Violinist and composer Tim Snider joins KGNU for an in-studio interview and live performance with host Meredith Carson. He discusses his musical background, from early classical training in a family of musicians to later influences in rock, flamenco, and global styles that shaped his improvisational approach.
Snider shares the childhood experience that inspired him to pursue violin after seeing Sesame Street and a performance by Itzhak Perlman. He also talks about recent recording sessions in Boulder, plans for an upcoming album, and upcoming performances including a show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre with Trevor Hall and additional dates with songwriter Daniel Rodriguez. (Air Date 6/12/26).
Listen to the studio session here:
Transcript:
Meredith Carson: Tim Snyder. Tim, welcome to the show.
Tim Snider: Hey. Thanks, Meredith. It’s good to be here.
Meredith Carson: It’s great to see you. Thanks for setting this whole thing up with Indra and everything. It’s wonderful to have you here.
Tim Snider: Yeah, what a party. Along with Zach, your fabulous guitarist.
Zach: Yeah. That’d be me.
Tim Snider: Professor on the bass.
Meredith Carson: Professor on the bass. Many of you might recognize his name. He’s played at Red Rocks and is getting ready to do his 10th performance there.
Tim Snider: I’ve played with a lot of different artists, never under my own name, but I’ve definitely taken a solo or two on that stage.
Meredith Carson: Absolutely.
Meredith Carson: I wanted to get you guys on and have you go right in and do a couple in a row, then we’ll talk a bit. I want to talk about Sesame Street with you.
Tim Snider: Oh, gosh. Oh, you know about that. Okay. All right.
Tim Snider: This is a song called By Your Side. It’s a love song I wrote for my wife.
Performance: By Your Side
Meredith Carson: Tim Snyder live. I’m so sorry, that was a friend of mine when I was growing up. Tim Snider live on KGNU.
Tim Snider: Right. This song is called Sometimes.
Performance: Sometimes
Meredith Carson: Tim Snyder live on KGNU. It’s so good to have you in here with us. First, let’s talk a little about influences. Then let’s talk about upcoming gigs.
So I went to your website. There’s a lot of interesting stuff on there, but I loved the Sesame Street connection.
Tim Snider: Yeah. It’s kind of wild. I come from a family where my great-grandfather was a composer and violinist. He came from Boston, went to Juilliard and Harvard, and moved to Reno to start a music program at the university there.
My grandmother played, and it skipped my parents’ generation.
When I was two months old, my grandmother was dying of lung cancer. My mom took me to sit with her, and she held me and said, “Finally, I get to meet my violinist.”
I was the fifth grandchild, but she knew.
Everyone thought it was just a story, but when I was three and a half, I was watching Sesame Street and saw Itzhak Perlman play violin. I pointed at the TV and said, “Mom, I want to do that.” The rest is history.
Meredith Carson: That’s a great story. And there’s such a connection there.
Tim Snider: I feel my grandmother all the time. I didn’t know her, but I feel her through music. The violin has such a beautiful, almost feminine presence, and I feel that’s her.
Meredith Carson: So you grew up in a musical family.
Tim Snider: Yes. I grew up studying classical violin. I would wake up at 5 a.m. to practice before school, then practice after school.
My parents would say, “Go outside. Go play.” But I loved it. I would close my eyes and see imagery in the music.
As I got older, I was exposed to rock, world music, flamenco, Cuban salsa, and more. Classical music is beautiful, but it felt like a lane. I wanted improvisation and creative freedom.
So I eventually picked up guitar, taught myself other instruments, and found my way back to violin—this time creatively. I discovered Stéphane Grappelli, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Stuff Smith, and realized what was possible.
Meredith Carson: You have a brand new record out?
Tim Snider: It’s recorded, but not released yet. I recorded in Boulder with Jeff Martin, who produces and plays in the band with Zach and me. We recorded everything in about eight days.
We’re planning a single release in August and an album in the fall.
Meredith Carson: Where can people see you?
Tim Snider: We’re playing Sunday with Trevor Hall at Red Rocks. It’s an incredible place. I’m really grateful.
Next weekend I’ll be playing with Daniel Rodriguez, formerly of Elephant Revival. His new album Harboring Pearls is excellent.
Meredith Carson: Maybe another tune?
Tim Snider: Yes. This is called Down the Rabbit Hole. It was inspired by Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator. The speech at the end talks about technology bringing people together, which feels relevant today.
Performance: Down the Rabbit Hole
Meredith Carson: Tim Snider live in KGNU’s studios. Thank you so much for coming in today.
Tim Snider: It’s been a pleasure. Thank you, Meredith.
Meredith Carson: Tim Snider live on KGNU. Tim Snider Music?
Tim Snider: Timsnidermusic.com — S-N-I-D-E-R music dot com.
Meredith Carson: You’re playing Red Rocks with Trevor Hall, Thievery Corporation, Dirtwire, and Parangui.
Tim Snider: Yes, and it’s sold out.
Meredith Carson: Then shows with Daniel Rodriguez in Colorado.
Tim Snider: Yes. All on the website.
Meredith Carson: And socials?
Tim Snider: My old socials were hacked, so I had to start over. If you want to support, follow me on Instagram and Facebook. It helps a lot.
Meredith Carson: It really does.
Tim Snider: Especially when you’re starting again from scratch.
Meredith Carson: Thanks so much for coming in today.
Tim Snider: Thanks for having us.
