Added: 4 years ago
From: ninaflute
Views: 225,886
Sort by time | Sort by thread (beta)

Link to this comment:

Share to:
see all

All Comments (422)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • I'm a little confused... How do you do a vibrato ?

  • would you take a look at my videos nina and see what i need to do to improve

  • Dear Nina,

    After reviewing the many comments your vid has generated. I noticed, all but a few questions that were specificaly asked of you went unanswered. You seem to have many videos here on youtube sharing your knowledge. Perhaps if you had fewer, it would be possible to address the inqueries that struggling,sometimes troubled learners of the flute are experiencing. Hopefuly your motives are to truly help young flutists and not to only post videos sharing your treasure trove of knowledge.

  • @stark1770 I try to respond to as many questions as possible but the number of questions I receive is greater than the amount I can reply to every day. Also, many of the questions people post have already been answered before on my blog or on other videos, so I try not to answer the same questions over and over, and also, some questions just can't be answered over email, they require an actual lesson where I can hear the person play. Hope that helps.

  • Comment removed

  • Hi I'm just an in junior band but really willing to enhance my skills so could you please check my Chanel and leave a feedback to my video. Thanks

  • perfect... :D

  • Diese Vibratotechnik geht in die falsche Richtung. Weil es im Hals gebildet wird, wird es zum so genannten Zickenvibrato. Für Leute, die das Vibrato lernen wollen, empfehle ich einen kompetenten Lehrer zu suchen, der das richtige Zwerchfellvibrato beibringen kann.

  • Hi Nina!!!! I loved this video it helped me realize what vibrato was and i have improved my performance!!! I had been practicing vibrato for a music competition next year and I was wondering if you could please please please help me choose a song to play!! I have played the flute for two years soo i am intermediate... please help me!!!

  • Hey Nina, I was wondering if you can you make a video on a part of a piece called "sheherazade" by rimsky-korsakov, its on movement 4. Its the part with all of the thirty-second notes, please. But not the orchestra piece, the wind ensemble one. Thank you

  • I am a freshman in high school and am in my fourth year of playing flute. Until a couple of months ago I had never heard of vibrato. I was in sectionals during band camp (marching band) and my section leader told me I had excellent vibrato. I wasn't even aware I was doing it. But now some of my class mates who aren't as advanced as I am say I sound stupid when I play. Do you think that's just because they don't know that's how you're supposed to play??

  • mandalalovesyou1107 My friends tell me the same... It is probably because they dont know what vibrato is, anyways I think vibrato sounds really great specially in slow songs so why pay attention to their commentaries??

  • @mandalovesyou1107 I don't know how you sound when you play because I have not heard you, but if a classmate calls you stupid, that is very rude and I hope you will not let that hurt your feelings!

  • @mandalovesyou1107 Most band instructors don't typicaly teach vibrato to there flute students. As I'm sure you can imagine several using vibrato can be unpleasant. They will usualy leave the discovery up to the individual student. It is those students that will generaly gain top chairs in there section. For soloing, it is an essential tool. You will find musicians are an envious sort. Your section leader complimented your excellent sound, that tells me you are heading in the right direction.

  • I am a freshman in high school and am in my fourth year of playing flute. Until a couple of months ago I had never heard of vibrato. I was in sectionals during band camp (marching band) and my section leader told me I had excellent vibrato. I wasn't even aware I was doing it. But now some of my class mates who aren't as advanced as I am say I sound stupid when I play. Do you think that's just because they don't know that's how you're supposed to play?

  • I found the best way for me to learn to do vibrato with flute was to do fake laughing. Just going like haaaaahaaaahaaaa, and go on to your embouchure at the same. Then you just speed it up. Very easy way to learn.

  • Just exhale. When you exhale eventually your breath starts skipping. do that while playing

  • i still dont understand how to do vibrato :( my teacher says i have to use my diaphragm but i have no idea how to do it so instead i just shake my flute :( is ther any faster way to learn vibrato?

  • thank you so much for this video. I truly had learned something and will start practising now. thanks =)

  • muito boum toca não se amostra tira as ondas

  • I thought the industry standard was 5 wobbles for 63-69 bmp.

