The Lonely Cello Podcast

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Conversations about music, life, and learning with cellist Emily Wright and basically anyone she can rope into coming on.

Emily Wright


    • May 14, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 59m AVG DURATION
    • 27 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Lonely Cello Podcast

    Episode 25: Ben, Sam, and Miranda on the making of music

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 78:13


    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

    Episode 24: Miranda Wilson on repertoire, performance anxiety, and AI

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2025 66:00


    New Zealand American cellist and professor of cello at the University of Idaho (making her my favorite Vandal) chats with Emily about, well, lots of stuff. This is a pretty special episode, as I've been a fan of Miranda's work forever, and we have both written for Strings for a long time. I had to have her on because her new book, Notes for Cellists is an absolute banger. Like most of the better episodes, this one is all over the place! Buckle up and enjoy. :) Miranda's website: https://mirandawilsoncellist.com/ Miranda's faculty profile: https://www.uidaho.edu/class/music/our-people/faculty/miranda-wilson eBook of her Davidoff translation: https://uidaho.pressbooks.pub/violoncellschule/ OUP website for her latest text, Notes for Cellists: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/notes-for-cellists-9780197623749?lang=en&cc=us As always, you can visit emilywright.net to see what's going on there: an upcoming class entitled Using Time and Texture to Create Musical Ideas will be enrolling into the summer, as well as a level-based studio class. Send a text or give me a call on the Lonely Cello text/voicemail line: 323 657 9444 or email contact at emily wright dot net to ask questions or make a request for an episode topic!

    Episode 23: Erica Sipes on Practicing in the Face of Perfectionism and Other Symptoms of Being Human

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2024 68:09


    Music maven, practice scholar, and generally excellent person Erica Sipes joins me to continue chipping away at the edifice of performance anxiety. How can we have high standards and still be at peace with imperfections? Have a listen! Erica's website: https://www.ericaannsipes.com/ Her wonderful chamber group, The Alma Ensemble: https://almaensemble.org/ My website: https://emilywright.net NEW! Lonely Cello voicemail inbox: 323 657 9444 I'd love to hear from you with ideas for new episodes, questions you'd like answered, or just to say hi!

    Episode 22: Carly Jacques on Performance Anxiety, the Window of Tolerance, and EMDR

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2024 62:33


    We are BACK! This is Episode 1 of a new series talking about performance psychology, where it comes from, and new approaches to mitigate it. In this episode, I speak with Carly Jacques, LCSW about how clinicians see performance anxiety and how it relates to perfectionism. We also talk about EMDR therapy and how it may hold the key to staying physically and emotionally regulated in certain situations where we feel under or over-activated. I hope you enjoy it. Note: my good microphone is sending weird noise into the mix, so this and the following two episodes were recorded using the on-board Apple headphones' audio. Apologies if the difference makes it less enjoyable to listen to. Carly's website:http://www.crjacqueslcsw.com/ Learn more about the window of tolerance: https://www.nicabm.com/trauma-how-to-help-your-clients-understand-their-window-of-tolerance/ EMDR resources: https://www.emdria.org/ Could not find the source for the quote, but it's so nice to have it here in the show notes: "We cannot shame ourselves into change; we can only love ourselves into evolution." ❤️

    Episode 21: Nick Revel

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2024 53:00


    NYC based violist Nick Revel joins me to chat about structuring practice, new thinking in scale study, and all kinds of other nerdy shit. Some links: Nick's website: https://www.nickrevel.com/ Grammy-nominated PubliQuartet: https://www.publiquartet.com/ Quick link to Dragon Scales: https://www.nickrevel.com/dragonscales Nick's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revelnick/

    Episode 20: Cello Sherpa Joel Dallow!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2024 71:15


    Many of you will recognize the name of this installment's guest: Joel Dallow; cellist in the Atlanta Symphony and founder of the Cello Sherpa podcast. Here's his website! https://www.thecellosherpa.com/#/ Here's an example of the BEMER device he mentioned (not a promotion). https://bemergroup.com/en_US/human-line/home Atlanta Symphony Orchestra website: https://www.aso.org/

    Episode 19: Women Composers with Wendy Velasco

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2024 80:27


    Join Wendy and me for a chat about women composers. Wendy Velasco is an absolute BOSS in the Los Angeles string scene, and gave me real encouragement early on in my career. She is a treasure, and I have so much respect for everything she does in service of the music community. Wendy's database: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mQJEl1FRyiXGEk7b8sxZx-4ixsJtCNDtAz1B_KYS94s/edit#gid=391158875 The Boulanger Initiative: https://www.boulangerinitiative.org/ https://emilywright.net/new-podcast-women-composers-with-the-wonderful-wendy-velasco/ If you'd like to get in touch with her, contact me and I'll make an introduction!

