VIOLIN VIBRATO TUTORIAL- New tips for RELAXATION

[Koifisher86]

hi! @professorV my left fingers are too hard and stiff.. i'm 25 years old, already learned how to play the guitar(i want to learn next is violin).. what exercises or practices should i do to make my left fingesr smoother and softer(i'm a left handed and do household activities and sometimes portrait)..and what size of violin should i use? i'm 5'4 and my reach is 24inch from my armpit to my thumb. i already have 4/4 size.. pls teach me more..

thanks..

[SarahIluvatariel]

Awesome. It's good to know that although the wrist does a waving motion, it's not a straight wave--but rather kind of arc-like because the thumb can't loose its anchor point. Would you say that there's also a little bit of rotation in the forearm? And is the thumb the pivot point? Or is it all in the back of the hand? (I generally use arm vib because there's no rotation. It seems less complex and confusing. But i'd love to learn wrist vib.) THANKS!

[lakjtj]

I played violin from about 10-13. Knowing how much I enjoyed it, my husband gave me a violin for Christmas two years ago after a 48 year absence. I practice with an adult group and am loving it. I am deterimined to learn vibrato even though I'm in my 60's and my fingers don't quite move as well as they used to!. I learned of your videos at a weekend music retreat and find them enormously helpful. I think I can learn to relax and learn vibrato thanks to you. You are an outstanding teacher.

[helena666way]

hi professor, i want to take this opportunity to tell you i really admire you so much, and too tell you i take your lessons since the last month and when play great like you i will show you :D xoxoxo

[Miickey1436]

Hi! I've heard of musicians who've gotten so deep in a level of concentration, they lose the world around them (especially Yo Yo Ma, who almost who nearly fell out of a chair; he was so focused, haha). So, my questions are: Have you expericenced this? And if so, what tips or excersises do you do to enter that state of mind? I have All County that I'm auditioning for in about a little over a week. My stage fright is awful. Been playing for about 8 years now. Thanks in advance :)

[professorV]

@Miickey1436 - Hi Mickey, I have it too, EVERYONE does to some degree, even if they tell you otherwise. Someone once told me that some people become afraid of the FEELING of the stage freight, meaning they become afraid of getting that adrenalin rush. You can fight that with slow, deep breathing. Also, Become stage tough. Grab a friend and play. Play for family. Nursing homes, or at church, etc. You will start to get used to it, and learn how to control the 'rush' that comes. Good luck!

[professorV]

@Miickey1436 Oh, one more thing... One time I was performing the Barber Violin Concerto. When I got to the end of the last movement, I couldn't remember any of what had just happened. I had been in the zone and everything was on auto-pilot. Now it has happened many other times, but never to that degree. I wish I could get back there every time... Hope your audition goes great! Remember to stop, breath, and hear the music in your head before you begin.

[Danofnj]

You mentioned pushing the string down "half way" vs. directly on the finger board. In your vibrato, do you eventually make FULL contact with the finger board. Is there a rule for this.

Thanks.

[professorV]

@Danofnj - Well, the teacher I worked with at Eastman specifically told me that the string had to touch the fingerboard to get a focused tone. I will add that I don't always do that! It's so close that the skin in touching the board. I made a video on relaxation once where I mention placing a piece of paper under the string, pressing down, but still being able to pull the paper out without effort. It's hard to have that much control, I guess. Something to work towards.

[tsunamiplayer3]

just a small jerking motion using only the wrist, def know mult ways to practice this one lolol

[Rogjp]

Brilliant video - very, clear, very helpful. Thank you!

[backpackerthai]

I do agree with itsmeNich that you're the BEST! Thank you very much indeed.

[xDudeazn]

professor V, that was a really helpfull video for me to understand hand vibrato:D

thank you!:D

[somecuties123]

Hi professor V,

I have been playing violin for a pretty long time, and I have many techniques that i am used to playing with- except vibrato. I have tried so many things to help myself learn, but I always end up with a very harsh, fast sounding vibrato. When I play slow pieces, I don't sound (for lack of word choice) good. I have the oscillation down, but it is slow and when i speed it up, it's way to fast. Suggestions? THANKS MUCH :)

[DentistAhmadSaid]

but i have a problem when i make vibrato in first postion a find my elbow go away from my body and agap start to appear between arm and body >> is this a problem or its okay >?

[professorV]

Hi DentistAhmadSaid, you will not keep the elbow against the body, it is just a way to keep the arm still during the first exercise. Hope that helps.

[DentistAhmadSaid]

@professorV

what i mean sir that in wrist vibrato when i not use shoulder rest my arm make a gap space between arm and body especially in first position >> but when i use shoulder rest the gap disappear >> but i try to not use the shoulder rest cz i feel the violin much better without shoulder rest >> in my case is this a problem or its okay? as i start to make vibrato as u explain in ur tips mr.todd but in a slow rate as begainer >> thnx for u very much

[XLRO8]

@professorV excuse me but is vibratoing basically putting your finger on the string and gliding it slightly up in down in order to make a different sound?

and would the sound be different depending on how fast im vibratoing?