  • I only can do vibrato in lowest notes and I don't know what I do to make it xD

  • i officially love you. My teachers always tell us to make our vibrato come from the diaphragm but i always did mine from the throat. I was afraid i was doing it wrong but i always liked mine more than my other flautist classmates. And OMG i HATE vibrato thats so slow it sounds like a tecnique called pulsing we used in 6th grade to stay in time. oh. my. goodness. that style gets on my nerves. If i had not heard the throat thing i would have gone and ruined my vibrato out of fear of being wrong.

  • what should i learn 1st? double tonguing or vibrato?

  • I have trouble with vibrato and volume. Everytime I use it I shoot up to a forte. 0.o help please.

  • how can i  play more faster.and ur very beautifull

  • You give good advice for flute, this will help me

  • I have a Question: I'm trying to upload a video on playing the flute, but every time I record my camera makes the sounding very weird. Do you have any suggestions on how I can record my flutes sound crisp, clear sound, and it's beauty??

  • This video was very informative. I've always played vibrato from the diaphragm. Can you put up another video thoroughly explaining how to use the throat?? Thank you!

  • I have a question for you... When I play middle "C" I often loose my pitch. The pitch always seems to go flat or just flicker. It sounds terrible. I've been trying to fix it FOREVER and I dont know what i'm doing wrong... any suggestions?

  • @mascara166 i have the same problem!!!!

    

  • @mascara166 I had the same problem, until my flute teacher told me to watch out for that pitch and to play notes thinking of a looooooooong thick yet skinny, (thicker as the pitch gets lower), line while you play

  • I wish I could take lessons from you! You're amazing!

  • There should be a button that says "include expertvillage videos"

  • i dont really understand could be specific on the pulses and controling of breath

  • i can do that on a clairinet :)

  • The only way I can make a vibrato sound is by "chewing."

    As in, slightly moving my jaw up and down. Very slightly.

    I think that is what Nina means about vibrato coming from the neck area.

  • thats why she's one of my fave flautists. b/c the other video i saw on vibrato were not nearly as pretty and musical as hers

  • I'm trying to learn vibrato... it's so difficult for me! :(

  • It's not what i call a nice vibrato...

  • This was really informative! I always did triplets because I liked the sound... Now I feel cool. I do vibrato from my lips... I kinda do it from my throat too, but mostly the lips. It's so hard to try and switch to mostly throat!

  • Great video! Thank you for sharing.

  • NO OFFENSE, but you don't have much air stamina.... but then again at sectionals my band director said the pulsing( we were working in vibrato) takes up a lot of air. But I hope you improve, lol because Im not that good

  • thanks for posting thissss!!! i understanddd...=D

  • nina we love you

  • i have a quick question. My band instructor says to use your diaphram. can i get some tips on how to improve my sound using that method?!

  • Hey umm I don't understand how to pulse it either... I hav to do my nyssma solo and I don't hav a good vibrato...

    Any help on that?

  • Hey! I am having trouble plaing the vibrato that slow and pulsing it right, usually I don't have problems with triplets but I just can't figure out how to pulse it!

  • i can't seem to produce vibrato with my throat without thinning my tone and making it airy. is there a way to retain the dark rich texture of a note and bend the pitch??? also, a lot of the times my vibrato is too strong and aggressive, is there a way to make it sound more natural and soft???

  • I think vibrato is come from throat ,but my teacher tell me my vibrato from the throat is always make sound sounds nervous and unnatural, in one words, vibrato from the throat ruin my sound. and actually i don't know how to make vibrato use my stomache.

  • hi Nina this is a great video. I have a problem with vibrato.I can perfectly play triplets but 120 is hard.Could you give me some advice please

  • nina, this is really hard,, i cant do it :'( r we suppose to move our lips while playing vibrato?

  • Comment removed

  • @523062958 Yeah, I don't understand that either. Also, I can't do the vibrato anywhere but my chest,

    and it still sounds like I'm shaking or something. How do I control WHERE my vibrato comes from?

  • NINA I LOVE UR VIDEOS! UR AWESOME!

  • i am horrible at vibrato. i will never be able to do it. :( *sob*

  • i am beast at vibrato!

