Classically trained international touring violinist/violist Laurel Thomsen enjoys performing, composing, improvising, and studio recording across a variety of genres and with ensembles ranging from symphonies to bands and singer-songwriters. Based on the California Central Coast, Laurel is frequently sought for her ability to add depth and emotion to all types of music and her knack for creating infectious melodies. Laurel has enjoyed a thriving private lessons studio since 1996, and since 2009, has taught ambitious students on every continent except Antarctica online via Skype, FaceTime, and Zoom. Laurel is the creator of the Violin Geek Podcast, a regular contributor of string technique articles for Strings magazine, and the author of three online courses covering popular string playing techniques: Improve Your Bowing Technique, Improve Your Violin and Viola Technique, and the world’s first comprehensive online vibrato course, Complete Vibrato Mastery.
Thank you for this video! I use the SAS but notice that I wish that the chin rest was tilted more towards my body instead of towards the body of the violin. Any chin rests you would recommend for that situation?
They aren't cheap, but you might consider a Kreddle chinrest. They have a chin plate that seems really similar to the SAS, but are adjustable in all directions, including the tilt towards the player vs the violin. Let me know how it goes!
I'm not sure if you've been asked a thousand times, but how is your violin has a matte finish? Did it came that way or did you have it re-finished from gloss to matte? Also, who is the maker? It looks wonderful :)
Thank you, yes, the varnish has just aged that way, and it's not so apparent in the video, but it's also crackled. It's a John Harrison from the 80s and when I finally met him a few years ago he said he was experimenting with varnishes back then and a lot of the instruments from that time have had a similar result over time. Unusual for sure, but while he was already someone who had won awards for tone etc., if anything I think the tone is even better, more open maybe?
This is a LIFESAVER - Thank you! I'm not able to go to a doctor at this time, but I've been having some pains in my arm which I suspect are related to my playing. I'm largely self-taught, meaning I got to choose my own path, but that was at the expense of teachers teaching me exercises like this. REALLY appreciate this video, hope you have a wonderful day. :)
We were just thinking about you guys! Someone in your audience was nice enough to buy us an amp cover and have it surprise shipped to our house. We were appreciating it recently, and remembering the nice time we had playing your place!
Dan and Laurel always make very good music together. This collaboration with trade mark guitar and Dan's vocals combined with the empathy emotion violin is a perfect example of their music. Little Bird, Glory in My Soul, and many other of their songs fore shadow the loss of a Beauty Queen we all wished to have courted. Country Folk - pun intended.
I have been struggling with the finesse of string crossing. Your demo of the vertical motion takes the clunkiness out which i have been guilty of. Your remedy is most welcome. Youre a great teacher and your content provides closure
Glad you got some questions answered. Yes, I find there is a lot of emphasis on the bowing wrist out there, but I find it's really the fingers that need to get moving (either passively or actively depending on the situation). Tense fingers and knuckles create stiff wrists. Wrist's are rarely the issue.
Without a shoulder rest, there is basically another violin worth of a gap between the instrument and my chin... That may explain the discomfort, I suppose 😂
@@laurelthomsen yes I have pirastro luna $250. I just now went back to my old one that looks a lot like the Hamburg . All of this might be a result of me squeezing everything I don't relax my shoulder. I don't relax my chin I squeeze my thumb !!! I just brought my shoulder rest down because the chin rest I just put on is a bit higher. I'm so desperately trying to relax my shoulder and my chin and stop squeezing my thumb. I'm at the point where if I do not do this I will be stuck at this level forever.
@@DivaDeb1234 Yeah, the luna only goes so low... Craning your head up and over isn't good, and especially if the back of the violin is hovering above your collarbone I'd definitely see about adjusting it lower or switch to a lower profile shoulder rest. And left hand gripping often has at least a bit of a psychological component - we're nervous about playing perfectly and need to address that maybe, but regardless, it sounds like there are some setup factors to work through.
I think I have a small chin and very little space between my neck and my chin. I've tried so many oh my gosh. What would you recommend for somebody like me 😢
Have you ever tried a Brandt chinrest? From a couple of your videos it seems like you have a defined chin, and the Brandt has some prominent sloping yet doesn't add as much height as a Hamburg or Teka would. I'd probably start there. They're not as easy to come by, but through a quick search it seems like there are a few options out there for sourcing one. Let me know how it goes!
For viola, the Wave 1 chin rest and the EFEL shoulder rest. The legs on the EFEL can be manhandled (takes strength) so that the viola sits up on my shoulder, the height and tilt can be adjusted and the hook contour. The Wave chin rest lets me look forward while I play. A secure, relaxing setup for viola. (At long last!)
Thanks for sharing your setup! I hadn't heard of the EFEL before. It does look really bendable. It's so nice that more manufacturers are recognizing how important personalization is with these rests.
I recently changed to the Wittner Augsburg adjustable height chin rest plus Everest shoulder rest with one long leg on my shoulder side. This looks weird but feels good! Definitely better than last combo. Keep trying! Shoulder rest could still improve. One day… Such an individual thing and hard to work out when you’re new to violin. Thanks for explaining 👍💕🎻.
Oh wow! It sounds like you really need some height for a longer neck! You might try a Kreddle chinrest? It's similar to the Wittner but can go a LOT higher, which might allow you to bring the shoulder rest foot down? It comes with two chinrest plates, one that's contoured more like the Wittner and another that's a bit flatter.
I use a Bon-Musica shoulder rest since it allows me to keep my neck in a natural posture rather than clamping. Also I use a Strad Pad on top of the chin rest which makes playing the violin comfortable. I recommend trying one…you can always take it off.
Banned from coming into Canada! That's funny. I was banned from coming to America. I showed up at the Warroad border crossing in my car. I had been through that border many times as a charter bus driver, but today I was dressed in blue jeans, and a leather jacket. I was a drug dealer, even though I don't smoke, and have never done drugs in my life. Who are you going to meet? They were quite intimidating! I told them I was just going to do some shopping. They demanded my keys, and tore through my car, and found nothing. They came back and asked who I was going to meet? I heard that question before! They demanded that I remove everything from my pockets and wallet. They found nothing again. Now they demanded that I stay right there and "Don't move!" Two of them tore through my car again, and again found nothing. Now they're mad! You're not entering America! I asked why? They replied that I had nothing to do in America. I checked later, and found that they can refuse you for any reason they like. They do not need a reason. Interesting...
These dangerous invisible drugs and violins! Yes, it happens when trying to go into both countries. After this happened to me, lawyers we talked to on both sides of the border said the situation is basically above the law, and like you mention, border guards can refuse your entry for any reason, including just feeling like it that day. It’s always very stressful. I’ve crossed into Canada 15 times or more since this happened and it’s always at least an hour of secondary questioning. It’s been a decade since this happened, so unfortunately at this point I expect to likely have to endure these interrogations with them every time I cross for the rest of my life. At least I’ve enjoyed seeing a perplexed look cross a few of the guards faces once I recount the story for them.
