I hate it. I truly do. If I ever meet this alleged vicar (if he even existed) I may have to hurt him. It could involve having to go back in time though, which might be tricky....

Just wondered if anyone else out there had picked their pieces and what they were? I'm learning the Vicar of Bray but I don't intend to play it in the exam. I think I am gonna do Wondrous Love though. I like the tune

I don't really like much of the A pieces. I would consider an alternate piece but for the sake of grade one I think I'll make do with King George

careful..........

you don't want anyone reporting you to the police

I am not doing any exams on violin (and no more on clarinet either!) but I'm working throught the grade one stuff anyway. I'm not keen on most of the pieces and especially not Vicar of Bray, not to the point where I would harm the aforementioned vicar but I really do not like the piece. Wondrous love is one I do like

Now I really have to go and listen to this vicar

Hi, I did Grade 1 a couple of years ago now and I did the King George, which I quite liked. I wasn't that keen on either the vicar or wondrous love. What are you doing for your B and C pieces? I did Dvorak's theme from the New World Symphony and Toodle Pip - which was great fun!! In fact, I'd happily do Grade 1 again just to play that piece! Anyway, good luck whatever you go for!

Poor old Vicar, it's not his fault someone wrote a dodgy tune about him..

I'll probs do the March for A piece, Wondrous love for B and either toodlepip or Tango for C. Just wanna get to grade 3 to learn Cossack

I did Cossacks last year for Gr 2 - you wont have long to wait Aesir! Its a fun piece

I do really like it

My fingers today actually really hurt. It feel like they are going to blister, which is odd. I normally practice every day, but didn't yesterday, and only for 45 mintes today

Actually my left shoulder aches like billy-o as well lol

Personally, my favourite is Toodle-Pip, a really happy and fun piece.

I like the King George march but Vicar and Fanfare are equally fun. I find Fanfare to be the eaiser one among the three of them.

Waltz and Country Chimes are nice too!

Basically, I really enjoy all nine pieces of the Grade 1 music!!

How are you getting on now Geminist? I read a thread on joining orchestras and saw you posted about wanting to join one. Have you sat any grades yet? I have been on violin for 7 weeks now

Most of my pupils do the Fanfare for the A list as it's loud and fairly straightforward with a nice repetitive rhythm so you can settle into the exam.
I like Toodle Pip too - kind of Jeeves & Wooster

some silly titles in this grade 1 syllabus I see

Do Tango!!! It's so pretty I did that and Wonderous Love for my exam in March, so I'm slightly biased towards those two



I LOVE this piece-I learnt it a couple of months ago, the double-stops are really really fun!

there's a 'cossack dance' in grade 5 too and that's also a lot of fun

cossacks are 'cool'

One of my pupils CHOSE this for her Grade 1 A list piece as being the best of the bunch. Got a merit too - even after tearing a ligament in her bow hand a few weeks before, in the sack race at school!

But aforementioned Vicar remains happily intact.

Yeah the double stops in cossack look fun. I'll not jump the gun yet mind lol still yet to come close to being able to play grade 1 stuff lol!

Hi aesir22

I'm having lots of fun with the violin! I did actually go to an upper beginner/intermediate orchestra but found that they are still above my level (Grade 1) and I thought I would enjoy it more when I have improved to about Grade 3 or 4.

I've learnt the Grade 1 exam pieces and as I did that a while back, my teacher asked and have actually entered me to the Grade 2 exam. Can't wait to play Moon River and Cossacks looks exciting!

Haven't seen the Grade 1 pieces but have exactly the same feelings about a certain Grade 5 piece. In fact, I hate it so much I can't even bring myself to say it's name.

They're lovely! I don't normally get this enthusiastic about pieces but IT'S JUST SO PRETTY! ahem.... what other grade 1 pieces have you looked at aesir?

I haven't really lol i have only had 7 lessons just browsing a few things now

I thought the King George piece was quite nice, and I also liked the Sheila Nelson one. Have you listened to them all played through by somebody else? In terms of deciding whether you like something, hearing someone else play a piece is quite different to hacking through it yourself when it's on the edge of your ability at that time.

I played the Vicar of Bray at Cardiff as it was the only piece I could get through without swearing

I'm doing the Waltz from List B and I've just started Toodle Pip. It's challenging to say the least

I think I'll stick with the Vicar for now even though it's not the greatest piece I've ever played

Yes my teacher played them all and I have watched them online as well.

[size=3]I too hated The Vicar of Bray but he helped me to a distinction!