    LC Mini Episode: Before Your Lesson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2024 3:23


    This is a short track designed to be listened to just before you attend your lesson. Over a background of muted ambient music, I offer a few mind decluttering statements to give you the space to learn openly, without anxiety or judgement. I hope you have a wonderful lesson. ❤️

    Episode 18: Performance Psychology with Noa Kageyama

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2023 55:52


    Noa Kageyama's (MM, PhD) blog Bulletproof Musician has been essential reading for a lot of us since it began. It was such a treat to sit down and chat with Noa about how he got started, studying with Shinichi Suzuki, challenging the Gladwellification of performance psychology data, and so much more. Find his blog here: https://bulletproofmusician.com/start-here/ You can enroll in courses (live cohorts and asynchronous learning) here: https://bulletproofmusician.com/courses/

    phd mm performance psychology noa kageyama shinichi suzuki bulletproof musician
    Episode 17: Ailbhe McDonagh and Katie Tertell

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2023 76:36


    Listen to this episode to hear Emily become an immediate and fervent fangirl of the two women behind PopperEtudes.com. Katie Tertell and Ailbhe McDonagh's insightful, fun, and helpful video tutorials for each of the 40 studies comprising Popper's High School are available now! Highly, highly recommended. Useful links: Popper Tutorials! http://PopperEtudes.com Katie's Website: http://KatieTertell.com Ailbhe's Website: http://AilbheMcDonagh.com Appalachian Chamber Music Festival: https://www.appalachianchamber.org/ Content warning: some light swearing and an unfortunate but impossible to edit out fart joke/reference.

    Episode 16: John Hanifin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2023 60:43


    John Hanifin is an old soul with a new album, called Clean House. Come eavesdrop on our conversation about formative experiences, cello philosophy, and general music nerdery. John's Website: http://johnhanifin.com Clean House on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/20hbg4XG3zdWlEf8Xx75vl Listen to Clean House and collabs on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/john-hanifin/1576046652 Today's episode is sponsored by The Cello Sherpa podcast. Seriously, one of the best podcasts out there. https://www.thecellosherpa.com/

    Episode 15: More Chats with Adult Learners: Karen Brasch

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 40:16


    This episode, I chat with pioneering Navy pilot and aspiring cellist Karen Brasch. Audio note: I am working on sound dampening in the new house! I understand that it sounds like a cave- thank you for your patience!

    Episode 14: Chatting with Adult Learners, part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 67:36


    I'm joined by two wonderful adult learners today to talk about life, learning, and their journeys with the cello. Today's episode is sponsored by Benjamin Whitcomb's new series of books exploring chords and their function for violin and cello. Check them out here! https://bookshop.org/contributors/benjamin-whitcomb Tamarack Arts summer programs here! http://tamarackarts.org/enroll

    Episode 13: Meet Lovely Cellist Ragnhild Eskeland Wesenberg

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2022 56:08


    Last week, I had the chance to talk to a wonderful emerging cellist in Sweden, Ragnhild Wesenberg. I feel like she's a bit of a hidden treasure: certainly not the most famous cellist on the internet, but one of the most thoughtful, original, and interesting. Listen to our conversation and when people mention her in a few years, you can say, “Oh yeah, I knew about her in 2022”. Ragnhild Eskeland Wesenberg resources! Website: https://www.ragnhildwesenberg.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063680665678 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celloragnhild/ Contact: ragnhild@wesenberg.org Schnittke Concerto No 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYO9nf8f-ns

    Episode 12: Shop talk with Eric Sheaffer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2022 56:08


    My friend and colleague Eric Sheaffer comes on to chat about his journey on the instrument and all things teaching, learning, and playing. Eric had an early start at music but got serious about the cello at what some would consider to be a "late" age. Now a thriving performer, he is proof yet again that there are lots of ways to make music the focus of your life. Link to the transposed Bach 4th Suite: https://yuriyleonovich.com/blogs/musings/posts/hommage-to-gaspar-cassado Tamarack Arts: http://www.tamarackarts.org

    Episode 11: Composing Curious with Thom Limbert

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2022 62:04


    Thom Limbert is a composer and professor at Sonoma State University in California, and today we're talking all about entry points to writing music. It's never too late or early in your musical journey to start gathering the tools you need to progress. Links: Anna Meredith on Ableton Live: https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/anna-meredith-shape-music/ Thom's faculty page on Sonoma State:https://music.sonoma.edu/faculty-staff/dr-thomas-limbert Paul Berliner: Mbira Platform: http://mbiraplatform.org/

