I’m looking forward to premiering the new season of the Everyday Musician Podcast! This season I’ll be speaking to composers and instrumentalists discussing various topics and I hope you can…

It’s officially September and Back-To-School season is underway. Every year I get excited for the potential that my students have when they play and perform their violins!

For parents reading this post, Back-To-School can be overwhelming…

Thank you Karjaka Studios for capturing these amazing moments from a couple world premieres at Constellation Chicago.  

Pictured: Eric Mrugala, Kate Barmotina, Eunjin Lee, Alex Goodin, Herine Coetzee Koschak  

Pictured: Eric Mrugala, Charlene Kluegel 

Pictured: Eric Mrugala, Kate Barmotina, Eunjin…

I'm happy to have been a part of Fresh Inc Festival where I got to work with living composers and meet new musicians from around the country. The festival took place at the University of Wisconsin - Parkside for two…

What does this mean for classical musicians in 2018? We're experiencing a shift where musicians want to create and not be binded by the politics of an orchestra.  There are more talented and dedicated musicians out there than ever before…

Read my interview with The Music Industry Insider to get a glimpse of how to earn a living as a classical musician.

http://themusicindustryinsider.com/the-everyday-violinist/ 

"Eric, you're talented. But, talent is not enough"

Those words have defined who I am and how I wanted to be portrayed for the last 8 years.

Nowadays it's important to know that playing the violin very…

Today is Sergey Prokofiev's Birthday, I'm glad that I'll be performing his first violin sonata in April. 

Dear Friends, 

After considerable thought, I have decided to rebrand the ETV Podcast into the Everyday Musician Podcast. I've realized that the name can be confusing for people who don't know me but want to learn more about the everyday…

Happy New Year!

I'm glad to get back into the swing of things now that I'm fully rested and ready to go. I reflected on 2018 and am incredibly grateful for the opportunities that came…

It seems like musicians are having airline troubles more and more these days. I'm on a mission to help people who are always on the move and flying with their instruments so…

He is the man that perfected the symphony, and the string quartet. A man whose innovation has inspired generations of composers to innovate. 
Happy Birthday, Ludwig! 

'Tis the season to be jolly!

This year we have a lot to be thankful for, why not get that special classical musician in your life a gift that they…

Last year's Indiegogo Project enabled my colleague and me to start what we hope will be a long-term endeavor; to create a chamber music series around the Chicago-land area that audiences can get excited about! 

Chamber music is what…

Well, I used to practice 7 hours a day in my youth. Although back then I didn't really know how to practice efficiently. 

In high school, I was practicing…

Things you might not know about me:

1) I'm a HUGE Marvel Movie fan. 

2) When the world cup is around, I stop everything and watch the games (or practice while watching, although I don't recommend it)

…

I'm just bouncing off a gig in Maine and I want to write this all down for you while it's still fresh in my mind. 

This weekend I traveled a thousand miles by car, performed in two states and…

Sound. What do you think of when you think of sound when you play the violin?

We listen to music and sound differently then we used to 40 years ago. I bet you watched…

(2 min. read)

The picture above is EXACTLY what I'm looking forward to eating when I step off the plane. Some fresh tomatoes, basil, and pasta from the town of Piobicco. Also on the…

Classical musicians that I've talked to recently say that the older they get, the more difficult it is to handle their nerves on stage. 

Why is that the case? Is it due to the lack…

When you gig so frequently, you learn and make mistakes on the job. It's perfectly normal, but you want to avoid making mistakes as much as possible. Even if it's a simple wedding, or you're asked to fill in for…

The life of a musician can be tricky.

Any job someone takes in the music industry can be exhausting and even frustrating. That's why music is more than just a profession, it's…

I'm heading into the summer with a lot of new repertoire to learn and trying to learn this violin rep as well as I can so that it's performance ready. 

There are many ways to learn rep but I…

An important thing I've noticed in music recently is that it's important to treat your colleagues the way you treat yourself. Gratitude in a competitive gig/freelance economy comes a long way if you're trying to make it. 

When you're…