The Violin Geek Podcast

Note: this is a hands-on video episode. If your podcast app does not support video podcasts, while it may be possible to follow along with only the audio, please find the video here https://youtu.be/YGOs71Lu6RM 

In this supplemental video series of the Violin Geek Podcast, violinist/violist and educator Laurel Thomsen shares a variety of simple warmups, mobility exercises, and massage techniques to help musicians and non-musicians avoid tension related to playing or daily life habits, and possibly reduce or even overcome pain when it does set in.

Certified as a massage therapist, yoga teacher, level 3 Acutonics practitioner, and a Clinical Hypnotherapist, and with experience working  with a variety of additional mind-body healing modalities, including  acupressure and Trigger Point Therapy, Foundation Training, the Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais, Yoga Nidra and various meditation styles, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, EDGU, and Qi-Gong, Laurel's goal  through this series is to distill some of the techniques she's found most valuable in helping herself, her private music students, and her clients.

This video is not intended to diagnose or treat any health concern, but  to simply offer ideas for self-care. Please consult your doctor about injuries or chronic pain, and before exploring any new exercise. And ALWAYS listen to your body and its needs.

1:18 Knocking on the Door of Life - Qi Gong Warmup

3:24 Waving the Spine Side to Side - Qi Gong Warmup

5:44 The Fountain - Qi Gong Warmup

7:58 Spinal Cord Breathing - Qi Gong Warmup

9:00 Quadratus Lumborum Release - Trigger Point Massage

15:30 Glute/Hips Massage - Trigger Point & General Massage

20:09 The Founder - Yoga/Foundation Exercise 

22:52 Good Mornings - Foundation Training

If your podcast feed does not support video podcasts, or if you'd like to bookmark this episode for future watching, it's also available here https://youtu.be/YGOs71Lu6RM  Please consider sharing it with friends and family members who you think might benefit, and subscribing on YouTube to avoid missing the upcoming videos in the series.

Listen to and download the complete version of Laurel's song "Asilomar" https://laurelthomsen.bandcamp.com/track/asilomar

For more tips, inspiration, insight please check out Laurel's Violin Geek Blog: Blog https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog/ 

To learn more about Laurel, ask a question or suggest a topic for her to  cover, or to get in touch about private lessons (violin, viola, fiddle,  cello) or help overcoming general or playing-related pain and tension, visit https://www.laurelthomsen.com

For further resources and information about many of the practices and techniques mentioned, enjoy Laurel's post "Cross-training for Musicians" https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog/?id=cross-training-for-musicians

Note: this is a hands-on video episode. If your podcast app does not support video podcasts, while it may be possible to follow along with only the audio, please find the video here https://youtu.be/RWbF3jrwwdY           

In this supplemental video series of the Violin Geek Podcast, violinist/violist and educator Laurel Thomsen shares a variety of simple warmups, mobility exercises, and massage techniques to help musicians and non-musicians avoid tension related to playing or daily life habits, and possibly reduce or even overcome pain when it does set in.

Certified as a massage therapist, yoga teacher, level 3 Acutonics practitioner, and a Clinical Hypnotherapist, and with experience working  with a variety of additional mind-body healing modalities, including  acupressure and Trigger Point Therapy, Foundation Training, the Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais, Yoga Nidra and various meditation styles, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, EDGU, and Qi-Gong, Laurel's goal  through this series is to distill some of the techniques she's found most valuable in helping herself, her private music students, and her clients.

This video is not intended to diagnose or treat any health concern, but  to simply offer ideas for self-care. Please consult your doctor about injuries or chronic pain, and before exploring any new exercise. And ALWAYS listen to your body and its needs.

0:51 Shoulder Rolls - Warmup 

3:10 Trapezuis Release - Active Stretch and Trigger Point Massage 

11:07 Head/Neck Plank - Cervical Spine Reset 

15:06 Sternoceidomastoid Release - Trigger Point Massage 

17:58 Upper Back/Shoulder Squeezes - Muscle Activation Exercise 

21:00 Pinkie Knuckle Knocking - Acupressure Massage 

22:47 Full Body Shaking - Warmup/Cooldown

If your podcast feed does not support video podcasts, or if you'd like to bookmark this episode for future watching, it's also available here https://youtu.be/RWbF3jrwwdY  Please consider sharing it with friends and family members who you think might benefit, and subscribing on YouTube to avoid missing the upcoming videos in the series.

