AboutDavid Expertise I mainly aim to answer questions about playing techniques--intonation,
vibrato, bowing etc. I am somewhat familiar with Baroque and Classical music, though not as much with Romantic. I am unable to answer questions about advanced music theory, violin crafters/brands or the monetary value of a violin.
Experience I have played the violin about nine discontinuous years. Most of my work has been orchestral, with some soloing throughout. I was principal 2nd violinist of the Disney Honors Orchestra in 1998, a six-time All-State Orchestra violinist, a two-time assistant concertmaster and two-time concertmaster of my All-County Orchestra. I also have perfect pitch, which I believe can be learned (though I do not claim to know how to teach it).
Since starting medical school in 2004, I have had fewer chances to play, but I hope to someday resume on a regular basis.
Expert: David Date: 3/15/2005 Subject: Violin Vibrato
Question Okay...I'm really really new at violin. Seriously. I mean, I used to play in a Youth Orchestra in sixth grade, but I was forced to quit after my first few weeks due to family issues. Now, I'm in 10th grade and am really interested in learning again, but my main issue is vibrato. I was -never- taught how to do it, what techniques could help, and all of that. So, every bit of useful information you could give me involving vibrato would be so great. Thank you so much!
Answer Hi Karin, I'll do my best to help out...
There are a few exercises I would suggest, in this order.
1) Before you even pick up the violin, take a plastic egg and fill it with hard grains of some kind, like raw rice. (Shouldn't be hard to find plastic eggs during this season anyway.) Grasp it in your left hand and raise your left arm in approximate playing position. Cock your left hand back and forth repeatedly so that the egg makes noise, but make sure the motion is at your wrist and not your elbow. In fact, grip your left arm just below your wrist, with your right hand, as you shake. Vary the speed of the shaking. An important point to remember here is that vibrato is a backward motion of the hand, not a forward motion. Concentrate on your hand moving away from your body, less so on the return, and your hand shouldn't move too close to your body. It is sort of like flicking your hand away from yourself.
2) Put yourself in violin playing position and place your finger approximately on a note. The exact note doesn't matter and you'll see why in a minute. Now, slide your finger along the fingerboard, back and forth, while bowing. The sound will be unpleasant, but the point is to get you used to bowing while moving your left hand. Again, make sure the left hand is moving back and forth but that the wrist is allowing the motion and not the elbow. Keep sliding your finger up and down the fingerboard...the aim is not to make a certain note, but to get your hand flexible.
3) Later, when you are comfortable with the motion, play a certain note with the bow. Then, allow your hand to nearly collapse backward, so that the note goes flat. Return your L hand to normal position and repeat, then work up to a faster speed. One thing to be VERY careful of: be sure that your finger on the fingerboard is bending--don't bend your L wrist in and out, while keeping the finger stationary. This is a major mistake that many new violinists make, and it is difficult to overcome especially because they occasionally make a sound that sounds something like vibrato. Your wrist is the pivot point for your hand; it itself does not move much at all.
