An Adult Violin Student’s Guide to Sourcing Inspiring Repertoire
Standard, overlooked, and contemporary violin repertoire for adult learners and amateurs
When I was growing up, I studied violin through the Suzuki Method, which heavily emphasizes baroque repertoire. After returning to the instrument as an adult, I found myself interested in exploring a wider variety of music. I still love Baroque music, but I wanted to delve into other genres including modern and contemporary works, and to play music by women composers whose voices have long been, and still are, underrepresented.
Over the years, I’ve collected a range of resources to help me find new, interesting repertoire, including and beyond the standard student pieces. This guide shares some of those resources so you can find music that excites and challenges you, no matter your level or (classical) musical interests.
Where to Start with Standard Repertoire
If you’re building your skills or returning after time away, starting with structured, graded materials can help you develop or rebuild your technique while working on real classical repertoire.
Barbara Barber: Solos for Young Violinists
- A solid collection of books structured by level, including a broader range of styles than the Suzuki books. These are great for all ages of violin students.
- This is great as a supplement if you’re working through or revisiting Suzuki repertoire, but it’s also a great place to source intermediate level repertoire across a rather broad spectrum of levels.
📚 Graded Repertoire Lists from Exam Systems
These lists group pieces of similar difficulty together, making it easy to find new material based on what you already know. Some exam systems include music from a broad variety of eras, musical styles, and composers on their syllabi making them a great place to source repertoire even if you aren’t participating in their programs.
Explore:
- ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music)
- An excellent variety of styles at all levels.
- Advanced players should look at the advanced syllabi including Diploma (DipABRSM), LRSM, FRSM.
- ABRSM often includes underperformed works, women composers, and contemporary pieces.
- RCM (Royal Conservatory of Music, Canada)
- Known for its detailed level grading and structured approach.
- NZMEB (New Zealand Music Examinations Board)
- Includes some interesting regional repertoire and lesser-known composers.
- Trinity College London
- Often includes modern repertoire and technical etudes.
- Dorothy Delay’s Concerto Sequence
- A list of advanced level concerti compiled by pedagogue Dorothy Delay.
- Private Studio Repertoire Lists
- Search for lists published by private studios or independent teachers.
- One example: Melin Music Studio’s upper-level violin repertoire list offers helpful ideas beyond the exam systems.
Expanding Your Horizons: Lesser-Known Repertoire
🎼 Music by Women Composers
These anthologies and individual works comprise repertoire that often goes overlooked in traditional teaching, but are gaining popularity.
Note: the publisher also has a Viola anthology in this series
Pieces to explore:
- Three Romances – Clara Schumann
- Nocturne – Lili Boulanger
- Romance, Op. 23 – Amy Beach
- Short pieces for violin or viola and piano – Rebecca Clarke
- Duets: Suite for 2 violins and Easy Duets on Folk Themes – Grazyna Bacewicz
🌀 Modern and Contemporary Repertoire
Modern music isn’t just for conservatory students and professionals! These resources help make 20th and 21st-century repertoire more approachable to intermediate and advanced students and amateurs.
- Spectrum for Violin: 16 Contemporary Pieces
- Accessible contemporary music for intermediate players.
- G. Schirmer Violin Anthology: 24 Works from the 20th and 21st Centuries
- A great variety of works for upper-intermediate to advanced players. Some gems include Prokofiev’s Sonata for Solo Violin and Joan Tower’s Platinum Spirals.
- Modern and Contemporary Graded Repertoire List
- Violinists Rebecca Henry and Lauren Rausch compiled a graded list of contemporary and modern works. A version of the list can be found online here.
- Includes solo and chamber music and highlights accessible pieces by modern and contemporary composers.
Pieces to consider (Upper Intermediate to Advanced):
- Fratres – Arvo Pärt
- Platinum Spirals – Joan Tower
- Little Summer Music – Pēteris Vasks
- Five Melodies – Sergei Prokofiev
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to fall into the routine of playing only the “usual” repertoire, especially as a student violinist, whether that’s moving step-by-step through Suzuki books or playing a teacher’s given sequence of pieces. But there is so much beautiful, and sometimes underplayed, music of all levels waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re seeking expressive Romantic miniatures, works by living composers, or underrepresented voices in classical music, don’t be afraid to explore.
🎻If you’ve found an interesting piece, anthology, or composer, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment or message me via Instagram @tuninginfifths.
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