  • so is it like playing triplets using air instead of using your tongue?

  • what is the motion of your throat when you use vibrato?

  • U need 2 play from ur diaphram, I learned that during my first lesson!

  • hey nina, i know that ur left arm is not supposed to hurt when u play...what can i do in order for my arm not to hutr anymore? oh and for the vibrato, do u do that like if u were doing slurred tripletts??

  • HAHA just had to point this out! haha

    2:27

    but ur right! lol

  • SO HARDDD!!!!!!!!

  • yay i can vibrato

  • When you say C3 at 1:54, do you mean the third C that the flute can play? Because on my keyboard C3 is middle C because it's the third C that that can play. Is it the same sort of thing?

  • You dont have to count how many vibrations you do! You just do it to be more beautiful! Its not even an obligation to do so...

  • Oh hi nina i have a query on the flute vibrato as i cant vibrato smoothly and equally as i cant really control my diaphram/throat.Can you tell me how should i solve this problem?

  • what can i do so my lip muscles stop hurting when i play flute? i know im playing incorrectly, but how should i play? with tongue?

  • Sucks

  • hi nina! I was wondering if you move your chin or jaw at all while doing vibrato on the flute. I'm producing a sound that seems like vibrato, but I think I'm only doing this because I'm moving my chin up and down and not because of air in my throat.

  • I do that naturally. when needed though

  • I hate when vibrato is used like this. I find it far more effective when its subtle. Vibrato, in my opinion, is more of an ornament rather than a technique. I think the flute should use vibrato like other instruments by starting a slow pulse then increasing with the intensity of the note. I don't understand why vibrato on flute is being taught this way. Although correct me if I'm wrong, but is this an American style?

  • nin could u make video on "note runs"... its jsut one of thoe topic that many of my peers and i need advie on performing, and practiing... maybe some tips or advice if u wouldnt rather do a lesson... thnks

  • nina can u make a video on "note runs" . maybe tips or a lesson on how to perform them better maybe. even some excersies would help... (just a sugesstion) its jsut one of those important thing flute players really need advice on and a lesson would be every help full

  • I can't do vibrito....I'm such a horrible flute player...... :'(

  • @myloveoffood don't give up!

  • @ninaflute nina could u make video on "note runs"... its jsut one of thoe topic that many of my peers and i need advie on performing, and practiing... maybe some tips or advice if u wouldnt rather do a lesson... thnks

  • @ninaflute Question- flute vibrato is from the diaphram and not the throat, correct? I'm having trouble picking up speed and keeping it even...I'm very inconsistent. Is this something that happens naturally over time or is it possible I've missed something? I'm just a doubler (coming from jazz saxophone), so I'm trying to avoid developing those 'bad habits' a lot of beginners overlook....thanks! and I LOVE your videos!

  • @ninaflute ....hey...i am a great fan of your lessons.......how exactly does a vibrato and tremolo differ on flute...like how do u articulate while doing this?.....and next question is what r the mouth techniques we can do on flute...like for example...we do double tonguing ...vibrato etc.,.............finally.....­....please suggest me some very good pieces and solos....i am really desperate......

  • @ninaflute ....hey..........how exactly does a vibrato and tremolo differ on flute...like how do u articulate while doing this?.....and next question is what r the mouth techniques we can do on flute...like for example...we do double tonguing ...vibrato etc.,.............finally.....­....please suggest me some very good pieces and solos....i am really desperate......by the way u r lessons are amazing.....and inspiring...

  • @myloveoffood you're probably better than me :)

  • @myloveoffood omg samezeesssss lawlz

  • @myloveoffood Im not very good at it either, but im slowly getting better, you will too

  • @myloveoffood well hey, you got thumbs up at least! I can't do it either

  • How do you do vibrato with your neck? lol im trying to whistle it but its automatically coming through my diaphragm =O helpz plz

  • @Danielcory sorry, i didn't read the other comments

  • hey you look like tony danza

  • Best Flute music youtube.com/watch?v=ghgCK59qJ8­k&feature=channel

  • I have a question......I started two days ago, and my teacher says the really slow ones are done from the diaphram, and the fast are from the head part (I don't know how to put it.) Is that right? Thanks a lot! :)

  • I agree with the exercise but I prefer the vibrato from the diafragm and not starting it in my neck or chest.

