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Before going to bed last night I checked my email and spam folders. Since migrating my website and email to a new hosting company last month, more robust email filtration has thankfully had more spam, but also some important emails, like a few from ...
When we first start playing, key signatures, those "hashtag," "pound sign," or baby "b" looking symbols to the right of the clef sign in our sheet music, might seem intimidating or even antiquated. After all, we probably ...
It’s that time of year again and I've already received some messages from prospective students and/or parents looking for guidance on purchasing a new violin, viola, or cello for a beginner on their holiday shopping list, as well as from some of my ...
In this episode of the Violin Geek Podcast we hear from Alexandr Kislitsyn, international violin soloist, chamber musician, educator, producer, and the newest member of the acclaimed Trio Casals. We learn about the trio's recent release, "A Grand ...
Canadian singer-songwriter Dan Frechette and I am excited to report that we'll be releasing our fifth album as a duo on January 21, 2022. We’ve launched our pre-order period and while supplies last, for orders placed by December 1st we're offering ...
In my latest Violin Geek Podcast episode we explore what it takes to create a compelling arrangement of a Pop, Rock, or Jazz tune and the factors that help determine whether a song is a good candidate for solo violin treatment or if it needs an ensemble ...
Please email me 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 me, in-person or online 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.”