The Violin Geek Blog Sharing updates, tips, insight, and inspiration since 2007.
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In this supplemental video series of the Violin Geek Podcast, I'm sharing a variety of simple warmups, mobility exercises, and massage techniques to help musicians and non-musicians avoid tension related to playing or daily life habits, and possibly ...
This is a very good question, and a tough one! Though it might seem obvious at first - yes, of course we want to play with good technique, the answer is actually much more nuanced. This question was posed by the mother of a very young child, who, although ...
People are starting to hit the road again, but what does this mean for our instruments? In this episode of the Violin Geek Podcast, I'm sharing tips for safely getting your instrument ...
In my latest article for Strings magazine I researched six popular music notation software programs and apps. The article is out now in the July/August print edition, and also online through the link below (I love that Strings also embedded videos ...
While subdividing can always present challenges, both mentally as well as physically in our playing, encountering large and/or irregular note divisions in our pieces can be particularly daunting.
For example, consider the final phrases of Jenö ...
(If you prefer to listen to this post rather than read it, please scroll to the bottom of the article and click the play button in the Violin Geek Podcast player.)
Pain and injury related to playing a musical instrument like the violin, viola, ...
Scientists believe that amusia, or "tone-deafness," effects only about 4% of the population, yet unfortunately, a lack of early exposure and training in music can lead many to assume that they must be tone-deaf if they can't sing in tune ...
Please email Laurel at laurel@laurelthomsen.com if you have a violin, viola, fiddle, music biz, or practice related question you’d like answered in the blog or on a podcast, have a story or insight to share, or if you’d like to inquire about violin, viola, or fiddle lessons with Laurel, in-person or via Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom.
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Laurel ThomsenViolin, Viola, Vocals
Performance, Instruction, Recording
Based in Santa Cruz, California
"After the Fire" - released January 21, 2022!
Each song portrays a facet of the journey from setback to reclaimed hope - finding faith in the possibility of LOVE in “Make Me Come Alive,” HOME in “Beale Street,” COMMUNITY in “Together Again” and “Money Shouldn’t Talk That Strong,” and one’s own STRENGTH and FORTITUDE in “If A Wave” and “Hey, It’ll Be OK.”