As a young teen in 1996, my first student approached me about taking lessons and I fell in love with teaching. As reported by the New York Times, in 2009 I expanded my studio to embrace online students as one of the earliest music teachers offering lessons via Skype, FaceTime, and Zoom. I have since enjoyed troubleshooting challenges and inspiring dedicated violin, viola, fiddle, and cello students in dozens of countries and on every continent except Antarctica.

I have been honored to have had dozens of my technique and practice articles published in Strings magazine over the years, and my passion for sharing the tips and insight I've discovered along the way has also led me to create the Violin Geek Blog, Violin Geek Podcast, and to date, three online courses addressing common technical challenges, such as vibrato, bowing, shifting, and intonation, in ways which use our natural biomechanics to our advantage.

When I'm not playing, composing, or teaching music, you can find me hiking to the top of a mountain and observing creatures in their natural environment. I'm fascinated by dialects, foreign languages, and cultures. I appreciate time made for savoring tea and conversation with a close friend. I've possibly made and eaten more tacos in my life than anyone outside of Mexico or a Mexican restaurant, and having eaten a plant-based diet since I was born, I've become well versed in ethnic flavors (often the spicier the better!). If I hadn't become a musician, I might have become a neuroscientist or a physical therapist because I want to know everything about how the body and mind work, and could work more effectively and efficiently.

Please enjoy my site, and be in touch if you'd like to book me for a concert, event, or recording session, are interested in violin, viola, fiddle, or cello lessons, have a question or a topic you'd like me to address in my blog or podcast, or would just like to say hello!

Musically,

Laurel