Listen to and download the complete version of Laurel's song "Asilomar" https://laurelthomsen.bandcamp.com/track/asilomar

For more tips, inspiration, insight please check out Laurel's Violin Geek Blog: Blog https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog/ 

To learn more about Laurel, ask a question or suggest a topic for her to  cover, or to get in touch about private lessons (violin, viola, fiddle,  cello) or help overcoming general or playing-related pain and tension, visit https://www.laurelthomsen.com

For further resources and information about many of the practices and techniques mentioned, enjoy Laurel's post "Cross-training for Musicians" https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog/?id=cross-training-for-musicians

People are starting to hit the road again, but what does this mean for our instruments? In this episode, violinist/violist and educator Laurel Thomsen shares tips for safely getting your instrument from point A to point B, whether by car or plane. Having averaged 150 tour dates per year pre-pandemic, Laurel also shares stories about her experiences traveling with her violin (and the what-not-to-dos she had to learn on the job). We hope you enjoy this episode, and come away feeling more confident, armed with the knowledge and tools you need to avoid any travel disasters with your precious instrument!

Links mentioned in the show:

Boveda Musical Instrument Humidity Control Packs

USA Domestic Flight Information Document - CARRIAGE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

United Breaks Guitars Video 

Rachel Barton Pine - Flight Drama 

Laurel's Violin Case with backpack straps and steel reinforcement (this is a newer version, but it's essentially the same)

MusicPro Insurance 

Today's music was an original Dan Frechette & Laurel Thomsen song called "Glory in My Soul" from our 2016 album "Between the Rain." Check out the music video for the song, featuring clips around the CA Central Coast and from our travels here. To listen and/or download the track visit us on BandCamp here.

~

For more about host Laurel Thomsen, including her performance, lessons and courses, and recordings, please visit https://www.laurelthomsen.com

To check out Laurel's companion labor-of-love, the Violin Geek Blog, 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, have someone you'd like Laurel to interview, have a story or insight to share, or would like to inquire about concert booking or violin, viola, or fiddle lessons with Laurel via Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom, please send Laurel an email at [email protected]. 

Happy Practicing!

Note: this is a hands-on video episode. If your podcast app does not support video podcasts, while it may be possible to follow along with only the audio, please find the video here https://youtu.be/YSXoh_Fn09E

In this supplemental video series of the Violin Geek Podcast, violinist/violist and educator Laurel Thomsen shares a variety of simple warmups, mobility exercises, and massage techniques to help musicians and non-musicians avoid tension related to playing or daily life habits, and possibly reduce or even overcome pain when it does set in.   

Certified as a massage therapist, yoga teacher, level 3 Acutonics practitioner, and a Clinical Hypnotherapist, and with experience working  with a variety of additional mind-body healing modalities, including  acupressure and Trigger Point Therapy, Foundation Training, the Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais, Yoga Nidra and various meditation styles, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, EDGU, and Qi-Gong, Laurel's goal  through this series is to distill some of the techniques she's found most valuable in helping herself, her private music students, and her clients.   

This video is not intended to diagnose or treat any health concern, but  to simply offer ideas for self-care. Please consult your doctor about  injuries or chronic pain, and before exploring any new exercise. And ALWAYS listen to your body and its needs.  

0:51 Arm Drops - Warmup 

3:20 Arm Circles - Warmup 

7:57 Nerve Flossing - Stretch 

11:59 Wrist Stretches - Range of Motion Exercise 

16:20 Wrist Knocking - Acupressure 

19:02 Wrist Circles - Range of Motion Exercise 

21:08 Trigger Point Therapy - Massage 

27:30 Wrist Shaking - Warmup/Cooldown 

28:55 Effleurage - Light Lymphatic Massage  

If your podcast feed does not support video podcasts, or if you'd like to bookmark this episode for future watching, it's also available here https://youtu.be/YSXoh_Fn09E Please consider sharing it with friends and family members who you think might benefit, and subscribing on YouTube to avoid missing the upcoming videos in the series.