  • @Dragonfly3176 Detache is the French word for articulation (or "separation of the notes). I have several videos on articulation including one called "Playing with Pop"

    It has nothing to do with vibrato.

    Good luck!

  • from what note to F sharp?

  • been playing the flute for three years, but still quite a beginner. Thanks for the tips! :D

  • @animefan320 lol same here.

  • You know, you look and sound just like Lisa Bonet when she was a young woman. But I'm sure many people have told you that... :o)

  • Thank you very much for this Nina. I studied the violin for many years and very recently I started learning to play the flute. I am progressing very quickly much to my surprise and delight. I found your video extremely helpful. Thanks again.

  • the background looks like a bathroom. no ofense

  • Hi, Nina.

    I really enjoy your explanation. When I tried at home, it was more easier to practise. Thanks a lot.

  • Hi, I'm having a lot of trouble getting the higher register vibrato as defined as the middle and lower register. Do you have any tips at all that could help? Thanks!

  • Why not play it in 16ths it sounds more musical and prepares u for higher and faster notes.

  • eres maestra?' yo pense q estabas estudiando un saludo

  • thank you for helping, although im not sure am i blowing the vibrato tho.. lol thanks!

  • i hope this works, i have a festival tomorroe D:

  • Does vibrato affect your breath control?

  • i think it actually helps... and it hels to the entonation too :)

  • 1,000,000x better then me

  • i dont get the point of sayin some is better than yourself

  • Thaks!Very good!!!!

    Easy to get!!!!

  • help me I don't really understand vibrato at all (production)

  • By the way, on a keyless flute you can get vibrato by tapping next to a hole, only slightly covering it, or by fully covering one further down. With a keyed flute, maybe you can vary the aim of the air stream up & down with your embouchure, but I don't know if that could be done quickly enough.

    On a reed instrument you get vibrato by fluctuating reed pressure via embouchure, and you get tremolo the same way as with a flute or voice: fluctuating air pressure. And how else but via the diaphram?

  • @OakAged72 Actually, when it comes to the voice, one should never use the diaphragm or breathing to produce a vibrato... that would cause added strain and added breath support... when I was in college there was a girl in a different voice studio singing in our area recitals... she produced a vibrato using her diaphragm... everyone turned and looked around with the "wtf is she doing" look... Singers produce our vibrato in the throat and isn't really taught.. It should "just happen" naturally

  • er... not added breath support but cause you to have bad breath support which in turn would stop you from ever producing a natural/good vibrato.. with proper training and vocal technique it will just happen.. I started singing at the age of 4 and then when I was 15, after attending a summer music camp and using good overall singing technique, it just started happening...

  • @torosax

    Correct: the diaphram (and thus breathing) is for producing tremolo, not vibrato. Apparently the girl you mention also had the two ornaments confused, which is surprising for a vocalist since both are available and both are commonly used. I do know that vocal vibrato is produced in the throat. But although it's not formally taught, it's learned by observation and experimentation. I assume that by "naturally" you mean you're not aware of a conscious effort. You speak for all vocalists?

  • Questions:

    1. Why do you say you'll demonstrate vibrato (pitch wave), but instead you demonstrate tremolo (volume wave)?

    2. How can you constrict the air flow through your throat without moving your tongue, which affects your embouchure? Are you sure you're not using your diaphram like everyone else and just misinterpreting the feeling of the air in your throat? In your video your throat moves the same way mine does when I do a standard diaphram tremolo. It's reacting to the pulsing pressure.

  • Oakaged: In terminology for modern flute playing a tremolo is the quick alternation of pitches a third or more apart. Vibrato is primarily of fluctuation of volume and a slight, I mean SLIGHT adjustment of pitch, but certainly not greater than a 1/2 step.

  • @ninaflute Very good point! I've had people comment on my voice recordings that I have a "great tremolo".. I'd be amazed with myself if I could possibly produce a tremolo vocally haha..

