I have just started working towards grade 8 violin but I'm finding it difficult to choose a piece from the C list. I think I'll try 'Hoe Down' or 'Summertime' but not because I like them, rather because they are the least bad. Has anyone else had the same problem or can anyone recommend one of them?

Thanks.

I can tell you that Summertime has some devishly hard double stopping and an evil double trill at the end. I'm going to go away and take a tranquiliser now. I think Hoe Down is a little easier. The Kabalevsky also sounds hard... I must get round to looking at the sheet music.

Thanks.

Are you doing grade 8? What A and B pieces are you doing? I'm playing the Bach violin concerto (A:1) which I find very easy and was surprised to find on the grade 8 list, and either the Tcaikovsky or the Wienawski from list B.

I know this is a bit of a late reply but I HAVE to recommend the piece I did - Turina's "La Oracion del Torero". It is such a beautiful piece! I looked at the Copeland and the Gershwin too but I infinitely preferred the Turina, I found it easier as well as generally nicer to play. I played the Bach A minor too and the Wieniawski - the Bach is technically quite easy for Gd8 but tone quality and expression and phrasing are important to work on, and I found the Wieniawski quite fun, especially the little tune with the LH pizz! Good Luck with it