The Violin Geek Podcast

By Laurel Thomsen

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Image by Laurel Thomsen

Category: Music Commentary

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Subscribers: 1
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Episodes: 120

Description

Welcome violin geeks everywhere (or viola, fiddle, cello, guitar, trumpet...)! With all the detail and troubleshooting of a private lesson, violinist and violist, recording artist, author, and string teacher Laurel Thomsen shares daily discoveries, insightful interviews with top performers and music industry leaders, and tips for practicing, polishing, and becoming the best musician you can be. Episodes are accessible to beginners, yet contain the depth appreciated by the advancing student or seasoned performer alike. Happy Practicing! Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/violingeek/support

Episode Date
Shifting Technique Deep Dive
Apr 15, 2024
Play More Musically
Mar 25, 2024
Getting comfortable with Uncomfort: Tools for Overcoming Performance Anxiety
Feb 19, 2024
"Make Great Music with Ease" - a chat with violinist and Art of Freedom Method creator Jennifer Roig-Francolí
Jan 15, 2024
Finding a comfortable and effective chin and shoulder rest
Dec 04, 2023
Music Careers, Part 3
Nov 13, 2023
Russian versus American Music Education - a conversation with Russian violinist and educator Michael Dvoskin
Oct 09, 2023
Making Time for Music: a chat with violinist Julia Reddy
Sep 11, 2023
Finding our voice, from Classical strings to Hot Jazz - A chat with violinist Gabe Terracciano
Aug 10, 2023
Rediscovering Baroque Bows - a chat with historical bowmaker Ralph Ashmead
Jul 10, 2023
Where am I supposed to put my thumb on the violin neck? Principles and considerations.
Jun 14, 2023
Music Careers, Part 2
May 23, 2023
Strengths and Challenges of Adult Learners - an interview with Rachael Ridge of "The Adult Violin Academy"
May 01, 2023
Music Careers, Part 1
Apr 03, 2023
Challenges of the Adult Beginner Violinist: Laurel's interview on the Violin Class Podcast
Mar 10, 2023
Intonation Mastery #4: Issues within our Technique and Approach
Feb 13, 2023
"Learning By Ear" - a chat with fiddler Lissa Schneckenburger
Dec 16, 2022
Stories About Songs - "If A Wave"
Nov 07, 2022
Intonation Mastery #3: Avoiding External Factors + Practicing For Better Tuning
Oct 21, 2022
Following Your Passion to a Unique Career - an interview with DJ violinist and entertainer Asher Laub
Sep 23, 2022
Functional Fitness for Musicians, Part 3: Spine, Low Back, and Hips
Aug 26, 2022
Functional Fitness for Musicians, Part 2: Neck, Shoulders, Upper Back
Aug 05, 2022
Traveling with Your Instrument - Tips and Stories!
Jul 28, 2022
Functional Fitness for Musicians, Part 1: Arms and Hands
Jul 02, 2022
How Do I Get Out of Pain? - Playing Health in the Spotlight
Jul 02, 2022
"Back to Bach" - rediscovering your path and passion with Israeli/German violinist Maya Lorenzen
May 27, 2022
Female Composers in the Spotlight - an interview with Dr. Cora Cooper
Apr 15, 2022
"Counting Down the Hours" - finding freedom and joy with Classical violinist and fiddler Maura Shawn Scanlin
Mar 17, 2022
Learn to Love Your Metronome
Feb 18, 2022
Stories About Songs - "Money Shouldn't Talk That Strong"
Jan 21, 2022
Stories About Songs - "Make Me Come Alive"
Dec 18, 2021
"A Grand Journey" - bridging musical worlds with violinist Alexandr Kislitsyn
Nov 24, 2021
Arranging Pop and Non-Classical Genres for Solo Violin or Ensemble
Oct 10, 2021
Championing the Viola and Modern Classical Music - an interview with acclaimed soloist Brett Deubner
Sep 03, 2021
Virtual Teaching for Success - Laurel Thomsen interviewed for FAR-West Teaches
Aug 16, 2021
DIY Empowerment for Creatives with Justine Lucas of Madwoman Productions
Jul 10, 2021
Recording a violin, viola, or cello
Jun 04, 2021
Learning to love the process
May 27, 2021
Improve Your Intonation Now
Apr 01, 2021
Traditional folksongs in conflict with political correctness and racial equality
Feb 22, 2021
Discovering great new artists and heartfelt songs
Jun 04, 2019
Tips to help prepare for an orchestra, ensemble, or band practice
Feb 07, 2019
A Theory Behind the Flesch and Galamian Arpeggio Sequences
Jan 10, 2019
Audition Breakthrough
Mar 20, 2017
Tour Stories Part 2
Feb 04, 2016
Tour Stories Part 1
Jan 10, 2016
