Violin

Grade 6 pieces (2020-23)

PRACTICE TIPS

1. A WARM-UP is essential to get your muscles moving and to mentally prepare you for playing.

2. HAVE A GOAL before you start your practice session. It could be as tiny as 1 or 2 bars or something that you feel you would like to accomplish.

3. ALWAYS play slowly and break down your music by identifying problems. It might be helful to clap the rhythms first before playing.

4. RECORD YOURSELF for fun so you can listen back to your performance. You can set future goals once you have listened to your recording.

5. REWARD YOURSELF: play through your music at the end of your practice session with the tracks below.

HAVE FUN AND CHECK BACK AGAIN FOR NEW MATERIAL COMING SOON!

Grade 6 PIECES - a selection

A1: Handel: Allegro HWV 371 Movt 2

A performance of the ABRSM version

A version performed by the world-famous Maxim Vengerov. Do you notice any differences in this rendition of piece?

How would you describe the 'texture' of this music? Have a look here for explanations of different musical textures. This will be useful information for you to know for your Grade 6 aural test.

This 'Allegro' is written in a fugal, contrapuntal style. Can you hear the opening melody introduced in the violin then repeated 5 bars later in the keyboard part?

Research:

Listen to other music by Handel, such as his famous oratorio, “The Messiah” - everyone knows the 'Hallelujah' chorus! Check out this Classic FM page for all this Handel.

Technique:

This piece requires good string crossing technique. Check out our technique page for tips!

When you are ready to play along with piano, try the tracks below.

PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT-ONLY - SLOW PRACTICE TEMPO

PIANO-ONLY - MODERATE TEMPO

B2: Christoph Willibald Gluck: Melody (from Orphée et Eurydice), arr. Kreisler

'Melody' is taken from 'The Dance of the Blessed Spirits' from Gluck’s opera Orphée et Eurydice. It is one of the composer’s best known and best loved pieces of music and was originally written for for two solo flutes and string orchestra. Have a listen below to listen to the original (the famous 'Melody' starts at 2'45'')

How would you describe the mood of this piece? How does it make you feel and what in the music makes you feel this way? Think of dynamics, tempo, articulation etc.

How would you describe the structure of this piece? How many different 'sections' are there? Do any parts return?

When you are ready to play along with piano, try the tracks below.

PIANO-ACCOMPANIMENT-ONLY - SLOW PRACTICE TEMPO

PIANO-ONLY - PERFORMANCE TEMPO

C3: Ángel Villoldo (arr. Birtel): El Choclo

"El Choclo" (South American Spanish: meaning "The Corn Cob") is a popular song written by Ángel Villoldo, an Argentine musician. Allegedly written in honour of the proprietor of a nightclub, who was known as "El Choclo". It is one of the most popular tangos in Argentina.
Below is a version which features Argentinian violinist Pablo Hopenhayn and Italian guitarist Federico Ferrandina from Matera. There's use of rubato (rhythmic flexibility) and 'glissando' (sliding between notes) and an authentic Argentinian 'feel' to the music. Can you capture some of this amazing spirit in your playing?

Watch this exciting performance by the Moscow City Symphony and two tango dancers of Piazolla's 'Libertango' below. Listen to the contrasts of legato and staccato phrases, the driving rhythms, the extremes of expression and how they are matched in the dance movements. Can you imagine a couple tango dancing to your version of 'El Choclo'?

When you are ready to play along with piano, try the tracks below.

PIANO-ACCOMPANIMENT-ONLY - SLOW TEMPO

PIANO-ONLY - MODERATE TEMPO

Why not have a look at the Grade 6 Aural page here to brush up on your aural skills?

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse