Amanda Wall Strings

Author: Amanda

  • The Physics of Your Instrument

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    Amanda
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    If you play a stringed instrument, you rely on physics to produce sound. There are several ways your instrument responds to your playing in order to produce the sound it makes, and I’ve included a few links to articles, from the most basic principles of how a pitch is sent into the air and is…

  • Welcome.

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    Amanda
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    If you just found this site, welcome! I am a certified teacher in both vocal and instrumental music, and I have been teaching privately since high school. I now primarily teach out of my home, offering private lessons to students in the greater Kansas City area. I provide lessons to students for their individual goals…

  • My Favorite Thing about Playing Violin: The Challenge

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    Amanda
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    At a final recital for the holiday season, I had several students in the same room who hadn’t met before, and when I asked them to each tell their name, I also asked for each to share why they play their instrument. Of course, the question caught most of them off-guard, and the answers were…

  • The Humble Etude: The Mainstay of String Technique

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    Amanda
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    If you’ve ever marveled at a jaw-dropping performance by a string player on YouTube (you know the ones, where their left hand is climbing up and down the fingerboard at lightening speed while the bow works to light a fire above the fingerboard?), chances are the performer has spent significant quality time in a practice…

  • Some Thoughts and Videos on Vibrato

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    Amanda
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    In my studio, I find myself explaining basic skills in many different ways, in order to best help my student understand and master a certain concept. The basic skill’s execution stays the same, of course, but each student’s understanding dictates how I teach. When it comes to teaching vibrato, however, I find myself somewhat at…

  • What’s in a String? Choosing New Strings for Your Instrument

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    Amanda
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    As the school year approaches, now is a GREAT time to think about re-stringing your instrument for the upcoming school year. If you start now, those strings can be fully adjusted and raring to go on the first day of orchestra. So you browse on over to an online string seller, or visit your local…

  • Breathing With Your Bowing

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    Amanda
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    Ever found yourself holding your breath when playing passages with long bows? It’s not as silly as you might think.

  • Violin Bowing- A List of Terms

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    Amanda
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    With so many different types of bowing out there, one can be easily confused by the variety- and the disagreement upon terms and definitions. In an attempt to provide accurate information for my students, I have compiled an expository list of bowing styles and examples, aggregated from several sources and professionals. Some of these definitions…

  • Advanced Bowings Lessons- a Review

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    Amanda
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    Have you noticed how there seem to be an infinite number of ways your bow can interact with the string? Your bow and how it’s used comprises the majority of your tone and technique, and properly exercising each method in practice should hold just as much value as making sure you’ve got the notes and…

  • Practicing Positions Other Than I and III (yikes!)

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    Amanda
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    This summer, I had my students set goals. Each student has given me verbal confirmation of a skill or piece of music he or she would like to master before the school year starts- and we work on this skill with specificity, even though we may not meet as regularly as during the school year.…