Amanda Wall Strings

Tag: practice

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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.…

  • Smarter Practice- Tips from a Jazz Violinist

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    Amanda
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    I happened to come across this article recently- it’s a must- read! This guy is a very accomplished jazz violinist, and he sheds some insight into his opportunistic attitude toward practice. I agree with his message: take every music- based opportunity given to you to practice. Here’s the link- go read it! 3 Ways to…

  • Rehearsing fast sections of music

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    Amanda
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    If you’ve ever experienced the terror of sitting through an orchestra rehearsal where the notes are flying around you and you’re lost beyond hope, this post is for you! That feeling, you may be relieved to know, occurs in most players. Looking ahead at relatively unfamiliar music (or even if it’s familiar music!) and seeing…

  • Taking Care of Your Body

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    Amanda
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    When you play an instrument, you use your body- right? Though you may not be engaged in an Olympic athlete sort of activity, you still utilize muscle groups, joints, tendons, and several different systems in order to perform the task of playing a stringed instrument- your pulmonary system’s engaged, as well as your vision, your…

  • Practice, Practice, Practice…

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    Amanda
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    Well, it’s a few weeks until school. Have you been playing this summer? 🙂 Sometimes summer presents some grave barriers to the type of practice and performance associated with the school year, and it’s hard to get back into the swing of effective, consistent practice, even if you’ve been studying privately or have participated in…

  • Music is Music is (Pop!) Music

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    Amanda
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    So… you’re a violin or viola player. Or a cello or bass player. What genres of music do you see your instrument as playing? If you immediately concluded some type of classical or, maybe, fiddling… you’re correct. You’re also only seeing a few of the wide variety of choices you have as a musician. While…