It’s Spring in Austin Texas which means a little bit of everything. Rain, hot, cool breeze… My friend and bandmate Jay used to say, “If you don’t like the weather in Texas, just wait 15 minutes.” Today is rainy with just a peek of sun trying to make its way out from behind the clouds this afternoon. How about where you are? Do we have anyone on the other hemisphere where it’s not even Spring?? I’m wondering who can clock in at the most extreme temps. I’m at 78 degrees F, which I’m guessing is right in the middle. Please drop your temps in the comments and let’s see who it literally THE hottest violinist today. ☺️

We have some new faces here - and a few familiar ones too - so let’s make this our official intro spot. If you haven’t introduced yourself yet (or if it’s been a while), please jump in and share: ~Where you’re playing from ~One piece that made you wanna learn violin ~One thing you’re into besides violin Brand new? Returning after years away? Grinding nonstop? Either way, pull up a chair. (Photos welcome but no pressure!)

Okay… I’ve been quietly building something. First, thank you for all the honest posts lately about what you’re working on and where you feel stuck. The path from intermediate to advanced has some very real challenges, and I’m super into taking that on with you. So this spring, we’re trying something new. It’s called Violin Dojo. Instead of everyone floating in different directions - and instead of you having to constantly decide how to fit everything into your practice - we’ll move through a shared seasonal focus together. Not to compete. Not to be intense. Just to have our heads in the same game, while leaving space for whatever songs and things are most calling to you on your individual hot violinist journey at the same time. Spoiler alert - our first focus will be Vibrato. The real goal? To feel less alone in your practice. To build some friendships here. And yes… to gain some serious skill along the way. More next week. 🎻 Meanwhile tell me in the comments. What fun projects or things are calling your name this spring? Violin or otherwise. For me: Violin: New Dojo videos and visual guides for advancing students Not violin: Repotting my poor neglected plants that I may have saved from the freeze, but definitely cut it a little too close. 😬

Okay, we started out calibrating things by seeing how far you’ve already come. Then put some visions and plans out there about where you’re headed. (I love how everyone’s answers are different, with some subtle overlap here and there. You are a one of a kind player!) One last question: What challenges (if any) are you experiencing now or could see coming up this year?

Okay yesterday we did a little look back at 2025. Y’all crushed it! Now imagine yourself holding your violin, and it’s August of 2026. What’s the dream of how that could be in an ideal violin year? Is there a piece you want to play or an audience you want to play for? Or a new technique you’d like to work more by then? (Cough- vibrato- cough…)