    I really like how you teach the concept. Aside from voice, my primary instruments are sax and trumpet so, essentially, I use the embouchure for vibrato... I decided last night that I should learn flute and thought I'd hunt for some vibrato vids... still not quite getting it of of the diaphram though lol

  • @ninaflute

    I'm sorry to hear that modern flute terminology differs from the standard. I don't see any benefit to that split. Vibrato is a fluctuation of pitch, and tremolo is a fluctuation of volume. The definitions are very simple and very old - look them up outside the context of the close-holed flute world. Why unnecessarily complicate the job of orchestrating a piece of music? One should be able to use the same terminology for each instrument, don't you think?

  • Tremolo is rapid repetition of a single tone or rapid alternation of two tones.

  • @chjola1

    If "a rapid alternation of two tones" is Tremolo , then how do you define a trill?

    If you look up definitions of Tremolo, you'll see that credible definitions include volume fluctuation and some also include a fluctuation between two tones, although usually with a qualifier (most often that it's for instruments incapable of vibrato, and less often that it's between two notes of a 5th or an octave apart). So if you want to simplify it:

    Virato = pitch fluctuation; Tremolo = volume fluct.

  • @OakAged72 owned

  • @OakAged72 Let's see what says the dictionary:

    vibrato

    n. (music) a pulsating effect in an instrumental or vocal tone produced by slight and rapid variations in pitch.

    tremolo ['tremələʊ]

    noun

    1. (music) a tremulous effect produced by rapid repetition of a single tone or rapid alternation of two tones

    2. vocal vibrato especially an excessive or poorly controlled one

    so, according to this, tremolo is a kind of vibrato too, a bad one.

  • @fabiohpupo According to that: 1. Tremolo is a tremulous effect, and 2. tremolo is vibrato. So much for the validity of that definition. Since your dictionary attempts to define a word using the word itself, and equates two terms with distinctly different definitions, I strongly suggest you recycle it and get a proper dictionary.

  • Comment removed

  • @OakAged72 don't worry about nomenclatures, you'll get crazy...

  • @fabiohpupo Good idea! Let's ignore definitions, because it's easier than actually learning what words mean. I thank you for your spherical song and will now clobber on my key bored too another web sight.

  • @OakAged72 you sun of a beach, I'm Brazilian, but i got that... ahahah

  • @reallycutediva

    If you only started playing the flute a little while ago, you should probably work to improve the clarity and tone quality of your basic notes without ornamentation before trying more advance techniques.

  • THANK YOU!!!! I can't get the diaphragm vibrato to work right. The sound always cuts off... I'm going to start trying this

  • I don't think I ever officially learned to play using vibrato. It just came naturally eventually. Of course, a couple years ago I was practicing like three hours a day.

  • Oi Nina, I am of Brazil, and I liked this video very on vibrato, I am with a little of difficulty to leave to vibrate the diaphragm together with what I can make?

    debtor

  • VERY GOOD...THANK...

    by:Djalma Claudino-BRAZIL

  • Comment removed

  • ive looked at videos and info on this, and everyone seems to disagree. is the vibrato in the throat or the stomach? because i dont know if i should tongue the triplet or do the 'ha ha' thing

  • im not sure how to do triplets i just started two days ago

  • its very easy, you tongue three time very fast ~ well that's the best i can explain it . do it kinda if like you were saying triplet,

  • thanks man..it worked..

  • i dont get it at all where the air comes from

  • Very helpful, thank you!

  • thanks, very helpful for a true rookie.

  • Thank you for all videos!

  • OH THANK U THANK U THANK U kingdomkeeper117 for answering my question...

  • I have a question, when i try vibrato I like use my air to make the vibrato sound. Is that incorrect?

  • You should always use your diafragm to create the vibrato. I don't quite understand by what you mean when you say you use your air. If you hear throat noises then something is wrong and you're not using your diafragm. You should lay down on your bed w a book on your stomach and see if when you are vibrating it moves. Also, just like the lady in the video did, play long notes and start slow. I would recommend using a metronome for accuracy. Once you've got it it just becomes natural.

  • I agree with kingdom. The stomach/upper chest technique produces a better quality vibrato (if done accurately). The exercise is good but I would recommend also variating the rhythm between quarter pulses and triplets.

