The Violin Geek Podcast

Laurel Thomsen
The Violin Geek Podcast

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

  1. 9月16日

    Your Violin Questions

    In this episode, host Laurel Thomsen answers your violin questions, including about strings, rosin, the instrument she plays, how to get dust out of your instrument, the story about the oldest violin she's ever played, and more. Enjoy! Show Notes: Intro/outro music "Tales from the Labyrinth": On Bandcamp ⁠https://danandlaurel.bandcamp.com/track/tales-from-the-labyrinth⁠ On Apple Music ⁠https://music.apple.com/ca/album/tales-from-the-labyrinth/1626585646?i=1626585650⁠ On Spotify ⁠https://open.spotify.com/track/6ITy5Zl4qDUDHH4ZQYSCBF?si=6ddf46ccb48342c8⁠ Boveda Humidity Packs https://store.bovedainc.com/collections/for-musiclaurel@laurelthomsen.com Frirsz Tailpieces https://frirszmusic.com/ Violin Geek Podcast interview with Nikolas Frirsz https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tailpiece-innovation-for-tonal-excellence-a-chat/id374305295?i=1000524032601 ~~ Host Laurel Thomsen's info and links: For more information and info about my performances, recordings, and teaching, please visit my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To check out my Violin Geek Blog, the companion to the podcast, sharing tips, insight and inspiration since 2007, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you have a violin, viola, fiddle, music biz, or practice related question or topic you’d like to have covered on the Violin Geek podcast or in the blog, have someone you'd like me to interview, or have a  story or insight to share, please send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠laurel@laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Also, please reach out if you’d like to inquire about online violin, viola, or fiddle lessons with me via Skype, FaceTime, or  Zoom. You're also welcome to post your success story, comments, or suggestions to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/laurelthomsenmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Happy Practicing! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/violingeek/support

    47 分鐘
  2. 7月29日

    Recovery Practice

    We know we can't stop to fix mistakes during a performance, so why don't we ever seem to spend time in the practice room practicing how to recover? In this episode, host Laurel Thomsen shares why "recovery practice" might be the missing factor in your routine, and three ways to practice getting better at getting back on track when we do make a mistake on-stage. In the process, we may even find that we make fewer mistakes to begin with, and feel more confident when it does come time to share what we've been working so hard to prepare. Show Notes: Intro/outro music "Tales from the Labyrinth": On Bandcamp https://danandlaurel.bandcamp.com/track/tales-from-the-labyrinth On Apple Music https://music.apple.com/ca/album/tales-from-the-labyrinth/1626585646?i=1626585650 On Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/6ITy5Zl4qDUDHH4ZQYSCBF?si=6ddf46ccb48342c8 Functional Fitness for Musicians video series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTLosOjyPE8dMbBfD2niksBZ03zUTH5Lb&si=pYA0c0lm-zH0A7iH ~~ Host Laurel Thomsen's info and links: For more information and info about my performances, recordings, and teaching, please visit my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To check out my Violin Geek Blog, the companion to the podcast, sharing tips, insight and inspiration since 2007, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you have a violin, viola, fiddle, music biz, or practice related question or topic you’d like to have covered on the Violin Geek podcast or in the blog, have someone you'd like me to interview, or have a  story or insight to share, please send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠laurel@laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Also, please reach out if you’d like to inquire about online violin, viola, or fiddle lessons with me via Skype, FaceTime, or  Zoom. You're also welcome to post your success story, comments, or suggestions to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/laurelthomsenmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Happy Practicing! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/violingeek/support

    18 分鐘
  3. 6月24日

    Pitch versus Tone

    Beginning students, but even the more advanced among us, often struggle with pitch (intonation) and tone. Troubleshooting sounds we'd like to improve can be especially frustrating when we're having a hard time differentiating between the two. One is the domain of the left hand, while the other, the domain of the right. In this episode we explore how to identify each and steps we can take to start to improve. Show notes: Intro/outro music "The Rain Don't Need These Flowers/Back Down the Aisle": on Bandcamp https://danandlaurel.bandcamp.com/track/05-the-rain-dont-need-these-flowers-back-down-the-aisle on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/7lAvDqCXU1k9OSkMNVnsmu?si=a9cb6ba19a2449f2 on Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-rain-dont-need-these-flowers-back-down-the-aisle/1105581704?i=1105582163 Sounding point video https://youtu.be/e0zdC5VdDoc?si=YmIN7Kn1a03eNFMR Laurel's latest music video "Country Beauty Queen" https://youtu.be/ej1jFLJ0Hz0?si=KnGAwYLhn2z5woDL Hand Framing for Better Intonation video https://youtu.be/WDQMMAW4Cew?si=HjVt2t6eN_JtPLb5 ~~ Host Laurel Thomsen's info and links: For more information and info about my performances, recordings, and teaching, please visit my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To check out my Violin Geek Blog, the companion to the podcast, sharing tips, insight and inspiration since 2007, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you have a violin, viola, fiddle, music biz, or practice related question or topic you’d like to have covered on the Violin Geek podcast or in the blog, have someone you'd like me to interview, or have a  story or insight to share, please send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠laurel@laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Also, please reach out if you’d like to inquire about online violin, viola, or fiddle lessons with me via Skype, FaceTime, or  Zoom. You're also welcome to post your success story, comments, or suggestions to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/laurelthomsenmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Happy Practicing! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/violingeek/support

