"Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inner places of the soul" ~Plato
Teaching Philosophy:
The attitude and enthusiasm Laurel Thomsen has brought to private violin and viola teaching and string coaching for youth orchestras since 1996 is strongly rooted in her own daily discoveries as a musician. Laurel is an active performer and studio recording artist across a wide variety of genres and she strives to continually expand and refine her technical abilities, interpretive skills, and musicianship.
Download Laurel’s
Private Lesson Contract:
Lessons with Laurel incorporate:
•Classical Technique
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•Music Reading
•Ear Training
•Fiddle Styles
•Music Theory
•Music Interpretation
•Improvisation
•Ensemble Playing Skills
•Sight Singing
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•Music History
•Body Awareness
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•Stress Management
Lesson Formats:
•Private Lessons
•Parent/Child Lessons
•Group Lessons in Schools
•Orchestra Coaching
•Visiting Clinician
“I look forward to my weekly violin lesson with Laurel Thomsen. I like how she focuses on one or two new things to work on each week. In this way I don’t feel overwhelmed and can really concentrate on what’s important. I never thought I would be playing the violin this well after taking lessons for only a year! Laurel uses various teaching methods and when I don’t understand a new technique, she easily takes a new approach that works better for me. Laurel is really good at pinpointing exactly what I need to focus on every week. It feels like a natural progression. I am amazed at how minor corrections can have such a big impact on the quality of my sound! When I started taking lessons I thought I would never be able to play in tune, but Laurel has helped me train my ears so that now I can readily hear if a note is slightly sharp or flat. I feel lucky to have found the best violin/fiddle teacher!”
~Amanda, adult violin/fiddle student
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Laurel Thomsen’s teaching style is influenced by a variety of pedagogues, including the Galamian, Suzuki, and Sassmannhaus methods, and the work of Kato Havas. Laurel has developed innovative instruction methods that focus on the importance of both the mind and the muscles, developing her students’ listening and interpretive abilities while working with the biomechanics of the body to facilitate playing that is natural and free of tension, both mentally and physically.
Violin and viola lessons with Laurel Thomsen emphasize all aspects of right and left hand technique, posture, both music reading and the ability to learn melodies by ear, and both classical and non-classical styles. She seeks to foster in her students a strong musical awareness and appreciation, in an environment that empowers each student to discover his or her individual creative expression. Ultimately, Laurel’s goal as a teacher is to cultivate in her students the art of self-analysis and self-observation, ushering the day when each one may become his or her own instructor. Though not everyone will be a soloist, Laurel believes that when a true curiosity and willingness to learn is combined with a teaching method that focuses on each individual student’s learning style, it is possible for every student to find his or her unique musical voice.
In 2005, Laurel’s personal interest in the inner workings of the mind lead her to pursue a 1.5 year training in transpersonal and clinical hypnotherapy. Since her certification in 2005 as a Clinical Hypnotherapist, Laurel has used hypnotherapy and Neuro-linguistic Programming, both personally and with students to overcome a variety of music, practice, and performance related issues. For more information on Laurel’s work in the healing arts, please visit www.mindbodyalchemy.com.
Location:
Laurel Thomsen teaches out of her home studio in Monterey, California, located close to the Monterey Public Library, Monterey High School, Downtown Monterey, and Hwy 1.
She also offers violin, viola, and fiddle lessons online via Skype, and has students both nationally and internationally.
Tuition:
Private lessons are $30/half hour, $45/45 minutes, or $60/hour. Generally, each student has a lesson once a week in a regular time slot, or four times a month. Please view Laurel’s lesson contract (contract-pdf.pdf) for more information about her private lessons policy.
Laurel is open to combined lessons with parents/children, siblings, or friends who want to learn together. Please call for information about rates and availability if you are interested in a combined lesson plan.
Laurel also has experience teaching group lessons in schools, coaching youth string orchestras, and as a visiting clinician in schools. Please call for information about her rates and availability for these services.
One of Laurel’s youngest students exploring the sound of “Grandpa G”
Laurel now offers private lessons online via Skype!
Take violin, viola, or fiddle lessons with Laurel from anywhere!