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vibrato practise is great, for everything but vibrato it seems.

February 4, 2008 at 8:41 AM

One thing I will say about vibrato practise, is that it has helped me generally with intonation, posture, relaxation while playing, phrasing.
Since I knw I had to do it eventually, and my teacher was geting more forceful in suggesting it was time, I decided last August that I would focus on developing some sort of vibrato, and have it working by Christmas.
I didn't quite get there, but I have kept my focus and not been sacred off by the length of time treading water around it.
I have spent many weeks over the past 6 months not having a clue about the movement I am trying to achieve, just having to grab at something lthat looks or feels close enough, then back to my teacher to get it fixed.
How often did I think I was getting close, only to hve to acknowledge with her that it was a nervous shake, a finger wobble, too tense, so many things go wrong with it. Its one of those things that as soon as I start I lose all concept of what it is I was trying to achieve, I can't keep an image with me to work towards.
Nonetheless, after my last lesson, about 3 weeks ago now, she said it was getting close, and wanted me to stretch out the bars on the deBeriot etude I had been chosen as my vibrato practise study, so as to let the vibrato action have a chance to settle.

Here's where it is at as of today. I'm choosing to mark today, so that when I have a lesson next week or fortnight I can objectively look back to see where I was messing up.

Has any one else seen the vids of Kavakos on youtube, recently his Bach's were uploaded. What a player. I have willingly used up my entire month's quota of downloads on the guy.

Sharelle,

Looks like good progress. Here is a link to an article called Viva Vibrato! It is one of my October 2007 blogs. Maybe it will assist you a bit…

Drew

sharelle, i love it!

i am sure the gurus here can share with your more technical aspects, but l like your vibrato...the tone is even, all the fingers sound similar,,,a great start. as you get more comfortable, the limb loosens up more, allowing you more amplitude,,,you shall own the world down under! :)

I agree, I think your vibrato is great. And it's SLOW. I am trying so hard to slow down my own vibrato, and it's hard. So, good work. :)