    Episode 10: DAS UBER episode with Denis Jiron

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2022 113:24


    My old friend and CSUN compatriot Denis Jiron talks candidly about the ups and downs of being a professional musician. With humility, soul, and humor, he shares his story, from the highest highs (this man played regularly with the LA Phil) to some difficult lows (Bells palsy and unsupportive colleagues). We hope you enjoy this conversation and take away from all of this that nothing is final. Your victory or your defeat. The only thing that is certain is that life goes on, and that we must find a way to do so with as much joy as possible. So grateful for the time he took to offer his insight and experience. His website: https://www.denisjiron.com/ Tamarack Arts: https://www.tamarackarts.org/

    Episode 9: Trauma Informed Teaching with Emily Ann Peterson

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2022 67:51


    A conversation between two trauma survivors who decided to learn as much as possible about the way it changes us and the way we see the world. Best selling author Emily Ann Peterson's School of Bravery consultancy is devoted to freeing tender folks from the traps trauma sets and empowers them to take charge and thrive. I love this woman so much, and I'm thrilled she shared this time with my listeners. So so much good info here: https://www.schoolofbravery.com/resources Donate to Tamarack Arts here: https://www.tamarackarts.org/giving

    Episode 8: Shop Talk with Sandra Halleran

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2022 75:36


    Rochester, NY based cellist Sandra Halleran joins me to get into the weeds about teaching, learning, the music industry, and the books and podcasts she find interesting and helpful. She's also new faculty at Tamarack Arts! At the end, Benjamin Whitcomb plays a movement of Britten Suite for Cello No. 2 for unaccompanied cello from his new album. This one's for you, nerds! Links: Benjamin Whitcomb's new album: 20th Century Music for Cello is out now on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2Mqxrf0M2yeOaf1vxa2woG and will be available at his website shortly: https://www.benjaminwhitcomb.com/ Cello Sherpa Podcast: https://www.thecellosherpa.com/podcast.html Scaling the Tenor Clef Dragon: https://www.johnsonstring.com/cgi-bin/music/scripts/violin-viola-cello-music.cgi?itemno=CEVARISCALINGBOP Popper 15 Easy Studies: https://imslp.org/wiki/15_Leichte_Et%C3%BCden_in_der_ersten_Lage%2C_Op.76a_(Popper%2C_David)

    Episode 7: Seeing the entire world as music with Jun Jensen

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 74:38


    Jun Jensen is a wildly creative person who brings the intensity and focus that made him a prolific cellist to the corporate world. We cover a massively wide range of topics for this episode! You want to hear from a guy who did more on the cello by 18 than most folks do in an entire career? Got it. How about seeing the world of quantifying human capacity through the lens of music? Oh, why yes. Surprising my guest with hyper-specific technique talk? This is a thing that happened. Wading into DAOs and blockchain? Sure did! I enjoyed this conversation so much. Hope you do, too.

    Episode 6: David Aks and entry points to improvisation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 70:54


    A delightful romp down memory lane and extensive conversation about the nuts and bolts of learning to improvise on a stringed instrument. Joyce Pan and David Aks' new album: https://joyceanddavid.bandcamp.com/releases Joyce and David's FB page: https://m.facebook.com/JoyceAndDavidMusic/ Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddle School: http://www.valleyofthemoon.org/ Vasen: https://vasen.se/about/ Mike Block: https://www.mikeblockmusic.com/ Tessa Lark: https://www.tessalark.com/ Natalie Haas: https://www.nataliehaas.com/ Cello Drones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MimVnBAuYqA&list=PL-DyGoFkAJ1GRwBhUD4AOTewsr6l-x8qe Monkey Chant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0HY0oD84OM&t=280s

    Episode 5: A conversation with Cari Ann Souter

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2021 68:04


    What did we learn in music school? This episode is all about the stuff learned at music school that we use every time we sit down to play or teach. Includes: encouragement, advice, weirdness/silliness, and Cari doing magic tricks with her voice!

    Episode 4: The Inner Game of Tennis

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2021 25:43


    A quick peek into the legendary self-help text that spawned dozens of (lesser, in my opinion) alternative titles. I promise I will use a pop screen next time, apologies to anyone's eardrums that succumb to the repeated assault when I say the letter "p" in the first few minutes!

    Episode 3: What's a professional musician, anyway? With Jeremy Boersma

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2021 60:55


    A casual conversation between colleagues about the label "professional musician" and whether it's important, and to whom. Part of an ongoing series, not at all definitive.

    Episode 2: Q & A

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2021 37:51


    Today's episode is a quick Q & A. Among questions: how do you teach emoting and musicality? Are Starker trills worth it? What would you do over if you could?

    Episode 1: Effortless Mastery with Benjamin Whitcomb

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2021 42:39


    In this episode, we talk all about how Kenny Werner's landmark text has applications for the practical musician. My guest is Dr. Benjamin Whitcomb. For more info about him, go to http://www.benjaminwhitcomb.com.

    Episode 0: Hello!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2021 1:45


    Just a quick hello.

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