Violin

Please note: The following set of technical work and discussion questions was revised and published
on the 15th of February 2024. Previous requirements (January 2022) can be used and will remain valid
until the 31st of August 2024.

Technical Work
Please note that candidates preparing for recorded exams are expected to learn the full syllabus
and technical work and discussion requirements are subject to change. Perform EITHER
• Option 1: Perform all scales and arpeggios from the list below for your grade to make up the
Technical Work component of the exam. Pay close attention to instructions on articulation,
dynamics and bowing. You may choose which scales or arpeggios to perform but should, where
possible, select a variety of different keys.
• OR Option 2: The study option for the grade (listed below) Discussion
• All discussion questions should be answered in detail to make up the Discussion component of
the exam. See the relevant grade below for the set questions.
Further guidelines on specific requirements for each grade can be found in the relevant LCME syllabus
and handbooks.

Violin
Step 1

Technical Requirements

Exercises
Candidate to play any FOUR of the following exercises:
• Tuning up
• Criss, Cross, Criss, Cross
• Bells in the Steeple
• Strolling Up and Down the Hill
• Waltz Time
• G String Shuffle
• I’ve Been to Dover
• I’m Going Down to the House by the Sea
• “Swapsies”

1
Step 2

Technical Requirements

Scales (one octave from memory, separate bows)

Exercises
Candidate to play any FOUR of the following exercises:
• Rocking Bowing
• Contrasting Dynamics
• Thinking of Scale Keys
• Bowing with Left-Hand Pizzicato
• Long and Short Bows
• Creating Secure Fingers and a Good Hand Shape
• Fanfare
• Hooked/Stopped Bowings
• Slidey Up and Down Harmonics

Grade 1

Technical Requirements
To be performed with separate bows unless otherwise indicated

Option 1
Scales
G major: 2 octaves, separate bows
E natural minor: 1 octave, slurred
D major in broken thirds: 1 octave, separate bows
Arpeggios
G major: separate bows
A major: separate bows
E minor: separate bows

Option 2
Study
Cohen – Rockets to the Rescue from LCM Violin Handbook: Grade 1 (2021–2025)

See page 3 for discussion questions

2
Discussion Questions
All questions should be answered after the performance section:
• Which of the pieces you performed today is your favourite and why?
• How would you describe the mood of this piece?
• Which key does the piece start in?
• Which signs that tell you to play loud and soft? Find an example of each in your music.

Grade 2

Technical Requirements
To be performed with separate bows unless otherwise indicated

Option 1
Scales
One two-octave major scale
One one-octave major scale: slurred
G major in broken thirds (two octaves)
Arpeggios
One two-octave major arpeggio
One one-octave major arpeggio
One minor arpeggio

Option 2
Study
Purcell – The Sailor’s Dance from LCM Violin Handbook: Grade 2 (2021–2025)

Discussion Questions
All questions should be answered after the performance section:
• Which of the pieces you performed today is your favourite and why?
• How would you describe the mood of this piece?
• Which key does the piece start in?
• Which signs that tell you to play loud and soft? Find an example of each in your music.

Grade 3

Technical Requirements
To be performed with separate bows unless otherwise indicated

Option 1
Scales
One two-octave minor scale: slurred (harmonic or melodic)
Either Eb major or E major: separate bows
Bb major in broken thirds: separate bows
One chromatic scale: separate bows

3
Arpeggios
One two-octave major arpeggio: slurred
One two-octave minor arpeggio: separate
One dominant 7th: separate bows
Exercises
Double stop exercise

Option 2
Study
Cohen – Heidi Hi from LCM Violin Handbook: Grade 3 (2021–2025)

Discussion Questions
All questions should be answered after the performance section:
• Which of the pieces you performed today is your favourite and why?
• What is the time signature and key of the piece?
• How would you describe the mood of this piece? How is it different to the characters or
styles of the other pieces you played today?
• Which sign tells you to play staccato and legato, can you find any examples in your pieces?

Grade 4

Technical Requirements
To be performed with separate bows unless otherwise indicated

Option 1
Scales
Two major scales: one slurred, one separate bows
Two minor scales: one slurred, one separate bows (harmonic or melodic)
D major in broken thirds: slurred
One chromatic scale: separate bows
Arpeggios – different keys from the scales should be offered.
Two major arpeggios: one slurred, one separate bows
Two minor arpeggios: one slurred, one separate bows
One dominant 7th: slurred
One diminished 7th: separate bows

Option 2
Study
O’Leary – Allegro from LCM Violin Handbook: Grade 4 (2021–2025)

See page 5 for discussion questions

4
Discussion Questions
All questions should be answered after the performance section:
• Which of the pieces you performed today is your favourite and why?
• What is the time signature of the piece and does it stay the same throughout?
• Which was the trickiest part to of the piece to learn and play, and why? What did you do in
your practice to overcome this?
• Explain how you take care of your instrument including any steps you take each time you use
it and put it away

Grade 5

Technical Requirements
To be performed with separate bows unless otherwise indicated

