AboutTodd Sullivan Expertise Hello, I am a NYC violinist performing for Broadway shows, symphony orchestras, opera, and sundry theatre/pop tours. I would be happy to answer your questions about anything related to being a performer in the music business. I play both violin and viola professionally, so questions on playing either instrument are welcome. The only thing I am not well informed on is information concerning instruments/bows...those questions are best left to luthiers.
Experience Professional experience includes a variety of on/off Broadway tours and shows, numerous orchestras, tours with Ray Charles and Ann Murray orchestras, leader of the 20-piece Todd Sullivan Orchestra.
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Fine Arts (violin) with honors from Carnegie Mellon University (1999)
Question I've been playing viola for 3 years now, and all of my friends and music teachers say its time to learn vibrato. its easy for me to do the motion on a table or anything else, but when i try it on my viola, my elbow is the one thats moving, not my wrist. it doesn't sound right and it doesn't work! i need to know some exercises or something! HELP!
Answer Don't feel horrible if this does not come easily for you; it is one of the most difficult things to learn on a string instrument! So I'll say to you primarily that you should not let your hair fall out over vibrato, keep concentrating on developing a beautiful, strong tone and all of your other techniques because they are what make you sound great. The vibrato is just the icing on the cake.
Try immobilizing some of the moving parts you are having trouble with. You can practice the motion with your viola in regular playing position but with your left elbow resting on a desk or other surface so it cannot move. You can also practice it standing with the scroll of the viola pushed against a wall. Both of these free your left wrist to develop the motion without all of the other worries associated with holding the instrument.
Of course, make sure that your setup (how you hold your instrument in relation to your body and the playing position of your left hand/fingers) is healthy and relaxed or vibrato will be impossible. For example, if you need a shoulder pad to help hold your instrument and you do not use one, getting the wrist to work correctly would be a herculean task!
Make sure that you exercise the joints of the fingers so that they are flexible in a back-and-forth motion for vibrato. Vibrato starts at the fingertips because that is where the actual change of pitch is taking place. The vibrato "motion" that you see is only the physiological necessity of moving the hand and wrist in a way that aids this action. So practice vibrato by only bending back the first joint after the fingertip and bringing it back again. You will find that you can develop a great deal of flexibility without even moving the wrist. When you then add the wrist it will be easier and more relaxed since the finger is doing most of the work.
You will also need to develop arm vibrato for the higher position playing, but only worry about this now if you are playing in positions above fifth.
