Hello
I have puoff the exam, and changed my programme! My programme for December is as follows

Bach; Cello suite in E flat, prelude
Haydn, cello concerto in c, 1st mvt
Schumann ;Adagio and Allegro in a flat
Shostakovich; 1st mvt from cello sonata in d minor

Any opinions/ input would be greatly appreciated!!

Sounds good. Nice chronological spread, not dissimilar from my violin programme in the way you've planned it.

That's a really nice choice. Are you going to play them in the order that you've given? Hope you enjoy preparing for the exam. It's a special time albeit stressful!

Good Luck!

Thanks for the input! was a little concerned about the Shost, as I think it was on for grade 8 in 2002...I still need confirmation about it from the absrsm.
But i love it so!! Not sure about the order, I'm veering towards chronological arrangement, but think the end of the Shostakovitch is a little bit open ended, not really a finisher, so i might conclude with Schumann, what do you think?
I just sent off my application today-maybe that will wake me up ti the fact that its real, and i'd better get myself together and start practicing, properly!!

I'd finish with the piece that will leave the best impression on the examiners, preferably the faster more flashy one, or if they're both like that, the one you can play better over chronological order. It just happens that mine work chronologically as they are.

Oh, and you mentioned getting approval for the Shosty...you don't HAVE to do that for an own choice piece do you? I haven't asked about my Kabalevsky, and I think that's probably closer to gr 8 than diploma level, but I thought as long as the majority of the programme is of a high difficulty and you play the pieces to the diploma level it was ok.

Oh, I just checked the syllabus, and right you are! One doesn't need prior approval. What a relief! In fact, I discovered that the first movement of the Shost is on for LRSM, when played with the third movement, which is very heartening! Excellent. Thanks, Cranky caz!

Great programme - but I'm not sure you'll be able to do the Shost, because the own-choice piece, if I remember correctly, must be no longer than 8 minutes. I suppose it's just about possible to do Shost mvmt 1 in 8 minutes - but do make sure that's the speed YOU play it at.

Do read that syllabus with a fine tooth comb! Very much worth it.

Enjoy the preparation!

Thank you, cellocase, for alerting me to that- turnS out that 7 minutes is the maximum length for an own choice piece. Looks I'll be reverting to A Frog He Went A Courting! (Hindemith) how do you think that fits in with the programme?? Thanks!

Phew! I have practically swallowed the syllabus by the way but you did get me a bit worried! I think it's Trinity exams that require programme approval beforehand.