Listen to and download the complete version of Laurel's song "Asilomar" https://laurelthomsen.bandcamp.com/track/asilomar

For more tips, inspiration, insight please check out Laurel's Violin Geek Blog: Blog https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog/ 

To learn more about Laurel, ask a question or suggest a topic for her to  cover, or to get in touch about private lessons (violin, viola, fiddle,  cello) or help overcoming general or playing-related pain and tension, visit https://www.laurelthomsen.com  

Link to the Trigger Point Therapy Workbook mentioned https://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment/dp/1572243759  

For further resources and information about many of the practices and techniques mentioned, enjoy Laurel's post "Cross-training for Musicians" https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog/?id=cross-training-for-musicians

Pain and injury related to playing a musical instrument like the violin, viola, or cello, or general pain and tension that makes practicing and performing difficult, can be common. In this episode of the Violin Geek Podcast, violinist/violist and educator Laurel Thomsen shares insight into the cause of pain and tension, and hope that it doesn't have to mean an end to our playing. But where does one start the process of finding the cause, unraveling the old habits, and getting back to a feeling of ease and joy? Tune in to find out and be sure to check out the companion video episode where Laurel demonstrates a variety of warmups, exercises, and therapies designed to target pain and tension in the arms and hands which she and her students have found helpful. Over the next few months, watch for videos focusing also on the neck, shoulders, and upper back, as well as the low back, hips, and spine. Enjoy!

Show notes:

Read this episode in Laurel's Violin Geek Blog https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog/

Listen to and download Laurel's song "Asilomar" https://laurelthomsen.bandcamp.com/track/asilomar

Information about Neurogenesis https://bebrainfit.com/brain-cells-regenerate/

Information about Feldenkrais https://feldenkrais.com/

Wiki about Ed Simmons https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Simons_(conductor)

Video of Issac Stern performing shortly before his passing at 81 https://www.youtube.com/embed/xZgGli6gDHE

TED Talk with Tao-Porchon Lynch, the world's oldest yoga teacher, at 95 https://www.youtube.com/embed/oTmaTD5H0iM

List of musicians who died while performing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Musicians_who_died_on_stage

List of conductors who died on stage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Conductors_(music)_who_died_while_conducting

Theory about the natural lifespan of humans https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/humans-could-live-up-to-150-years-new-research-suggests/

The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook https://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment/dp/1572243759

Information about enzymes in the body https://youtu.be/dgJGmCmh9uI

Information about the benefits of making mistakes https://www.youcubed.org/evidence/mistakes-grow-brain/

Laurel's Improve Your Bowing Technique multi-media course https://www.laurelthomsen.com/online-courses/

Information about the benefits of smiling https://www.theguardian.com/society/2008/jul/27/mentalhealth.drugs

~

Visit Laurel's website to learn more about her performances, recordings, online courses, and private teaching https://www.laurelthomsen.com

Listen to and/or download Laurel's new album "After The Fire" https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/danfrechetteandlaurelthomsen/after-the-fire

Order physical signed copies or exclusive downloads of the new album "After the Fire"

Today we speak with Maya Lorenzen, an Israeli/German violinist who has wrestled internal and external conflict to chart a career path and rediscover her passion for making beautiful, heartfelt music. She’s now helping her students do the same. Maya's new solo album, "Back to Bach," while born out of the loneliness of the pandemic, finds fresh connection to self and soul, with Bach's 2nd Partita married with two modern works by female composers, also inspired by Bach. We learn more about Maya's inspiration for the album, enjoy a few clips, discuss her approach to practicing double stops, her research into the history of violin fingerings, and she shares tips for how to manage practice time and overcome setbacks. We also hear about her experience traveling and performing with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and how they are helping middle eastern countries and artists become "equal in music." Enjoy!