    As for some of the prior questions; The vibrato is produced with a breath pulse (not tongued) and it is important not to change your embouchure to get the sound.

  • my band teacher is trying to teach me vibrato right now.( its hard) btw im kingdom keeper, i was accidently signed into the wrong account..... lol

    i use it with quarters first , then see-saw and triplets.

  • Great advice Onyx. As I was saying higher to daichi, a metronome is a great friend. They should start with half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes etc. and then do triplets and so on, but always keeping in check. Once you got the way it goes it just becomes a part of your playing. And yes, it is extremely important to keep your mouth relaxed, because if it's not relaxed you can develop a whole bunch of other things like pain and bad sound. And yes, no tongue. Just Diaphragm.

  • a good thing to do to make sure your trying it right is that it comes from the stomach-throat area and your not tonguing it to make it sound like that.

  • I just watched your video because i want to learn vibrato. But i was wondering if what your doing is tonguing or air pulses?

  • When ever i do vibrato, it sounds the same as playing normally...

    IT DRIVES ME CRAZYYYYYYYY

    I CANT DO ITTTTTT

  • when ever i do a vibrato, its so choppy... :(

  • i dont get it... i cant do it....

    im a beginer flutist,,,, but ITS IMPPOSSIBLEEEE

    HOW DO YOU DO THAT?!?!?!?!!

  • The best to do vibrato is the diaphragm. it is difficult but once you master it, its better than this throat technique. Sir James Galway even says this to, he says this julius baker technique is too cheesy.

  • @NicaFlute How to fuck is it cheesy,it was like a FUCKEN LONG TIME AGO.

  • its like air pulses.. its literally... sort of lol.. vibrating the sound from the stomach to throat area... you want it to end up in the throat though. i agree its better.. but whatever you want. its hard to explain as i am just learning it as well. i know how to do it but its hard at first.

  • I don't agree though with what ya'll are saying about the throat. The throat should never be involved in this. The throat should only be OPEN. The stomach muscles are the ones who do all the working.

  • @floriana1985 i know that... i said i wasnt sure how to explain it, but i think what your taking it as is me thinking ha ha ha ha ha ha... not really with your throat..when you whisper ha ha ha to yourself it comes from the stomach. thats what i mean

  • Nina! nice! but why dont you make the example without the instrument in order to see and understand how you do it. thanks

  • i like it

  • It's bad...

  • hi listened to this video and its very informitave but i was wondering do you move your lips while doing it? or is it completely hought based? im confused

  • I just bought a pan flute and I know it is a very different instrument but I think this video may be very helpful.

    Thanks for this video.

    Best wishes.

  • it's actually pretty weird coz i never learned how to play using vibrato...my dad told me it comes naturally but watching this video makes me think that i'm doing it all wrong. hahaha! =)) go nina you rock!! \m/ :p

  • All I can say is, "WOW!" I play with a small flute ensemble in Huntsville, and volunteer helping with the flute section at my daughter's middle school. Until 2 years ago, I hadn't played in 15 years. I feel totally clueless as to what I should do with these kids, but your videos are a huge help! Thank you!

  • Nice exercise, but I am still not getting how you actually *make* this happen with the throat. I try the exercise over and over and I keep winding up doing it from the diaphragm, and practicing is only ingraining a bad habit rather than improving technique, so I stopped. What am I meant to be doing with my throat that makes this happen and keeps my diaphragm still?

  • Rose Rodent

    your diaphram may still have some sympathetic movement while you play vibrato and that is OK, I just feel it is better not to FORCE the movement from the diaphram and let it spin naturally

  • @RoseRodent , Im not a flutist but, when i started trumpet, people told me my vibroto was perfect for a flute so, i think youshake the air that comes up from your diaphram, i don't know if thats a very cler explaination, but thats the only way i can think of explaining it lol

  • I hate vibrato.

  • ur really good im a beginniner

  • Nice method of teaching vibrato! I wish I could have found this video sooner, I had to learn my vibrato by myself, then eventually, some off Sir. James Galway.

    By the way, you must have meant C5 above the G clef. Concert Flutes cannot play C3, or at least not yet ;)

  • What a fantastic exercise. I was never taught that way, excellent!

  • Thatsss good:D