The Violin Geek Podcast
Laurel ThomsenWelcome violin geeks everywhere (or viola, fiddle, cello, guitar, trumpet...)! With all the detail and troubleshooting of a private lesson, violinist and violist, recording artist, author, and string teacher Laurel Thomsen shares daily discoveries, insightful interviews with top performers and music industry leaders, and tips for practicing, polishing, and becoming the best musician you can be. Ep... more
| Publishes | Infrequently | Episodes | 130 | Founded | 16 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories | MusicMusic Commentary | ||||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
Have you had the experience of suddenly hearing something in a recording, or about your playing that you never noticed before? Could the secret to becoming a better musician, in large part, not be just about practice and technique, but about becoming... more
What if "doing the music thing" didn't conjure subsisting on ramen and scrounging together rent money from a few random gigs and students, but finding a "path to remarkable success," positioning yourself in unique spaces and with interesting pursuit... more
What scale or excerpt should you choose to audition with? What should you do if all the excerpts are either too difficult and others too easy? When you have limited time to prepare the material, where should you put your focus for the most pay off? W... more
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 considere... more
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 ma... more
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 f... more
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: more
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 you... more
Key Facts
Recent Guests
Host
Reviews
- Super helpful for this intermediate level viola player
It can be so hard to be passed the beginning levels because there’s not much out there for when you’re in between. Either skills are too hard or they’re too easy. This podcast has helped me regain momentum in my playing. Thank you!
Apple Podcasts5cpatrickmohan
United States5 months ago - Recommend to violinist
I listen to this podcast everyday, it’s professional and enjoyable, I’d love to recommend to all the violin learners.
Apple Podcasts5nomadicgirl happy
Canadaa year ago - New listener, adult beginner
Really appreciating the in depth discussion for adult learners like myself, thanks for the show!
Apple Podcasts5joshlemerCanada2 years ago - An enjoyable education!
Initially thought these would be way above my ability to comprehend, as a beginner, however they are extremely well-explained, astonishingly interesting and so, so varied. Thank you for all the effort that has clearly been put in! It is really appreciated and a great education. Can imagine listening agin and again.
Apple Podcasts5EdenMarinaTrent
United Kingdom3 years ago - Welcome Back!
I was so sad when you seemed to take a break from the podcast. I made it a routine to search for new episodes several times a year. I’m so glad to see new uploads! Thank you!
Apple Podcasts5WaitlossgyrlUnited States4 years ago - Wonderful yet intimidating
I'm listening to lots of classical music podcasts in preparation for my own podcast launch, and I have to say, Laurel's effort here is outstanding. Good sound quality, great information, clearly presented, and without the stick-up-the-@#! monotone of the NPR casts. Everything I strive for as I get ready to do this myself If this is representative of private violin/classical music podcasts (non-NPR or radio), then I've got my work cut out for me.
Chuck G Violin
Apple Podcasts5Violinguy88United States10 years ago - So Grateful!!! Thanks Laurel!!
This is such an incredible treat! So helpful. I have a private instructor and also chew on this to utilize both. My only suggestion is for the podcasts are for the interviews / conversations with another. I would love to be able to hear the other individuals complete thoughts, their personal views and rabbit trails even. I totally understand that Listening in itself is an art form but in those type of situations its really important to talk less and allow the guest the platform. Still love em bu... more
Apple Podcasts5rubberfaerieUnited States11 years ago - Skype Lessons
I just had my first Skype lesson with Laurel & would highly recommend! She's great!
Apple Podcasts5hannahvdBUnited Kingdom11 years ago - Super amateur podcast
The very best violin technique podcast
Apple Podcasts5Pravda23
South Korea13 years ago - Great for a Cellist!
I love Laurel's genuine and charming spirit as she guides her listeners through an expanding world of music.
As a cellist I find her podcast very applicable and inspiring, especially her casts regarding intonation and creativity.
Keep up the great work!!!
Apple Podcasts5Robert McManusUnited States13 years ago - Superbly Done!
A FANTASTIC podcast by a talented musician and someone who is incredibly natural in running an informative, engaging podcast.
Apple Podcasts5Philosophical Beat PodcastUnited States13 years ago - If you play the violin (or are just starting to learn), you MUST subscribe to this podcast!
1) It's free!
2) The violin is something to be excited about and finally, we have a professional and talented voice that agrees with us :) Thank you, Laurel Thomsen.
3) What are you waiting for, subscribe already!
Apple Podcasts5JapaneseTeacherUnited States13 years ago - Must for every Violin student
Great podcasts. Thank you
Apple Podcasts5YT.IowaUnited States14 years ago - This is an amazing tool for all string musicians!
This podcast is truly an example of what one should be: informative, concise, candid, and comprehendible yet insightful!
I have been listening to the Violin Geek podcast for about eight months, and each one of Laurel Thomsen's podcasts has fit these criteria. As a violinist who is currently working on my own, I find her advice to be a huge advantage in keeping my playing competitive. Her podcasts adeptly cover issues in every aspect of a musician's life; they have given me so much advice that fe... more
Apple Podcasts5Noellie706United States14 years ago - A music podcast for all musicians
What is a professional trumpeter doing listening to a violin podcast? Well, I'm learning many things applicable to my teaching and music making. Laurel's podcast is a wonderful place to go to think about music and to consider how one enriches their life with music in it. She is knowledgeable and personable, and her approach is straightforward and honest, with encouragement and joy for what she does. After listening to a couple podcasts, I'm now a subscriber, and you should be too, especially if ... more
Apple Podcasts5jcth0masUnited States14 years ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Top Music Commentary Podcasts
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
| Gender Skew | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Interests | |
| Professions | |
| Age Range | |
| Household Income | |
| Social Media Reach |
Frequently Asked Questions About The Violin Geek Podcast
What is The Violin Geek Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A resourceful platform for string musicians, focusing on violin, viola, cello, and beyond. Listeners gain insights from a combination of expert interviews, practical tips, and personal experiences shared by an experienced musician and teacher. This podcast emphasizes a blend of technical skill development, artistic expression, and the business aspect of a music career, catering to both beginners and seasoned players alike. Unique in its approach, it also takes a community engagement perspective, encouraging musicians to think creatively about their careers and performance opportunities.
Where can I find podcast stats for The Violin Geek Podcast?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Violin Geek Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Violin Geek Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does The Violin Geek Podcast get?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Violin Geek Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.
What are the audience demographics for The Violin Geek Podcast?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Violin Geek Podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.
How many subscribers and views does The Violin Geek Podcast have?
To see how many followers or subscribers The Violin Geek Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
How many episodes of The Violin Geek Podcast are there?
The Violin Geek Podcast launched 16 years ago and published 130 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact The Violin Geek Podcast?
Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.
Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Violin Geek Podcast?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Violin Geek Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Violin Geek Podcast?
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Violin Geek Podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.
What guests have appeared on The Violin Geek Podcast?
Recent guests on The Violin Geek Podcast include:
1. David Cutler
2. Meg Okura
3. Jennifer Roig-Francolí
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.