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'Reilly

Cassia 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 45

Sitt op 32 books 1 & 2

Kayser op 20

Études for intermediates:

Mazas op 36 - 3 progressive volumes

Dont op 37 - preparatory to Kreutzer and Rode

Laoureux - a practical method for violin part 2 supplement

Cohen - 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 Études

Rode 24 Caprices

Études for advanced players:

Gavinies 24 Caprices

Dont op 35

Weiniaski l’ecole moderne

Paganini 24 caprices

Double Stop Études:

Trott Melodious Double Stops books 1 & 2 (intermediate)

Polo 30 double stop etudes (intermediate)

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)

Modern Technique:

Dawson - 24 Etudes for the Modern Violinist (or violist), see https://www.sleepypuppypress.com

~~

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠laurel@laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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!

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠laurel@laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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!

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/for-musiclaurel@laurelthomsen.com

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠laurel@laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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!

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠laurel@laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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!

Beginning students, but even the more advanced among us, often struggle with pitch (intonation) and tone. Troubleshooting sounds we'd like to improve can be especially frustrating when we're having a hard time differentiating between the two. One is the domain of the left hand, while the other, the domain of the right. In this episode we explore how to identify each and steps we can take to start to improve.

Show notes:

Intro/outro music "The Rain Don't Need These Flowers/Back Down the Aisle":

on Bandcamp https://danandlaurel.bandcamp.com/track/05-the-rain-dont-need-these-flowers-back-down-the-aisle

on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/7lAvDqCXU1k9OSkMNVnsmu?si=a9cb6ba19a2449f2

on Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-rain-dont-need-these-flowers-back-down-the-aisle/1105581704?i=1105582163

Sounding point video https://youtu.be/e0zdC5VdDoc?si=YmIN7Kn1a03eNFMR

Laurel's latest music video "Country Beauty Queen" https://youtu.be/ej1jFLJ0Hz0?si=KnGAwYLhn2z5woDL

Hand Framing for Better Intonation video https://youtu.be/WDQMMAW4Cew?si=HjVt2t6eN_JtPLb5

~~

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠laurel@laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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!

In this episode we speak with Tokyo born, New York based Jazz violinist and composer about her new album, "Lingering," with pianist Kevin Hayes, how her conversion to Judaism has informed her life and music, her journey from Julliard to free improvisation, and how she's managed to turn labels and stereotypes into assets along her career path.

Show notes:

Meg's website https://www.megokura.com

Listen/Purchase "Lingering" https://megokurakevinhays.bandcamp.com/album/lingering

Stream "Lingering" on Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/album/lingering/1737319248

Stream "Lingering" on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/26Xn8ZzKI0mzStvnSorUQ5

Scores & Parts for some of Meg's compositions https://www.megokura.com/scores-parts

~~

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠laurel@laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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!

What is shifting? How do we make our shifts more accurate and clean? If we're just beginning and not ready to learn how to shift yet, what can we do to ensure we'll be ready when the time comes? Join me as we dive deep into the nuances of shifting technique as it applies to the violin or viola, with tips also helpful for cellists, and for both beginning shifters and the more advanced among us.

Please also enjoy the video version of this episode here: https://youtu.be/64Nzrqfqc9g

~

Show Notes:

Intro/outro music: "Music Bug" by Laurel Thomsen https://laurelthomsen.bandcamp.com/track/music-bug

~

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 ⁠⁠⁠laurel@laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠.

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!