[DentistAhmadSaid]

amazing tips>am understanding that the motion coming from the wrist joint and first finger knuckle must be flexible during back and forth movement>i watch all 7 lectures in vibrato and really am learning from u alot tips mr.todd>am dentist but i extremely love violin>i always find what i cant find in any other place in ur tips and in ur way of learning>but really am not a classical player am oriental player but i study classical violin to improve my skills in oriental music and in turkish music

[bigmac7495]

Great video! You're lesson videos are the best! They are helping me out so much as I learn vibrato!

[ipleyel]

I can't tell you how helpful this is. So many teachers concentrate on what vibrato is not. After watching this video, I really think I can do it because now I know what to look for and what to avoid. You are one patient, talented teacher; it takes a special person who has your talent to speak to the rest of us in such a positive, encouraging manner. Please keep up the great work. Eve, who started violin very late in life.

[itsmeNich]

Ah, I also wanna say you're the best violin teacher on youtube. IMO :)

[professorV]

Hi itsmeNich, that is a very, very kind thing for you to write. Thanks so much for taking the time!

[itsmeNich]

@professorV You're welcome, Prof! I have been playing the violin for about 3 weeks and I am already close to getting a nice vibrato. I can almost hear it :) I would say my current progress would be around 5.5/10. I still need to oscillate the strings at a faster rate.

[itsmeNich]

Dear Professor V,

I really appreciate you uploading videos to help us student violinists. Please continue do so.

Thank you so so much! =)

[violinmaster85]

As a teacher who just started teaching vibrato about a year ago, it's great to see all the different approaches you have to teach it, as well as addressing the tension issue. Thank you!!

[professorV]

Hi violinmaster85, Nice to hear from you and good luck with your teaching!!

[chilibeanhere]

Thank you!

[pastore0506]

Thanks for this video Todd. I have been managing a little vibrato and I am confident that your video will help me to improve on what I am doing.

George

[professorV]

@pastore0506 - Good luck to you George!

[regisangels]

Thank you teacher. It1s a very instructive for me today!

[juanfravg]

I was disappointed when I found out this technique required so much effort, patience and most of all, time. When my teacher started teaching it to me, I had already heard most of it from your previous videos, except the finger flattening part. He told me about it and some other little things and that actually did the trick. -This video wraps it all up.

He also made me swear I wouldn't over-practice it, just use it whenever I felt totally comfortable and relaxed with it.

Thanks, happy New Year!

[professorV]

@juanfravg - Happy New Year to you as well!

[martinkrattiger]

This is extremely helpful! Thankyou thousand times!

[professorV]

@martinkrattiger - You are welcome!

[miriammateo92]

porfavor, alguien podria subtitularlo en español? me encantan sus videos pero no lo entiendo, soy española

please, could someone with subtitles in Spanish? I love your videos but do not understand, I am Spanish

[stevenstev1989]

You are a great help. Where I live there are no violin teacher's around and your videos are my school. Thanks a lot!!

[Danofnj]

Nicely done, thanks.

[SomeAnimeOtaku]

I was about to ask what to do if I am learning finger vibrato but then had a second thought. it also worked for the finger vibrato! It's simple yet effective, it's ingenious! = D

Happy new year = D

[Fortunimeres14]

Greatjob you helped me a lot!!!!

[olmmbill]

Thank you. I found this very helpful. My great quest continues, with a bit more light on the way.

[MimmiLill]

Thank you very much, my hope is back!! Happy new year!

[luviwantje]

Thank you!

It helps me very much! :)

You also a happy new year!

[oldsoul247]

This video definitely cleared a few things up thank you!!!

[casielyn94]

thank you for being a great teacher. =D

[Linuxica]

Happy New Year Todd!

Thanks for those new tips. I'm still workin on getting my own vibrato.

[MotokoStarwind]

Thanks, Todd. I always appreciate your violin tutorials! I'm working on getting to college level on my violin this semester and every tip helps. :)

[studentoflife01]

I think we need to try smarter...I get that saying now a little bit better :) So opening up the hand for the birds to come through helps with vibrato? Happy New Year Thank you Professor!

[Rayfeng2001]

Thank you so much for the wonderful video! Happy new year!

[yaoi1yuri]

can I like this 10 times?? thank you so much. I have been dying to learn vibrato

[skhughesband]

Thank you. This is so incredibly helpful. I have been struggling with vibrato on the violin, which has just left me frustrated with the instrument. I really needed someone to show it to me just as you did.

[Romania567]

Thank you very much for posting this! It helped me get rid of a lot of tension and make my vibrato better! Happy New Year's!

[master72734]

thank you ..this is super helpful I've had lots of tension when practice vibrtao and it got me tired a lot ,Im sure it'll be better..and happy new year dear professor

[panthercat38]

That thumbnail for the video got my attention. Well played...

[BaggersVance]

Thx again for another excellent learning video. My question is, when will I know Im ready to start learning vibrato? Ive only been learning for 3 months now.

[bigfatfoot]

@BaggersVance

I have been practicing for more than 2 yrs and have not learned vibrato yet. For us beginners, I think having a good tone is more important than being able to do vibrato.

[SpicaAndromeda]

You are the man!! I just made some major progress :D Thanks so much!!

[amjPeace]

Thank you for all the help, and a very Happy New Year to you, too!

[Breyerobsessed27]

Thank you! This is very helpful. I had terrible aches through my fingers and wrist but this sounds like it will help. I will get back to you if it does.. !