VIOLIN VIBRATO TUTORIAL- New tips for RELAXATION

Please refer to my other vibrato videos for more details on mechanics. Also, Happy New Year everyone!

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[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.

[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.

[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

[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?

[tsunamiplayer3]

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