What sonata would anyone reccommend to play, for violin and piano, as a change from graded pieces? I would be looking for something not too hard, but I would like it quite challenging. Perhaps about grade 4, 5 or 6 level.

Mozart sonatas generally require a playing ability of around grade 7+ and are pretty tough, in fact, Mozart is difficult to play well and easy to play badly - especially on the violin. You could try the Andante from concerto no. 2 in D, K211, which is about grade 6.

Well it doesn't have to be Mozart as such. Just sprung to mind! But perhaps easier versions of some exciting pieces, aside from graded repertoire. If that makes sense...

Try the Handel sonatas. Theres a lovely Barenreiter version out now.

Ok, thanks. I will look for some of midis of any reccommendations to have a quick listen, Maybe there is a good book with lots of sonatas and other pieces in ?

I am wondering if there's any Haydn that might be appropriate. Am not sure, as have never played any! I know he wrote concertos for the instrument, and numerous piano trios, but did he write sonatas...? Gap in my knowledge here!

Perhaps Amanda can advise?

I have a book of 8 Haydn sonatas, published by Breitkopf and Hartel. I picked it up second hand in Vienna so it might not now be in print. No catalogue nos on the pieces, so that's not much help in tracking them down.

I haven't actually tried them, they look very "mozart-ish" in difficulty and style, but I would expect that really.

Yes, Haydn and Mozart are very much in the same style and level of difficulty I'm afraid. Neither of his violin concertos could be classified as anything much below grade 8, and although I know we're talking about violin music here, his cello works are also fiendishly difficult.

Handel sonatas are worth a try, since there are some slightly easier movements primarily using first and third positions. The Allegro (2nd movement) from the sonata in E major is currently on the grade 6 list, but it's possible to try it before getting to that stage of playing. Baroque however is not an easy ride for the lesser experienced player - even though it might seem as though you can get away with playing in first position for most of the time. There are often frequent and rapid changes of string, so to begin with choose movements which avoid this where possible.

There are lots of albums around containing pieces which have been edited or slightly simplified for players of around grades 5-6. 'Classical and Romantic Pieces for Violin' springs to mind and also 'Baroque Violin Pieces'. Both come in a series of books of progressive difficulty and the latter of the two edited and published by the AB.

These seem good leads, I might take a look at these.