The Violin Geek Podcast
By Laurel Thomsen
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Category: Music Commentary
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Episodes: 127
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!
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
|
All About Études
|
Feb 20, 2025 |
|
Your String Questions Answered
|
Dec 19, 2024 |
|
Play Faster (not just for violinists!)
|
Nov 18, 2024 |
|
Your Violin Questions
|
Sep 16, 2024 |
|
Recovery Practice
|
Jul 29, 2024 |
|
Pitch versus Tone
|
Jun 24, 2024 |
|
"Weaving musical worlds into one" - a conversation with Jazz violinist and composer Meg Okura
|
May 13, 2024 |
|
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 |