Comments

Thank you, Drew! Just what the doctor ordered! I had also wondered if you have advice for those of us who are almost to the point of learning vibrato? (I ask with great trepidation!) Penny,
You have wonderful hobbies and I wonder if the tying of flies for fly-fishing could actually help ----–– use your fingers in a very active, nimble and flexing manner working from the knuckles. This might frustrate the speed in which you are able to tie the flies, but I think it will give even more dexterity to the hands –– good for the bow hand, too!

Also do slow-motion fingertip-flexes against the thumb (kept stationary) or another stable surface.

Then do “Air Vibrato” –– without the violin, sit or stand tall and erect, ALERT WITH NO TIGHTENING OF MUSCLES.

Lift your left arm, with the hand mouth/nose high, as though playing the violin and do some “Air Shifts.” (Vary the rotation of the forearm and hand as though on different strings.)

Gradually shrink the motion to less than a half-step interval and simultaneously allow the speed to increase due to the shorter distance traveled –– very important aspect of playing for both hands and arms. DO NOT ALLOW INCREASE OF TENSION ALONG THE ARM INTO THE SHOULDER.

Do this periodically throughout the day for perhaps a week and then apply it to the other info of the “Viva Vibrato” blog.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Have fun ––
Drew

Thank you, Penny, for asking what you did for those of us starting out with vibrato. And thank you very much, Drew, for an informative post and response.

Christopher