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 ...

Although we all have to start our intonation journey with figuring out how to play in tune up and down single strings, pretty quickly we encounter music which requires us to find our intonation in various zig-zag patterns across the strings. Arpeggios, ...

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 ...

In this fourth installment of the Violin Geek Podcast's Intonation Mastery series we explore common issues within our technique that may contribute to intonation issues, as well as some considerations within our approach to tonality, and tempered versus ...

Ten years since recording the first episodes in this series, violinist/violist, teacher, and host Laurel Thomsen revisits the topic with fresh tips to help you sound more in tune on your violin, viola, cello, or bass. In this episode we cover several ...

As the account goes, someone once asked child prodigy and virtuoso violinist Jascha Heifetz: “How are you able to play so well in tune?” To that, Heifetz replied something to the effect of: “I don’t. I adjust before anyone notices.” Although playing ...

Learn to adjust your fingerings to harmonize perfectly with open string drones, be they in fiddle tunes or presented as "easy" double stops in classical pieces. Sounds simple? Not so much! In this episode if the Violin Geek Podcast, find ...

Did you know that our violin family instruments are constantly giving us clues about how to be in perfect tune? We just have to learn to listen to the subtle, and sometimes not so subtle natural resonances. In this episode if the Violin Geek Podcast, ...

In these very first episodes of the Violin Geek Podcast you'll learn to train your ears for excellent intonation on your violin or viola. String teacher Laurel Thomsen helps you tune the nine basic finger patterns found in all our major and minor scales ...

Not all listening is conscious, or honest! And sometimes we imagine that we sound worse or better then we do. In this episode of the Violin Geek Podcast learn how developing a solid connection between what we think we sound like and what we actually ...