I need to play as an accompanist for my daughter's grade 2 violin exam. I am having difficulty with the time signature.
They have the speed marked at 108 - 120 for a 1/2 note and the time signature is 2/2 time. I am pretty sure that 2/2 is two 1/2 notes per measure, which i have been playing as 4/4 time as the measures are mostly quarter notes. My problem is the speed, if the speed is 108 for a 1/2 note does that mean 216 if I am playing 4/4? That is ridiculously fast for grade 2 level, so I not sure that is correct. Thanks for your help.

I would ignore the indicated tempo and play it at whatever speed your daughter can play comfortably. I agree it sounds awfully fast. Are you sure it's indicating "half-note = 108" and not "quarter-note = 108"?

If your daughter is rolling her eyes at you to go faster you may be in trouble...

It is definitely 108 for a 1/2 note. It is for a RCM grade 2 exam, so we have to get at least close to the proper speed.

Your daughter must be working with an instructor, and presumably she is practicing this piece? What tempo is she practicing at? Is it something like 200bpm? If so is her part mostly half/whole notes while the accompaniement plays eigth-note arpeggio runs?

Can you link to the scores?

A little simplicity: Do not make it complicated, because it is not.

2/2 meter indicates 2 beats per measure, and that the half-note receives one beat, just as you guessed. 2/2 meter is also known as "cut time", referring to the fact that each of the notes and rests receive one-half the duration, compared to 4/4 meter. Many (MANY) marches are written in 2/2 meter, and realistically, 120 BPM is a fairly average march tempo.

Do not fall into the trap of thinking 240 BPM in 4/4 meter! That is wrong. Think "in 2", and make each whole note receive 2 beats, each half-note receive 1 beat, play two quarter notes for every beat, and if indicated, four eighth notes per beat.

Also remember that the grading of soli is based upon the difficulty of the SOLO PART. The difficulty of the piano accompaniment is not necessarily reflected in the grading.

Ed

I think this is good and better. 2/2 meter indicates 2 beats per measure, and that the half-note receives one beat which is definitely reasonable.

Just like Intellectual Property, this is good AND better!

Has anyone seen kutacat??

Which piece is it? The RCM has changed its syllabus since we did it, but many of the pieces are still the same. What does your child's teacher have to say? Actually, accompanying is an art to itself, especially in an exam situation for an inexperienced student (if she is doing grade 2, then she has had a maximum of 1 previous exam).

So much for that.

Yup -- unfortunately!

I think Mark C and btb are on to something: From now on, I am limiting my responses to three words. If the OP comes back with questions, then I may bump it up to five or seven.

Ed

Good point. Accompaniment is about framing and helping the singer or soloist so THEY can shine, they can be in the spotlight.

Also, even if it is 120 bpm for the half note, usually this sort of thing would be in a score made up primarily of no smaller than eighth notes. Is that the case here? In that case, you really got a pretty standard allegro speed, but in cut time.