The Lonely Cello Podcast

It's not uncommon to feel like you're drinking from a firehose during lessons: so much information is on offer and it's overwhelming. No instructor expects you to return each week with 100% of the concepts mastered. One of my formative teachers said the number is about 15% for solid growth, and I tend to agree with him. These ideas should help you focus on the right things to make the most of your...

Today, I'll be talking about Lara St. John's new documentary, Dear Lara. Content warning: non-graphic discussion of sexual assault. Would you rather read this? Go here: https://emilywright.net/teaching-and-learning/dear-lara/ Rather watch it on YouTube? Enable captions! Here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EPTQy3M9K8 Lara's website: https://www.larastjohn.com/ Dear Lara website: https://w...

Chapter 2 of David Epstein's Range has A LOT going on. This episode talks about the ways we try to understand intelligence, in particular how we test for it. This one goes a little off the rails in a predictable way, so stay tuned if you want to hear about Kyrgyz wool sorting, panic attacks at CSUN, child labor, manual transmissions, and the mean voice in your head actually trying to help.

This is a readout and tiny discussion of the post from 7 May 2025. These episodes are meant to be put out quickly, and as such, are not edited. Pauses and "ummms" are left in. If you would prefer to watch this content, head over to my YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/@EmilyWrightCello. And of course, the original post is on https://emilywright.net. Links to the texts mentioned: Range: https://...

This is a readout and discussion of the post from 1 January 2026. These episodes are meant to be put out quickly, and as such, are not edited. As such, pauses and "ummm"s are left in. If you would prefer to watch this content, head over to my YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@EmilyWrightCello. And of course, the original post is at https://emilywright.net/.

Rachel Gawell Burns dropped by to chat about her extraordinary life in music. She is a working musician based in New York City, doubling on cello and guitar on the Broadway circuit and beyond. She also happens to be a phenomenal teacher, and I could listen to her play (and talk about playing) all day. She is an absolute elite tier human being, and it's a pleasure to introduce her the LC crew. Rach...

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://mirandaw...

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 e...

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! L...

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 situatio...

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/

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/

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 T...

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. ❤️

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 coh...

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.c...

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...

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!

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

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 We...

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 Su...

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.s...

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...

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 listen...

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...