does anyone have any experience with the LCM leisure play exams? My brother is quite keen to have a goal to work towards, and having spoken to his violin teacher this morning about it, they don't feel he is ready to take the actual grade 7 exam but he has found out about the leisure play exams which seem to be just 4 pieces from the grade list and that's it. It sounds pretty good to both of us, and I'd quite like to have a go at doing one too (maybe I could "borrow" his soon to be old violin and teach myself?!)!!!! My question is about choosing pieces to play - you can pick the pieces from any of the lists and one can be own choice but it has to be balanced. What exactly does that mean? So far we looked together on the lists and he likes Beethoven Spring sonata, Vivaldi spring concerto, Bach Gigue from partita E and hungarian dance by Brahms and the other Bach pieces as well as Fiorillo allegro (as an own choice) but would this programme count as balanced? We were thinking each one from different periods but his ideal programme would be the beethoven, vivaldi, bach and fiocco so classical, 2 baroque and fiocco allegro from suzuki (baroque?) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98SXbySqxow...nel<-----you can listen to it here? Is this the right standard? He really likes the piece and can play it well so it would be good to do it for the exam. Can anyone comment on the programme? Is it balanced? Thanks in advance (Ps, his teacher is away for 3 weeks now so this is why I am asking - so he can suprise her by being organised - new violin, new music, new goal!)

I've used the leisure play exams with a few students now and have found them to be a positive experience all round. I don't know much about violin so can't comment on the pieces but is there anything more modern you could substitute one of the pieces with?

Having said that....I recently contacted the exam board about some own choice pieces for a diploma and they were very helpful so it might be worth sending them an email if you're worried about the programme balance. You might find its not a problem and your brother can stick with the pieces he wants to do.

All the best for the exam

I've had a few pupils who were tempted - but in the end they didn't want a certificate with "Leisure Play" on it, as it sounds naff. Trinity do Music Certificate exams whigh are pure performance - http://www.trinitycollege.co.uk/site/?id=1686