Has anyone ignored the fingering and positions given on exam pieces when they have taken their exams?

I have started looking at grade 5 violin exam pieces, one of the pieces I like is C3 Air and Pizzicato. The pizzicato part is shown as starting in the 3rd pos this is fine unitl bar 4 where the F# would be a long stretch for the the 4th finger on the G string. Later on in bar 17 the same phrase is repeated without showing finger positions.

My teacher says that I should play it in the 3rd positon but at the front of the book it states quite clearly that fingering is for guidance only.

Do examiners take notice of the position you are playing in or just listen for correct intonation and musicality?

I don't think they mind, as long as you can play your choice of fingering well. When I took my grade 5 violin (using the 2001-04 syllabus) I played A:2, the Handel Allegro. In the passage where it is marked in the music to alternate 4th finger on the A string, 1st position with open E string during the semiquavers, I just played all of the open E, and it wasn't commented on by the examiners.

If your teacher says you should play it a certain way there is probably good reason behind it and you should listen to them or at least discuss it- in my case my teacher had told me to disregard the markings in the book.

Hi Cecilia, thanks for your comments, I do discuss things with my teacher and I do play in position when I do not have difficult stretches to perform.

I would say that they give more difficult positions and fingerings to see you can do them at that grade. They do give them for a reason. I know the Handel piece Cecelia means as I'm doing the whole Sonata and if you use the suggested fingeing it gives a very different effect to just playing open strings.

I played "Stormy Weather" for Grade 4. There was a 2nd postition section that was much easier in the 1st, but I stuck with the 2nd as I thought the whole point was to examine if I could play in the 2nd position.

My point is just to be careful when altering positions - the odd fingering and bowing changes I guess is okay though.

I am sure that the examiner will be listening for the sound and tone produced rather than any fancy fingerings, and you can certainly do your own, the fingerings and bowings in the book are only for guidance.

Sometimes it may be easier in 1st position (especially if you aren't used to shifting), but to keep a phrase on one string will usually be tonally much better, as long as the position is not so alien to you that you lose good intonation.

My advice would be to listen to what your teacher advises, that's always worked well for me!

Jane

QUOTE (janexxx @ Jan 22 2005, 02:01 PM)

but to keep a phrase on one string will usually be tonally much better, as long as the position is not so alien to you that you lose good intonation.

remember also that tonally things can sound very different when played in a higher position on a lower string... eg if something was marked "sul G" and you played it all in first position it would sound very different and the examiner would notice. there's no point being anal about sticking to fingerings, but on the other hand don't change things just for the sake of it - sometimes the composer (or the arranger) had very good reasons for requiring a certain fingering or bowing, so be aware of that (even if you disagree with it in the end!) before you change them.

QUOTE (amati @ Jan 16 2005, 09:30 PM)

The pizzicato part is shown as starting in the 3rd pos this is fine unitl bar 4 where the F# would be a long stretch for the the 4th finger on the G string.

I have a pupil learning this piece and I have suggested starting in 3rd position and then in bar 4, to go into 1st position as the sound is stronger in the lower positions. At the moment she is also trying the Pizz section with the bow down. It seems to be working. I certainly wouldn't expect to be marked down for any of this as the end result sounds better without altering what is on the page!

Good Luck with the piece.

I am busy practising the piano part as I am hoping to accompany her for her exam and there are some unusual chords in it.

Katie

Hi to one and all,

Sorry I have not got back sooner but Iv'e had some problems with my computer. Many thanks.