    23 分鐘
  4. 5月13日

    "Weaving musical worlds into one" - a conversation with Jazz violinist and composer Meg Okura

    In this episode we speak with Tokyo born, New York based Jazz violinist and composer about her new album, "Lingering," with pianist Kevin Hayes, how her conversion to Judaism has informed her life and music, her journey from Julliard to free improvisation, and how she's managed to turn labels and stereotypes into assets along her career path. Show notes: Meg's website https://www.megokura.com Listen/Purchase "Lingering" https://megokurakevinhays.bandcamp.com/album/lingering Stream "Lingering" on Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/album/lingering/1737319248 Stream "Lingering" on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/26Xn8ZzKI0mzStvnSorUQ5 Scores & Parts for some of Meg's compositions https://www.megokura.com/scores-parts ~~ Host Laurel Thomsen's info and links: For more information and info about my performances, recordings, and teaching, please visit my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To check out my Violin Geek Blog, the companion to the podcast, sharing tips, insight and inspiration since 2007, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you have a violin, viola, fiddle, music biz, or practice related question or topic you’d like to have covered on the Violin Geek podcast or in the blog, have someone you'd like me to interview, or have a  story or insight to share, please send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠laurel@laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. Also, please reach out if you’d like to inquire about online violin, viola, or fiddle lessons with me via Skype, FaceTime, or  Zoom. You're also welcome to post your success story, comments, or suggestions to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/laurelthomsenmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Happy Practicing! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/violingeek/support

    1 小時 29 分鐘
  5. 4月15日

    Shifting Technique Deep Dive

    What is shifting? How do we make our shifts more accurate and clean? If we're just beginning and not ready to learn how to shift yet, what can we do to ensure we'll be ready when the time comes? Join me as we dive deep into the nuances of shifting technique as it applies to the violin or viola, with tips also helpful for cellists, and for both beginning shifters and the more advanced among us. Please also enjoy the video version of this episode here: https://youtu.be/64Nzrqfqc9g ~ Show Notes: Intro/outro music: "Music Bug" by Laurel Thomsen https://laurelthomsen.bandcamp.com/track/music-bug ~ For more information and info about my performances, recordings, and teaching, please visit my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To check out my Violin Geek Blog, the companion to the podcast, sharing tips, insight and inspiration since 2007, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you have a violin, viola, fiddle, music biz, or practice related question or topic you’d like to have covered on the Violin Geek podcast or in the blog, have someone you'd like me to interview, or have a  story or insight to share, please send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠laurel@laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠. Also, please reach out if you’d like to inquire about online violin, viola, or fiddle lessons with me via Skype, FaceTime, or  Zoom. You're also welcome to post your success story, comments, or suggestions to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/laurelthomsenmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Happy Practicing! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/violingeek/support

    38 分鐘
  6. 3月25日

    Play More Musically

    Many of us were drawn to play the violin, viola, or cello because we'd heard playing that brought us to tears, filled us with joy, or expressed a feeling that we couldn't even describe with words. Truly, there seems to be no limit to the emotions and the variety of sounds these instruments can express. However, our first weeks, months, and even years of learning to play can feel very technical - focused on just playing the right notes, at the right time, and hopefully with decent tone! Securing these basics can often feel like it could take a lifetime, so when and how will we get to actually play more musically? Today we're exploring what a difference just a handful of elements makes in creating a more musical version of a simple folk song from Suzuki Book 1. And yes, one element is vibrato, but even before we learn vibrato and begin adding it to our pieces, we have other factors that even a beginner can use to start to add more personality to their renditions. ~ Show Notes: "Sweet Beauty" full track https://open.spotify.com/track/7jjfysw3FoEQnvrNbBgcMB?si=32ce40e225b74803 Laurel's YouTube Channel with recent deep dives into tone etc.: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe5W2-LP_E2A65RCxIC9uGw Laurel's "Complete Vibrato Mastery" online course https://www.udemy.com/course/complete-vibrato-mastery/?referralCode=5B724D936FF08F7DDFB8 ~ For more information and info about my performances, recordings, and teaching, please visit my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To check out my Violin Geek Blog, the companion to the podcast, sharing tips, insight and inspiration since 2007, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you have a violin, viola, fiddle, music biz, or practice related question or topic you’d like to have covered on the Violin Geek podcast or in the blog, have someone you'd like me to interview, or have a  story or insight to share, please send me an email at ⁠⁠laurel@laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠. Also, please reach out if you’d like to inquire about online violin, viola, or fiddle lessons with me via Skype, FaceTime, or  Zoom. You're also welcome to post your success story, comments, or suggestions to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/laurelthomsenmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Happy Practicing! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/violingeek/support

