Trinity College London’s refreshed Strings syllabus is out now and, with so many pieces to choose from, we want to make selecting repertoire for your exam as easy as possible. In this blog we’ll be looking at the requirements for Violin, Scottish Traditional Fiddle and Viola exams, highlighting many of the new pieces along the way.
Exam level and format
Before we get started, it's important to note that there are differences in requirements between face-to-face and the two different types of digital exams available: Technical pathway and Repertoire-only pathway. The requirements/assessed areas for each of these exams are as follows:
Face-to-face
- 3 pieces
- Technical work
- Supporting tests
Digital: Technical pathway
- 3 pieces
- Technical work selection
- Overall performance
Digital: Repertoire-only pathway
Repertoire lists
Full repertoire lists for the instruments covered in this blog can be found below:
Own composition
For all exams, one piece performed may be an own composition, but the requirements below must still be adhered to i.e. where it is stipulated that at least one piece from a group must be performed, this requirement must be met and the own composition would be in place of the third or fourth piece. Please refer to the Strings syllabus for the parameters for writing your own composition.
Violin
Initial to Grade 3
Candidates choose three pieces from a single list; four for Repertoire-only pathway exams.
One of these may be a duet.
Only one unaccompanied piece may be played.
Candidates may choose to substitute one of their pieces with a piece/set from the Scottish Traditional Fiddle repertoire list of the same grade. Candidates choosing to play a Scottish Traditional Fiddle piece/set need to be aware that this would count as their one unaccompanied piece i.e. they may perform an unaccompanied piece from the Violin repertoire list or a piece/set from the Scottish Traditional Fiddle repertoire list, but not both.
Example piece selection: Initial Grade, Face-to-face or Technical pathway
- Follow the Yellow Brick Road from The Wizard of Oz by Arlen, arr. Wyatt
- On the Go, 5 from Cool Beans by Cobb & Yandell – duet
- French Folk Song – Initial Grade Scottish Traditional Fiddle
Example piece selection: Grade 3, Repertoire-only pathway
- Flor de Fango by Gentile, arr. Borter – duet
- What About Us by Mac, McDaid & P!nk, arr. Walshaw
- Can-Can (Galop infernal) from Orpheus in the Underworld by Offenbach, arr. Beach & Dryer-Beers
- Marlow’s Tune by Dryer-Beers – unaccompanied
Grades 4-5
Candidates choose three pieces from a single list; four for Repertoire-only pathway exams.
Only one unaccompanied piece may be played.
Candidates may choose to substitute one of their pieces with a piece/set from the Scottish Traditional Fiddle repertoire list of the same grade. Candidates choosing to play a Scottish Traditional Fiddle piece/set need to be aware that this would count as their one unaccompanied piece i.e. they may perform an unaccompanied piece from the Violin repertoire list or a piece/set from the Scottish Traditional Fiddle repertoire list, but not both.
Example piece selection: Grade 4, Face-to-face or Technical pathway
- Levitating (Dua Lipa) by Coffee Jr, Judson, Kozmeniuk & Lipa, arr. Wyatt
- What Was I Made For? from Barbie by O'Connell & O'Connell, arr. Walshaw
- Gigue by Boismortier - unaccompanied
Example piece selection: Grade 5, Repertoire-only pathway
- Air from Orchestral Suite no. 3 in D, BWV 1068 by Bach, J.S, arr. Beach & Dryer-Beers
- One Last Time (Ariana Grande) by Falk, Guetta, Kotecha, Tuinfort & Yacoub, arr. Wyatt
- Mission: Impossible Theme by Schifrin, arr. Walshaw
- Annie My Mother/Robertson Crescent/Bobby Crowe of Balmullo – Grade 5 Scottish Traditional Fiddle
Grades 6-8
Pieces are divided into two groups: Group A and Group B. Candidates choose three pieces - four for Repertoire-only pathway - including at least one piece from each group.
Only one unaccompanied piece may be played.
Candidates may choose to substitute one of their pieces with a piece/set from the Scottish Traditional Fiddle repertoire list of the same grade. Candidates choosing to play a Scottish Traditional Fiddle piece/set need to be aware that this would count as their one unaccompanied piece i.e. they may perform an unaccompanied piece from the Violin repertoire list or a piece/set from the Scottish Traditional Fiddle repertoire list, but not both.
Candidates may also choose to play one piece from the corresponding Viola repertoire list. This means that a candidate taking a Face-to-face or Technical pathway exam and wanting to perform a piece from an alternative syllabus would need to choose between preparing a piece from either the Scottish Traditional Fiddle or Viola repertoire lists; they would not be permitted to perform pieces from both. Repertoire-only candidates could potentially perform a piece from each of the alternative repertoire lists provided they still complied with the requirement to play a piece from Group A and a piece from Group B from the Violin repertoire list.
