Amanda Wall Strings

Category: practice

  • 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…

  • 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.…

  • Summer Playing Goals

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    Amanda
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    As summer approaches, you’re probably thrilled with the prospect of long stretches of free time- you’re finally done with school! But if you’ll remember back to last summer, you will probably begrudgingly agree: summer usually means the school schedule is replaced with an even more busy schedule, filled with all sorts of events and family…