    47 分鐘
  7. 2月19日

    Getting comfortable with Uncomfort: Tools for Overcoming Performance Anxiety

    It's frustrating and disheartening when all our preparation in the practice room doesn't make it out onto the stage. Instead of presenting the polished piece we've been performing in the comfort of our room, we're suddenly overcome by hyper-drive vibrato, sweaty palms, or a bow that jitters and skids as we squeak out our phrases. We're overwhelmed by mental calculations about difficult upcoming passages and worries about how we'll even be able to make it to the end of the piece, versus the thoughts we'd love to be having about sharing the character and emotion of the music and connecting with our listeners. Sound familiar? If so, I hope you enjoy this exploration into performance anxiety that goes far beyond imagining the audience in their underwear! I share my own journey through debilitating stage fright as a teen, and the tools, including hands-on mind-body practices we'll experience during the episode, which I've used to foster more confidence and focus on stage, and to help get comfortable with the uncomfortable symptoms of performance anxiety. I hope you find new tips to help you and/or your students in what I have to share! ~ For more information and info about my performances, recordings, and teaching, please visit my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To check out my Violin Geek Blog, the companion to the podcast, sharing tips, insight and inspiration since 2007, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you have a violin, viola, fiddle, music biz, or practice related question or topic you’d like to have covered on the Violin Geek podcast or in the blog, have someone you'd like me to interview, or have a  story or insight to share, please send me an email at ⁠laurel@laurelthomsen.com⁠. Also, please reach out if you’d like to inquire about online violin, viola, or fiddle lessons with me via Skype, FaceTime, or  Zoom. You're also welcome to post your success story, comments, or suggestions to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/laurelthomsenmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Happy Practicing! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/violingeek/support

    1 小時 11 分鐘
  8. 1月15日

    "Make Great Music with Ease" - a chat with violinist and Art of Freedom Method creator Jennifer Roig-Francolí

    Happy New Year! We want our music making journey to be positive and comfortable, so we can express ourselves with freedom. Listen in as I chat with Jennifer Roig-Francolí, a professional violinist, certified Alexander Technique instructor, and the creator of the Art of Freedom Method. We learn about Jennifer’s path from concert violinist to her role as a coach, specializing in helping musicians of all kinds play with more ease and joy, less pain and performance anxiety, and less tension and stress. Jennifer has just released a new book titled “Make Great Music with Ease!: The Secret to Smarter Practice, Confident Performance, and Living a Happier Life,” and we explore how bringing more awareness to our lives can help us become better players, but also people, in all the various roles we play. Show Notes: Jennifer's website: https://artoffreedom.me Buy Jennifer's new book: ⁠https://a.co/d/bvY3TcY "TheCyCle" video Jennifer recommended in the episode: ⁠https://youtu.be/Zr1c4T9KgFM?si=-vNgq1AsKfzMRWzJ Check out Jennifer's album "Solo Con Spirito! https://artoffreedom.me/product/solo-con-spirito-celebrating-50/Connect with Jennifer through her YouTube channel with multiple playlists (teaching, music, etc.): https://www.youtube.com/@JenniferRoigFrancoliFacebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/J30DPC/ ~ For more information and info about her performances, recordings, and teaching, please visit host Laurel Thomsen's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ To check out Laurel's Violin Geek Blog, the companion to the podcast, sharing tips, insight and inspiration since 2007, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you have a violin, viola, fiddle, music biz, or practice related question or topic you’d like to have covered on the Violin Geek podcast or in the blog, have someone you'd like Laurel to interview, or have a  story or insight to share, please send Laurel an email at laurel@laurelthomsen.com. Also, please reach out if you’d like to inquire about online violin, viola, or fiddle lessons with Laurel via Skype, FaceTime, or  Zoom. You're also welcome to post your success story, comments, or suggestions to ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/laurelthomsenmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠. Happy Practicing! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/violingeek/support

    1 小時 36 分鐘
5
(滿分 5 顆星)
30 則評分

簡介

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

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