Example piece selection: Grade 6, Face-to-face or Technical pathway
- Tarantelle napolitaine by Sica arr. Lambert – Group A
- Ladies in Lavender by Hess – Group B
- Miss Graham of Inchbrackie/Donald MacLean’s Farewell to Oban/The Marchioness of Huntly (Marshall)/The Marquis of Huntly (Milne) – Grade 6 Scottish Traditional Fiddle
Example piece selection: Grade 7, Face-to-face or Technical pathway
- Allegro from Fantasie No. 7 by Telemann – Group A - unaccompanied
- You Will Be Found from Dear Evan Hansen by Pasek & Paul, arr. Walshaw – Group B
- Chanson de matin, op. 15 no. 2 by Elgar arr. Arnold – Grade 7 Viola
Example piece selection: Grade 8, Repertoire-only pathway
- Methuen Home for Children 1957 and Main Theme from The Queen’s Gambit by Rivera, arr. Wyatt – Group A
- Remembrances from Schinder’s List by Williams – Group B
- Elegie, op. 44 by Glasunov – Grade 8 Viola
- Gossip/Jubilee/Da Bixtor Boys/Da Bonxie – Grade 8 Scottish Traditional Fiddle
Don't forget to check out our new Violin repertoire books! eBooks are available to buy now from the Trinity Shop; printed editions are available to pre-order ahead of release in September 2025.
Scottish Traditional Fiddle
Initial Grade
Pieces are divided into two groups: Group A and Group B. Candidates choose three pieces - four for Repertoire-only pathway - including at least one piece from each group.
Example piece selection: Face-to-face or Technical pathway
- Dinah – Group A
- Now the Day is Over – Group A
- French Folk Song – Group B
Example piece selection: Repertoire-only pathway
- Coulter’s Candy – Group A
- The Jeelie Piece Song – Group A
- Lovely Stornoway – Group B
- Jeelie Piece Song – Group A
Grades 1-8
Pieces/sets are divided into three groups: Groups A, B and C. Candidates choose three pieces/sets - four for Repertoire-only pathway - including one piece/set from each group.
Each grade has specific requirements regarding the dynamics, ornamentation, and the number of position changes that should be included. Please refer to the syllabus for more information.
Example piece selection: Grade 1, Face-to-face or Technical pathway
- My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean – Group A
- Auld Lang Syne – Group B
- This is No My Ain Lassie – Group C
Example piece selection: Grade 5, Repertoire-only pathway
- Farewell to Whisky/The Firth House/Mrs McGee’s Reel – Group A
- The Duke of Fife’s Welcome to Deeside/McKenzie Hay/The Spey in Spate – Group B
- Mr Michie/Mrs Russell of Blackhall/Carnie’s Canter – Group B
- The Grimbergen Blonde/Chris Stout’s Compliments to the ‘Bon Accord’ Ale House – Group C
Viola
Initial to Grade 3
Candidates choose three pieces from a single list; four for Repertoire-only pathway exams.
One of these may be a duet.
Only one unaccompanied piece may be played.
Example piece selection: Grade 1, Face-to-face or Technical pathway
- Matchday March, no. 12 by Cobb & Yandell – duet
- Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas by Menken
- Blast Off! by Cohen - unaccompanied
Example piece selection: Grade 2, Repertoire-only pathway
- Tango Waltz no. 13 by Cobb & Yandell – duet
- Surface Pressure from Encanto by Miranda
- Chasse du jeune Henry, no 17 by Dancia - unaccompanied
- Wet Hands from Minecraft: Volume Alpha by Rosenfeld
Grades 4-5
Candidates choose three pieces from a single list; four for Repertoire-only pathway exams.
Only one unaccompanied piece may be played.
Example piece selection: Grade 4, Face-to-face or Technical pathway
- We Gotta Boogie by Arens
- Minuetto (3rd movement from Sonata in C Minor) by Boccherini, arr. Ewerhart & Koch
- Atlantic Puffin by Wilkinson – unaccompanied
Example piece selection: Grade 5, Repertoire-only pathway
- Adagio, 3rd movement from Sonata in E♭ by Dittersdorf
- Ferdinand for Solo Viola by Fine – unaccompanied
- Hornpipe by Murray & Brown
- Falling Leaves (Autumn), no. 1 by Weston
Grades 6-8
Pieces are divided into two groups: Group A and Group B. Candidates choose three pieces - four for Repertoire-only pathway - including at least on piece from each group.
Only one unaccompanied piece may be played.
Candidates may also choose to play one piece from the corresponding Violin repertoire list.
Example piece selection: Grade 6, Face-to-face or Technical pathway
- Allegro, 2nd movement from Sonata in A minor, TWV 41:a6 by Telemann, arr. Joelson - Group A
- Songs for Harvey by Burrell – Group B – unaccompanied
- Counting Stars (One Republic) by Tedder, arr. Walshaw – Grade 6 Violin
Example piece selection: Grade 8, Repertoire-only pathway
- Romance for Viola and Piano by Chevereau – Group A
- Meditation by Bloch – Group B
- Deeds Not Words, 1st movement from The Suffragette Sonata for Solo Viola – Group B – unaccompanied
- Hoe-Down from Rodeo by Copland – Violin Grade 8
We hope this information helps you make your pieces selections for your exam. For guidance on selecting pieces for Cello, Double Bass and Harp exams, don’t forget to check out our blog: Selecting pieces for your Trinity College London Strings exam: Cello, Double Bass and Harp.
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