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 considered some of these questions, or you're a student, a teacher, or someone hoping to keep your playing chops in top condition, this episode is for you! Host Laurel Thomsen answers common questions and gives her recommendations for études to check out for beginners, intermediates, and more advanced players.

Show Notes:

Études for beginners:

Sevcik op 1 (first 10)

Fiddle Magic by Sally O'Reilly

Cassia Harvey Open String Bow Workouts (among others), see https://charveypublications.com/

Dancla op 84

Laoureux - a practical method for violin part 1

Études for advancing beginners/intermediates:

Wohlfahrt op 45

Sitt op 32 books 1 & 2

Kayser op 20

Études for intermediates:

Mazas op 36 - 3 progressive volumes

Dont op 37 - preparatory to Kreutzer and Rode

Laoureux - a practical method for violin part 2 supplement

Cohen - Technique Takes Off (and other volumes)

Amy Barlow - 12 Etude Caprices in the Styles of the Great Composers

Études for advancing players:

Kreutzer op 42

Fiorillo 36 Études

Rode 24 Caprices

Études for advanced players:

Gavinies 24 Caprices

Dont op 35

Weiniaski l’ecole moderne

Paganini 24 caprices

Double Stop Études:

Trott Melodious Double Stops books 1 & 2 (intermediate)

Polo 30 double stop etudes (intermediate)

Schradieck School of Violin Technics book 2 (intermediate to advanced)

Études written just for Viola:

Palaschko op 55 - 12 studies for viola (intermediate level)

Lillian Fuchs - 15 Characteristic Studies and 16 Fantasy Etudes (intermediate to advanced)

Compilations:

Harvey Whistler - shifting (2 volumes) and double stop compilations (intermediate)

Shifting:

Harvey Whistler - shifting (2 volumes) and double stop compilations (intermediate)

Schradieck School of Violin Technics book 1 (beginning to advanced)

Modern Technique:

Dawson - 24 Etudes for the Modern Violinist (or violist), see https://www.sleepypuppypress.com

Bowing:

Sevcik op 2 (beginning to intermediate)

Schradieck School of Violin Technics book 3 (intermediate to advanced)

~~

Host Laurel Thomsen's info and links:

For more information and info about my performances, recordings, and teaching, please visit my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To check out my Violin Geek Blog, the 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 me to interview, or have a story or insight to share, please send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠laurel@laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Also, please reach out if you’d like to inquire about online violin, viola, or fiddle lessons with me 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!

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 for how to troubleshoot any speed issue. Buckle up and get ready to take your playing to warp speed.

Show Notes:

Intro/outro music "Sure Fire Way of Taking":

On Bandcamp https://danandlaurel.bandcamp.com/track/sure-fire-way-of-taking

On Apple Music ⁠⁠https://music.apple.com/gb/album/sure-fire-way-of-taking/1626585646?i=1626585652

On Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/4G1XiQgCBbYQFa1qQ4SAMH?si=f154d6f32198475c

Breaking the Speed Barrier - Violin Geek blog post https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog/?id=breaking-the-speed-barrier-tips-for-musicians

Learn to Love Your Metronome - Violin Geek Podcast episode https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog/?id=learn-to-love-your-metronome

Audiation - Violin Geek blog post https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog/?id=simple-4-step-audiation-procedure-to-clean-up-intonation

Intonation Mastery #4 - Violin Geek Podcast episode https://www.laurelthomsen.com/violin-geek-blog/?id=intonation-mastery-4-issues-within-our-technique-and-approach

Laurel's new music video "Crow Flies High" https://youtu.be/nqTtIGcsOus?si=E6FekRY7VUJKnfc8

~~

Host Laurel Thomsen's info and links:

For more information and info about my performances, recordings, and teaching, please visit my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To check out my Violin Geek Blog, the 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 me to interview, or have a story or insight to share, please send me an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠laurel@laurelthomsen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Also, please reach out if you’d like to inquire about online violin, viola, or fiddle lessons with me 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!