Option 1
Scales
One three-octave major scale: separate bows
One three-octave minor scale (harmonic or melodic): slurred
One two-octave major scale: slurred
One two-octave minor scale (harmonic or melodic): separate bows
Eb in broken thirds: slurred
One chromatic scale: slurred
Eb major double stop scale
Arpeggios - different keys from the scales should be offered.
One three-octave major arpeggio: separate bows
One two-octave major arpeggio: slurred
Two two-octave minor arpeggios: one slurred, one separate bows
One dominant 7th: slurred
One diminished 7th: separate bows

Option 2
Study
Sitt – Study No. 52 from LCM Violin Handbook: Grade 5 (2021–2025)

Discussion Questions
All questions should be answered after the performance section:

• Which of the pieces you performed today is your favourite and why?
• Who composed the piece and which historical period does it comes from? Can you name
another piece by this composer?
• Which was the trickiest part to of the piece to learn and play and why? What did you do in
your practice to overcome this?
• Outline the form and key structure of the piece.

5
Grade 6

Technical Requirements
To be performed with separate bows unless otherwise indicated

Option 1
Scales
One two-octave major scale: separate bows
One two-octave harmonic minor scale: slurred
One three-octave major scale: slurred
One three-octave melodic minor scale: separate bows
One scale in broken thirds: separate bows
One chromatic scale: slurred
One double stop scale
Arpeggios - different keys from the scales should be offered.
One two-octave major arpeggio: separate bows
One two-octave minor arpeggio: slurred
One three-octave major arpeggio: slurred
One three-octave minor arpeggio: separate bows
One dominant 7th: separate bows
One diminished 7th: slurred

Option 2
Studies
Johow – The Spinning Wheel
AND } both from LCM Violin Handbook: Grade 6 (2021–2025)
Cohen – Intrada

Discussion Questions
All questions should be answered after the performance section:
• In relation to one piece performed today, explain why you like or dislike performing it. Do
you find it challenging or rewarding and why?
• Explain how the performance of this piece went today. Were you pleased? Were there
aspects that could have gone better?
• What was the hardest thing about learning this piece and how did you overcome the
difficulty?
• Explain how you tune your instrument.

6
Grade 7

Technical Requirements
To be performed with separate bows unless otherwise indicated

Option 1
Scales
Two three-octave major scales: one slurred, one separate bows
Two three-octave minor scales:
• one harmonic and slurred
• one melodic with separate bows
One two-octave minor scale: melodic and slurred
One scale in broken thirds: separate bows
One three-octave chromatic scale: slurred
Bb major in sixths double stop scale
G minor in octaves double stop scale (harmonic or melodic)
Arpeggios - different keys from the scales should be offered.
Two three-octave major arpeggios: one slurred, one separate bows
Two three-octave minor arpeggios: one slurred, one separate bows
One two-octave minor arpeggio: separate bows
One three-octave dominant 7th: separate bows
One two-octave dominant 7th: slurred
One three-octave diminished 7th: separate bows

Option 2
Studies
Martinů – Jazz Rhythms
AND } both from LCM Violin Handbook: Grade 7 (2021–2025)
Cohen – Take to the Hills

Discussion Questions
All questions should be answered after the performance section:

• Which of the pieces you performed today is your favourite and why? How do you feel the
performance went today?
• Explain your approach to learning the piece. Which was the trickiest section to learn? How
did you overcome the difficulty? Describe some of the practice techniques that you used.
• What can you tell me about the composer and historical/stylistic context of the piece? How
did it affect your interpretation?
• Describe the form and key structure of the piece.
• What kind of cadence does the piece finish with?

7
Grade 8

Technical Requirements
To be performed with separate bows unless otherwise indicated

Option 1
Scales
Three major scales: two slurred, one separate bows
Three minor scales:
• one harmonic and slurred
• one melodic with separate bows
• one harmonic with separate bows
One scale in broken thirds: slurred
One three-octave chromatic scale: separate bows
One two-octave chromatic scale: slurred
Eb major in sixths double stop scale
G harmonic minor in octaves double stop scale
Arpeggios - different keys from the scales should be offered.
Two major arpeggios: one slurred, one separate bows
Two minor arpeggios: one slurred, one separate bows
One dominant 7th: separate bows
One three-octave diminished 7th: slurred
One two-octave diminished 7th: separate bows

Option 2
Studies
Bourgeois – Allegro piacevole
AND } both from LCM Violin Handbook: Grade 8 (2021–2025)
Yampolsky – Study No. 73

Discussion Questions
All questions should be answered after the performance section:

• Which of the pieces you performed today is your favourite and why? How do you feel that
your performance went today?
• Explain your approach to learning the piece. Which was the trickiest section to learn? How
did you overcome the difficulty? Describe some of the practice techniques that you used.
• What can you tell me about the composer and historical/stylistic context of the piece and
how did it affect your interpretation?
• Explain any performance issues you came across in interpreting the music of this period.
• Describe the form and key structure of the piece.