The Violin Geek Podcast

• All About Études

  What are études? Should you be playing them? Where do they fit into your practice routine, especially also considering a scale and arpeggio practice? Which ones should you start with, and should you always go in book order? If you've ever considered some of these questions, or you're a student, a teacher, or someone hoping to keep your playing chops in top condition, this episode is for you! Host Laurel Thomsen answers common questions and gives her recommendations for études to check out for beginners, intermediates, and more advanced players.Show Notes:Études for beginners:Sevcik op 1 (first 10) Fiddle Magic by Sally O'ReillyCassia Harvey Open String Bow Workouts (among others), see https://charveypublications.com/ Dancla op 84 Laoureux - a practical method for violin part 1 Études for advancing beginners/intermediates:Wohlfahrt op 45Sitt op 32 books 1 & 2Kayser op 20Études for intermediates: Mazas op 36 - 3 progressive volumes Dont op 37 - preparatory to Kreutzer and Rode Laoureux - a practical method for violin part 2 supplementCohen - Technique Takes Off (and other volumes)Amy Barlow - 12 Etude Caprices in the Styles of the Great Composers Études for advancing players:Kreutzer op 42 Fiorillo 36 ÉtudesRode 24 CapricesÉtudes for advanced players:Gavinies 24 CapricesDont op 35Weiniaski l’ecole modernePaganini 24 capricesDouble Stop Études:Trott Melodious Double Stops books 1 & 2 (intermediate)Polo 30 double stop etudes (intermediate)Schradieck School of Violin Technics book 2 (intermediate to advanced)Études written just for Viola: Palaschko op 55 - 12 studies for viola (intermediate level)Lillian Fuchs - 15 Characteristic Studies and 16 Fantasy Etudes (intermediate to advanced)Compilations:Harvey Whistler - shifting (2 volumes) and double stop compilations (intermediate)Shifting:Harvey Whistler - shifting (2 volumes) and double stop compilations (intermediate)Schradieck School of Violin Technics book 1 (beginning to advanced)Modern Technique:Dawson - 24 Etudes for the Modern Violinist (or violist), see https://www.sleepypuppypress.comBowing:Sevcik op 2 (beginning to intermediate)Schradieck School of Violin Technics book 3 (intermediate to advanced)~~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.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To 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-blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 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!

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• Your String Questions Answered

  Ever wondered what strings might help your instrument sound warmer? Brighter? Louder? Softer? Should you try gut strings? Is there a difference between synthetic and composite strings? What about all metal strings, and do different types of metals make a difference? What about different gauges, or tensions for that matter? How should you best care for your strings, and when should you change them? In this episode, host Laurel Thomsen answers your questions about strings, arming you with more knowledge to make an informed choice to balance your instrument tone and get the most out of your strings. Show Notes: Intro/outro music "Twisted Gypsy": On Bandcamp ⁠ https://danandlaurel.bandcamp.com/track/twisted-gypsy  On Apple Music ⁠⁠⁠https://music.apple.com/us/album/twisted-gypsy/1638382778?i=1638383086 On Spotify ⁠https://open.spotify.com/track/0m8Eyt7v3Y3yCc3mLh9evc?si=fb54f4e9713c4215 Quinn Violins custom packs (not as customizable as in the past, but still cool) https://www.quinnviolins.com/custom-string-sets-violin.html Laurel's video about how to put on strings https://youtu.be/Hfr8b0tgcdY String tone chart https://fiddlershop.com/pages/violin-string-comparison?srsltid=AfmBOoryJyuoWXeDNYE-8LdNfnYSheSSlWhkF0XRGvyfiqXsZyisD5sX String identification chart https://www.violin-strings.com/buying-guides/colored-string-identification/?srsltid=AfmBOooV11YidNNnpScx63oIXRcIFD-OGDowA5kinDD0iyfm7mQ2TuZW Kun Seven shoulder rest review https://youtu.be/4zq1-E0ZjLg Violin Geek blog  https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog/ ~~ 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 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!

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• Play Faster (not just for violinists!)

  Can't quite get up to tempo? Starting to wonder if you even "have what it takes" to keep up with an ensemble? In this episode, host Laurel Thomsen demystifies one of the most universal issues among musicians of all types and skill levels, with tips for how to troubleshoot any speed issue. Buckle up and get ready to take your playing to warp speed. Show Notes: Intro/outro music "Sure Fire Way of Taking": On Bandcamp https://danandlaurel.bandcamp.com/track/sure-fire-way-of-taking On Apple Music ⁠⁠https://music.apple.com/gb/album/sure-fire-way-of-taking/1626585646?i=1626585652 On Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/4G1XiQgCBbYQFa1qQ4SAMH?si=f154d6f32198475c Breaking the Speed Barrier - Violin Geek blog post https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog/?id=breaking-the-speed-barrier-tips-for-musicians Learn to Love Your Metronome - Violin Geek Podcast episode https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog/?id=learn-to-love-your-metronome Audiation - Violin Geek blog post https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog/?id=simple-4-step-audiation-procedure-to-clean-up-intonation Intonation Mastery #4 - Violin Geek Podcast episode https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog/?id=intonation-mastery-4-issues-within-our-technique-and-approach Laurel's new music video "Crow Flies High" https://youtu.be/nqTtIGcsOus?si=E6FekRY7VUJKnfc8 ~~ 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 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!

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• 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/[email protected] 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 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!

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• 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 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!

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