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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Practical or performance grade for grade 1 violin?

28 replies

Bearyinlove · 22/03/2022 10:45

My child's violin teacher has asked if we would prefer our child to do the face to face practical exam or the virtual performance exam for grade 1. I am not sure which way to go. Is one better than the other? Is one easier than the other? Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks

OP posts:
PurrBox · 22/03/2022 12:56

There is absolutely no reason to do any music exams of any sort unless you want to do them, and find them fun or useful. None of the many musicians I know (my husband, daughter, and myself are all professioanal string players) did exams.

Original poster
Bearyinlove · 22/03/2022 12:51

Thanks @Paperpenguin that's interesting to hear. DC is only in Year 2 of primary at the moment so it's difficult to know how they would react to an exam but it could be worthwhile getting used to exams at a young age I suppose!. Also I worry that a parent filming at home could be even more stressful for all of us!

OP posts:
Paperpenguin · 22/03/2022 12:15

I think the practical one is much better as long as you will not need to travel far. It is good to have the scales, aural and sight reading in addition to 3 pieces, it is also a good experience to have an actual exam. For the performance exams, it is simpler to just be playing 4 pieces in a row while the parent films, but it doesn’t feel like as much of an achievement when the mark is received.