What is the recommended number of variations that you should write? I have four so far, but I don't know if that is enough ...

That depends on the theme you are using, the peice should be around 4-6 minutes long (if I remmember correctly) so 4 variations+ a theme each about a minute long would be fine - but 4 variations of 10 seconds might be just alittle to short.

At GCSE the pieces only need to be a minute and a half long, and again it depends on the piece but they recommend about 8-16 bars as the theme. I think I did four for mine and that was long enough.

4-6 minutes is longer than an AS composition :/

Thank goodness for that! I saw jonscott14's post and nearly had a heartattack!! My theme is 8 bars, my 1st var. is 8 bars, 2nd is 4 bars, 3rd is 6 bars and the last is 16 bars. Do you think that will be enough?

Just a note about your composition. Are you writing your piece in a particular style - if so it would be a good idea to think of keeping the variations more or less the same length.

Its only an idea - Im not telling you how to write it.

I hope it is going well for you.

I don't quite know what you mean by style, but the theme is based on a gigue, and it sounds quite medieval. My theme and my first 2 variations are in 12/8, my third variation is in 4/4 and the last one is a waltz in 3/4. Will I get marked down for having them different lengths?

I can't say as I am not familiary with the marking scheme for that - I am only speaking from experience marking studen'ts compostisions in Theme and Variation - they were generally writing them in a classical style where things were quite balanced.

Check with your teacher - that will put your mind at rest over the other query you had also - about how many variations you should have.

Good luck!

Ok, thanks for your help.

Sorry... I got away with 6 minutes last year in my IA and 8 in my Composition lol! - I think the examiner would see different time signatures showing inventiveness, which in the case of an Air-varie is quite important.

Haha ok thanks

It sounds ok, but I agree that it might be an idea to ask your teacher. One of my variations was freakish and went into 6/4.

It should be getting towards long enough. Maybe have a go at timing yourself playing it, or write it out in something like sibelius which will tell you how long it is.

You might just want to check the length with your teacher too. Ours were 1 1/2 mins for Edexcel but different exam boards might vary.