GRADE 2 VIOLIN 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 helpful to read the notes or 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!

READY, STEADY, CREATIVE MODE!

Look at this fun warm up using D Major Scale and try to play along with the backing track. How many ways can you perform this song? Can you change your dynamics (volume) or your bow strokes to make it more fun?

Ready to play your Grade 2 pieces?

TIPS :

💡 Listen to the track first.

💡 Look at the notes carefully.

💡 Slow down the track by opening the video in YouTube, Click the setting symbol (3 little dots or 'wheel' on bottom right hand corner), Choose video speed and SLOW DOWN the track.

Mozart : Allegretto - A1

It’s all about the TRILL 😊 :

Not sure what a trill is? It’s marked with tr in your music book.

A trill is one of those extended 'wobbles' on a long note. The wobble must be on two notes – neighbouring notes to be precise. Can you find them in your music book?

Are you performance-ready?

Listen out for the 2 bars tempo indication at the start. The piano plays the same melody at the beginning so you will be able to smoothly join in.

Purcell : Minuett - A3

A Minuett is a slow, stately pattern dance in 3/4 time for groups of couples, originating in 17th-century France.

Take a look at the video below to get an idea of the steps of the minuet and not to mention the fancy costumes and wigs worn at the time!

Can you imagine couples dancing to your playing of the Purcell's Minuett?

Minuett by Purcell - violin & piano

Minuett by Purcell - piano accompaniment. 1. SLOW PRACTICE TEMPO 2. MODERATE TEMPO

Theme by Mahler - B1

QUIZ:

Does this music remind you of a well-known French song?
What else have you noticed about this music?
Is there any repetition?
What is your key?
What scale would be good to warm up?
Who is Gustave Mahler?

CASTLE ON A CLOUD - B3

"Castle on a Cloud" is from the musical 'Les Miserables'. It is a solo song for the part of young Cosette. She sings about a castle where she does not have to sweep floors and a lady all in white looks after her. Have a listen to the song below.

How would you describe the mood of the song?

See if you can recreate a beautiful, smooth singing sound on your violin when you play this piece.

Castle on a Cloud - violin & piano

Castle on a Cloud - piano accompaniment only

ANGRY TANGO - C2

The tango is a dance from Argentina. It features big contrasts between smooth movements and sudden accents, kicks and changes in direction. See if you can bring out all the these features in your playing from legato to staccato and soft to loud.

Look at the video below for inspiration. Music and dancing full of passion!

Angry Tango - violin & piano

Angry Tango - piano accompaniment only

'Hol jartal az ejjel cinegemadar?' - 'Where did you sleep last night little bird?' - C3

Have a listen to the original folk dance tune for authentic flavour. Can you guess the origin of the song ? *Find clues in your music book.

How does this music make you feel? Think of adjectives to describe this music.

Can you dance along to the original music below played by an authentic Hungarian Folk band called META?

Why not have a look at the Grade 2 Aural page here to brush up on your aural skills?

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