i play violin, piano and percussion. i began violin about 6 years ago, piano 2 years ago and percussion 1 year ago. i have found that percussion grades seem alot easier than piano or violin. perhaps this is just because many examiners dont know much about percussion but i have found that they are significantly easier . has anyone else found this with any other instruments?

hi!!

i think it comes down to your own individual strengths. i can play trumpet and piano quite well..... but when it came to learning the violin i just wasn'y compatable!!! perhaps your just a better percussionist tha you thought!! lol

jaime

ive played the violin for 7 years, and jus did grade 6 a while back. i also have been playing the sax for 2 years, and have been lookin at doing grade 6, and grade 6 piano. the violin grade 6 seemed to be a lot harder than the sax or piano! its not just you who thinks this!

I also think that percussion is easier.
I learnt playing snare drum for 3 years, from age 10-12. I found it boring.
I learn 2 Chinese instruments and piano now. I think they are more difficult than playing snare drum.

Another thing worth noting is that once you've learnt one instrument you've learnt some things that you'd need to learn for other instruments (e.g. reading music, aural skills etc.) so it is likely that you'll be able to pick up subsequent instruments more quickly.

I always found intonation really hard on violin until a teacher told me
"It's a frame of mind: if you get the finger patterns set in your head before playing and you think "I can do this" it'll be much better"- and she was right

Hmm maybe, I can't really remember a time when I didn't play the piano (even though I only started doing exams last year), but I found learning the violin pretty difficult as I learnt it a couple of years after learning the piano, but, I found learning viola far, far easier than learning the violin, but all I really had to do was learn the clef.

I play piano, percussion, and i used to play the 'cello, and i agree that percussion exams seem easier.
I think a reason for this might be that we have played the piano and we know the layout of the xylophone keys - it's a lot different to a stringed, woodwind, or brass instrument where you can't actually see the black and white notes layed out in a row in front of you, if you know what i mean.
I took my grade 8 Percussion last month and got 138 - if i hadn't lost 5 marks on my bloody scales i could have been into the 140s

but anyway, yeah, percussion does seem easier, but you do need natural rhythm, a good sight-reading ability, and you have to admit, getting a triangle to produce the right kinda sound with the right amount of resonance is no stroll in the park!

and alvin, snare drum IS boring, but i love tuned percussion and timpani, so it's all good

I learnt snare drum from the marching band of my primary school, so I can't have a chance to play it again.
I want to play many many different instruments but...
1. I have no money.
2. I am very busy with my school activities.

QUOTE (Katet @ Jun 8 2004, 04:55 PM)

ive played the violin for 7 years, and jus did grade 6 a while back. i also have been playing the sax for 2 years, and have been lookin at doing grade 6, and grade 6 piano. the violin grade 6 seemed to be a lot harder than the sax or piano! its not just you who thinks this!

QUOTE

ive played the violin for 7 years, and jus did grade 6 a while back. i also have been playing the sax for 2 years, and have been lookin at doing grade 6, and grade 6 piano. the violin grade 6 seemed to be a lot harder than the sax or piano! its not just you who thinks this

Thats the exact opposite of me... im doing grade 7 violin after 6 years, and Grade 5 piano after 8 years... i find piano rock solid!!! but i still love ploaying and need the grades because i want to study music at uni.