Learn more about Maya Lorenzen https://www.mayalorenzen.com

Listen to, download, or purchase a copy of "Back to Bach”: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/3mGuxqECU3vkyJ72fXB6jN?si=Z6XAAnInTpykccvIc6KcLQ Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/album/back-to-bach/1610877338

Keep up with Maya on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayalorenzenviolinist

Book a 30 minute Discovery Call with Maya: https://calendly.com/mayalorenzen/30-minute-call

Other people and organizations mentioned during the episode:

Sheet music for Missy Mazzoli’s “Dissolve, O My Heart”: https://missymazzoli.com/works/dissolve-o-my-heart

Sheet music for Jesse Montgomery’s "Rhapsody No. 1": https://www.jessiemontgomery.com/work/rhapsody-no-1-violin

West-Eastern Divan Orchestra: https://west-eastern-divan.org

~

For more information and info about her performances, recordings, and teaching, please visit host Laurel Thomsen's website https://www.laurelthomsen.com

To check out Laurel's Violin Geek Blog, a 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 Laurel to interview, or have a  story or insight to share, please send Laurel an email at [email protected]. Also, please reach out if you’d like to inquire about violin, viola, or  fiddle coaching or lessons with Laurel 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 of the Violin Geek Podcast, Laurel Thomsen chats with Dr. Cora Cooper, professor of violin, viola, chamber music, and string pedogogy at Kansas State University, and the editor of "Violin Music By Women" and "Viola Music By Women," graded anthologies of almost entirely unknown, but wonderfully inventive and enjoyable pieces by women composers. We discuss Dr. Cooper's inspiration for the project and she shares some delightful stories about her search for material and the process of compiling the volumes. We gain tips for presenting and integrating new music into the teaching studio, and insight into her approach towards helping students identify technical challenges and practice more effectively when there's less time.

Links:

Violin Music By Women website and blog, including sound files for the volumes: https://www.violinmusicbywomen.com

Purchase the anthologies plus much more at Sleepy Puppy Press: https://www.sleepypuppypress.com

Tips for integrating the first book of the violin anthology into a Suzuki method approach: https://www.violinmusicbywomen.com/blog/guest-blog-by-claire-allen-integrating-repertoire-from-violin-music-by-women-with-suzuki-books-1-2-part-1-of-3

Mary Cohen's "Violin Technique in Practice" book: https://www.fabermusic.com/news/mastering-violin-technique-with-mary-cohen05062020-1

~

For more about host Laurel Thomsen, including her performance, teaching, and recordings, please visit https://www.laurelthomsen.com

To check out Laurel's companion labor-of-love, the Violin Geek Blog, 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 Laurel to interview, or have a story or insight to share, please send Laurel an email at [email protected]. You're also welcome to post your success story, comments, or suggestions to https://www.facebook.com/laurelthomsenmusic. Also, please reach out via email if you’d like to inquire about violin, viola, or fiddle coaching or lessons with Laurel via Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom. 

Happy Practicing!

In this episode we hear from Maura Shawn Scanlin, a Boston, MA based Classical violinist and fiddler who is bridging musical worlds with incredible poise and grace. Her new album, "Counting Down the Hours," with her duo "Rakish" is a joyful exploration of Celtic, Classical, and Americana sounds. We learn more about its inception and inspiration, and enjoy a couple choice tracks from the album. We also discuss Maura's approach to performing and arranging in different genres of music, how the practice discipline of her Classical training has also helped her learn fiddle tunes, and she shares tips for how we can learn to fiddle with more stylistic accuracy. Enjoy!

Learn more about Maura Shawn Scanlin https://www.maurashawnscanlin.com

Listen to, download, or purchase a copy of "Counting Down the Hours" https://rakishmusic.bandcamp.com/album/counting-down-the-hours

Learn more about Maura's Duo "Rakish" https://www.rakishmusic.com

Learn more about Maura's String Quartet "Rasa" https://rasastringquartet.com

Other people and resources mentioned during the episode:

Other musicians featured on "Counting Down the Hours": Conor Hearn (Guitars, Bouzouki, Vocals), Seamus Egan (Tenor Banjo, Mandolin, Percussion), Dan Klingsberg (Bass).