Canadian Fiddlers Part 3 - An interview with Grammy and Juno winner Tania Elizabeth
Dec 18, 2015
Complete Vibrato Mastery
Dec 09, 2015
Canadian Fiddlers Part 2 - Three Time Grand-Master Fiddle Champion Patti Kusturok
Oct 16, 2015
Canadian Fiddlers Part 1 - prolific fiddle composer and prodigy Calvin Vollrath
Sep 25, 2015
It's only a test
Sep 13, 2015
Memorizing Music
Sep 10, 2014
"Playing Less Hurt" - an interview with musician's health advocate and author Janet Horvath
Aug 28, 2014
Beyond Talent - a talk with author and career consultant Angela Myles Beeching
Aug 14, 2014
Rhythm Troubleshooting
Apr 28, 2014
Practice Tidbits #6 - first impressions
Mar 15, 2014
The Classical versus the Romantic Shift
Feb 28, 2014
Scales 101
Jan 23, 2014
Family life in the arts - an interview with Hilary Orzel-McSherry
Nov 22, 2013
Blues Fiddle - a lesson
Oct 22, 2013
Improvising with heart: an interview with fusion violinist Bahman Sarram
Apr 13, 2013
Practice Mastery #2
Jan 19, 2013
Performance psychology for musicians: an interview with Dr Noa Kageyama
Dec 29, 2012
Tailpiece innovation for tonal excellence: a chat with luthier Nicholas Frirsz
Dec 14, 2012
Practice Mastery #1
Dec 01, 2012
Overflow your creativity: a chat with gypsy minstrel Maesyn
Nov 03, 2012
Practice Tidbits #5: your tempo, your beat
Oct 27, 2012
String teaching for the modern student: a chat with fiddler and instructor Lauren Rioux
Oct 12, 2012
Dive deep and get jazzed about your playing: a chat with violinist and educator Christian Howes
Sep 29, 2012
Singing and fiddling with passion: a chat with "bad ass" fiddler Laura Cortese
Sep 14, 2012
Sound better now!
Sep 06, 2012
Eradicate Bow Jitters
Aug 10, 2012
Intonation Mastery #2: Tuning Against Open Strings
Jul 27, 2012
Intonation Mastery #1: Using Sympathetic Resonances
Jun 27, 2012
Warm ups for your body and brain
May 23, 2012
Tuning by ear for advancing players
Apr 27, 2012
Practice Tidbits #4-identify the magic spots
Apr 07, 2012
Not all sheet music is created equal
Mar 18, 2012
Choosing fingerings
Feb 25, 2012
5 reasons to review old repertoire in 2012
Jan 04, 2012
Practice Tidbits #3: the "round robin"
Dec 18, 2011
So you want to play weddings?
Nov 06, 2011
Repertoire for the do-it-yourself beginner, an update
Sep 29, 2011
Practice Tidbits #2: strengthening the 4th finger
Aug 20, 2011
A mistake that became a song
Jul 31, 2011
Better musicianship through "audiation"
Jul 13, 2011
Practice Tidbits #1: end your phrases!
Jun 23, 2011
Make mistakes!
Jun 04, 2011
Rhythm Trainer Series #3: dotted rhythms, triplets, syncopation
May 29, 2011
Self Hypnosis for Musicians-an interview with Sam Brown
May 16, 2011
Repertoire for the do-it-yourself beginner
May 01, 2011
News and Updates March 2011
Mar 17, 2011
Practice Tips #5 - Add rhythmic variety
Mar 14, 2011
Practice Tips #4 - Avoid flailing! Isolate the issues
Feb 12, 2011
Happy Holidays!
Dec 16, 2010
Rhythm Trainer Series #2: Quarter, eighth, and sixteenth notes
Nov 29, 2010
Befriending the "Practice Sabateur"
Nov 15, 2010
Practice Tips #3 - practice scheduling
Oct 31, 2010
Tips for renting or purchasing a playable instrument
Oct 17, 2010
Practice Tips #2: daily jumpstart
Oct 03, 2010
News and Updates September 2010
Sep 19, 2010
Practice Tips #1: creating your practice environment
Aug 28, 2010
Beginner Intonation Workout #1-the second finger
Aug 14, 2010
Transforming the Self-Critical
Aug 07, 2010
Tuning for Beginners: chromatic tuners
Jul 29, 2010
News and Updates July 2010
Jul 24, 2010
Intermediate Intonation Workout #4 (viola's only): "C" String Finger Patterns
Jul 17, 2010
Intermediate Intonation Workout #4 (violins only): "E" String Finger Patterns
Jul 17, 2010
Tuning for Beginners #4 (violas only) -The "C" String
Jul 02, 2010
Tuning for Beginners #4 (violins only) -The "E" String
Jul 02, 2010
The Excellent Musician: a visualization
Jun 18, 2010
Intermediate Intonation Workout #3: "G" String Finger Patterns
Jun 12, 2010
Tuning for Beginners #3-The "G" String
Jun 05, 2010
Rhythm Trainer Series #1: Whole, Half, and Quarter Notes
May 30, 2010
Intermediate Intonation Workout #2: “D” String Finger Patterns
May 23, 2010
Tuning for Beginners #2: The “D” String
May 16, 2010
Conscious listening for great intonation and expression
May 09, 2010
Intermediate Intonation Workout #1: “A” String Finger Patterns
May 02, 2010
Introduction to the Intonation Workouts
Apr 25, 2010
Tuning for Beginners #1: The “A” String
Apr 18, 2010