The Lonely Cello Podcast

Today, I'm answering two questions I saw sparking discussion on another forum. The first one deals with the prospects a serious adult learner realistically has when they want to become a professional musician. Second, I talk about bow hold devices. While I think they have some limited utility, I'll describe why they tend to hurt more than help.

The last segment, which is available on YouTube (https://youtu.be/Aou1gyNG-C0) features a few demonstrations for assessing and revamping your bow hold. If you're coming from the podcast looking for the exercises, they start around the 23 minute mark.

Visit www.emilywright.net

Support the podcast on SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/lonelycello

Browse nerdy merch on TeePublic: https://www.teepublic.com/user/stark-raving-cello

I love getting texts and voicemails! 001 323 657 9444

A listener sent me a simple question. Because it's the cello, there is a simple response...that still took about 20 minutes to answer! Thank you to Aran in Dublin, Ireland for sending this in. You can ask questions for next time in the comments or by sending an email to contact at emily wright dot net.

Visit www.emilywright.net

Support the podcast on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/lonelycello

Browse nerdy merch on TeePublic: https://www.teepublic.com/user/stark-raving-cello

Join me for a conversation with the multi-talented Katie Berglof. Katie is a French horn player, educator, arts administrator, HR professional, and an activist/advocate—and she's just getting started. In today's episode, we talk about musical origin stories, how much a support system matters, classical culture, and small but meaningful ways to have an impact on the musical world we love.

nb: I had audio issues during the recording of this interview, so you may notice that my voice is occasionally distorted.

Links:

Musicians Dystonia and Injury Live Talk: https://www.youtube.com/@EmbouchureDystonia

Harpsichords & Hot Sauce: https://www.harpsichord-hotsauce.com/

Substack: https://substack.com/@harpsichordshotsauce

Unbound Symphony: https://www.unboundsymphony.org/

Unbound Symphony Musician Safety & Culture survey: https://www.unboundsymphony.org/survey

Courage Over Silence Defense Fund: https://gofund.me/543d58a8

Violin Channel feature: https://theviolinchannel.com/katie-a-berglof-launches-musicians-defense-fund-for-victims-of-sexual-harassment/

Support me for free by subscribing to my YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@EmilyWrightCello

You can also support this podcast directly by visiting soundcloud.com/lonelycello and leaving a tip there.

Sign up for lessons, ask questions, or subscribe to my newsletter by sending a text to 323 657 9444 or an email to contact at emilywright dot net with a short message and your email address.

It's not uncommon to feel like you're drinking from a firehose during lessons: so much information is on offer and it's overwhelming. No instructor expects you to return each week with 100% of the concepts mastered. One of my formative teachers said the number is about 15% for solid growth, and I tend to agree with him. These ideas should help you focus on the right things to make the most of your lessons.

This is the audio from a recent video uploaded to YouTube. If you'd prefer to watch and/or read captions, the url is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T-YSusFhbQ&t=22s

More at www.emilywright.net

Bluesky: emilycello

Insta: EmilyWrightCello

Today, I'll be talking about Lara St. John's new documentary, Dear Lara. Content warning: non-graphic discussion of sexual assault.

Would you rather read this? Go here: https://emilywright.net/teaching-and-learning/dear-lara/

Rather watch it on YouTube? Enable captions! Here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EPTQy3M9K8

Lara's website: https://www.larastjohn.com/

Dear Lara website: https://www.dearlara.film/

Katherine Needleman's Queen of Filth Digests: https://katherineneedleman.com/queen-of-filth-digests

Child USA website: https://childusa.org/

The Representation Project website: https://therepproject.org/endrape/sound-off-make-the-music-industry-safe/

Chapter 2 of David Epstein's Range has A LOT going on. This episode talks about the ways we try to understand intelligence, in particular how we test for it. This one goes a little off the rails in a predictable way, so stay tuned if you want to hear about Kyrgyz wool sorting, panic attacks at CSUN, child labor, manual transmissions, and the mean voice in your head actually trying to help.

This is a readout and tiny discussion of the post from 7 May 2025. These episodes are meant to be put out quickly, and as such, are not edited. Pauses and "ummms" are left in. If you would prefer to watch this content, head over to my YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/@EmilyWrightCello. And of course, the original post is on https://emilywright.net.

Links to the texts mentioned:

Range: https://bookshop.org/p/books/range-why-generalists-triumph-in-a-specialized-world-david-epstein/966e9c6e1ddd6889?ean=9780735214507&next=t

Subtract: https://bookshop.org/p/books/subtract-the-untapped-science-of-less-leidy-klotz/9c4c68dc99266537?ean=9781250249876&next=t

How We Are: https://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/books/how-we-are?srsltid=AfmBOooAE6-5qRZ90L-EViDNzt8U_paF25sbwFyXHQt0tPE3FqIE10Fu

Mindset: https://bookshop.org/p/books/mindset-the-new-psychology-of-success-carol-s-dweck/aaaba3bad0daa3a3?ean=9780345472328&next=t

This is a readout and discussion of the post from 1 January 2026. These episodes are meant to be put out quickly, and as such, are not edited. As such, pauses and "ummm"s are left in. If you would prefer to watch this content, head over to my YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@EmilyWrightCello. And of course, the original post is at https://emilywright.net/.

Rachel Gawell Burns dropped by to chat about her extraordinary life in music. She is a working musician based in New York City, doubling on cello and guitar on the Broadway circuit and beyond. She also happens to be a phenomenal teacher, and I could listen to her play (and talk about playing) all day. She is an absolute elite tier human being, and it's a pleasure to introduce her the LC crew.

Rachel's website: https://www.rachelgawellburns.com/bio

Baba Sonya on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/baba-sonya/988480312

Lonely cello now has a voicemail inbox! 323 657 9444. It also accepts texts woo hoo!

http://www.emilywright.net

June 29 at 5pm Eastern, I'm giving a class detailing how to break down a brand new piece. Details here: https://emilywright.net/teaching-and-learning/summer-school-part-1/

The first ever panel discussion on Lonely Cello! Miranda Wilson, Benjamin Whitcomb, and Sam Bergman join me to talk about the way time and texture come together to create musical impact.

Rachel Gawell Burns was going to come on, but the brief for this episode was too unhinged. But, as promised, she will be on next time!

Sam: https://applehill.org/team/sam-bergman-violist/

Miranda: https://mirandawilsoncellist.com/

Benjamin: https://www.benjaminwhitcomb.com/

Questions? Requests? Curious about lessons? I'd love to hear from you at contact at emily wright dot net, or send a voicemail/text to 323 657 9444. For more, go to http://emilywright.net.

Like this show? Support me on Venmo: @EmilyCello