Website for exploring Irish fiddle tunes: https://thesession.org/

Gavinies Etudes https://imslp.org/wiki/24_Matin%C3%A9es_(Gavini%C3%A8s,_Pierre)

Martin Hayes http://www.martinhayes.com

Liz Carroll https://www.lizcarroll.com

~

For more information and info about her performances, recordings, and teaching, please visit host Laurel Thomsen's website https://www.laurelthomsen.com

To check out Laurel's Violin Geek Blog, a 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 Laurel to interview, or have a story or insight to share, please send Laurel an email at [email protected]. Also, please reach out if you’d like to inquire about violin, viola, or fiddle coaching or lessons with Laurel 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!

If the metronome inspires fear, dread, or frustration in you, if you're not sure how to even use it, or if you find practicing with it is getting a bit stale, this episode is for you! Join string player and educator Laurel Thomsen as she explores the goals of metronome practice, explains the steps we need to take as we build up our metronome practice, and shares tips for becoming more confident and creative in your practice with it. 

Show Notes:

Metronome mentioned - Matrix (my MR-700 is no longer available, but this MR-800 seems quite similar): https://amzn.to/3sTODNw

Apps mentioned - Warchal Metronome: https://www.warchal.com/metronome.html Time Guru: https://avibortnick.com/time-guru/ Dr Betotte: http://www.ssworkssoftware.com/drbetottetc/drbetottetc.html

Listen to and/or download "Sure Fire Way of Taking" https://officialramblingdanfrechette.bandcamp.com/album/new-disguise-2015

Laurel's Violin Geek Blog https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog/

Visit Laurel's website to learn more about her performances, recordings, online courses, and private teaching https://www.laurelthomsen.com

Listen to and/or download Laurel's new album "After The Fire" https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/danfrechetteandlaurelthomsen/after-the-fire

Order physical signed copies or exclusive downloads of the new album "After the Fire" https://www.danandlaurel.ca/Shop/

Please email Laurel at [email protected] if you have a violin, viola, fiddle, music biz, theory, technique, or practice related question you'd like answered on a podcast or in her Violin Geek blog, have a topic you'd like her to cover or someone you'd like her to interview, or have a story or insight to share. Also, get in touch if you’d like to inquire about violin, viola, or fiddle lessons with Laurel via Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom. You're also welcome to post your success story, comments, or suggestions to www.facebook.com/laurelthomsenmusic.

Happy Practicing!

In this episode we are celebrating today's release of Laurel Thomsen's fifth album with her partner, Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dan Frechette, and travel behind the scenes into the making of one of the songs Laurel wrote for the album, "Money Shouldn't Talk That Strong." We learn about the song's origin and lyrics, the duo's recording process, particularly Dan's approach to layering guitar, bass, and drums, and Laurel's approach to composing and recording violin, viola, and cello, as well as the making of the song's music video which is also being released today. We listen to the song, as well as samples of rough tracks the duo made along the way. Enjoy!

Listen to and/or download the album "After The Fire" https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/danfrechetteandlaurelthomsen/after-the-fire

Watch the "Money Shouldn't Talk That Strong" music video https://youtu.be/Im_ZjbZ0zPc

Order physical signed copies or exclusive downloads of the album "After the Fire" https://www.danandlaurel.ca/Shop/

For more about Dan Frechette, including his 100+ albums of original songwriting, please visit https://www.danfrechette.com

Visit Laurel Thomsen's website, with info about her performances, recordings, and teaching can be found at https://www.laurelthomsen.com

Please send Laurel an email at [email protected] if you have a violin, viola, fiddle, music biz, or practice related  question you’d like answered in her Violin Geek blog or on a podcast,  have a topic you'd like her to cover or someone you'd like her to  interview, or have a story or insight to share. Also, get in touch if   you’d like to inquire about violin, viola, or fiddle coaching or  lessons with Laurel via Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom. You're also welcome to  post  your success story, comments, or suggestions to www.facebook.com/laurelthomsenmusic.

Happy Practicing!