About David 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.
Question My previous violin teacher had told me that, to do vibrato, you should press your finger very hard on the fingerboard and use the wrist to rock it back and fro.
However last week, my new violin teacher told me that I should use the arm instead of wrist to do vibrato. The hand should stay in line with the arm and both the arm and hand should be moving as a unit towards you and then away from you, bending the finger tip joint up and down.
So, could you suggest that which method is better? and why? or they should be used in different occasions?
Thank You for your help!
Answer Hello James,
I'm so glad you've asked this question, as vibrato techniques are an often debated and confusing topic among students. I personally disagree partially with your new violin teacher--I believe that of the three vibrato techniques (finger, wrist, and arm), the wrist is the most versatile and applicable.
Arm vibrato, as your new teacher described, involves keeping the wrist straight and using the arm to produce the vibrato. It is most useful for students who have trouble producing the wrist vibrato due to lack of dexterity in the wrist and/or fingers, and is also good for passages where an aggressive and very wide vibrato is desired. However, such situations are fairly rare and in my 10 years of playing violin I have used the arm vibrato perhaps once or twice. It is a distinct possibility that your teacher may not feel comfortable using the wrist vibrato and therefore prefers the arm vibrato.
The finger vibrato is produced keeping the elbow stationary and the wrist fairly straight as well, using mostly the finger to produce the vibrato. This technique is desirable in passages where just a slight change in pitch is desired, but like the arm vibrato it is not used very much; I have never used it at all and have almost never seen anyone use it either.
Naturally, that leaves the wrist vibrato as the technique of choice, both for students and professionals. I believe the main reason that the wrist vibrato is best is that it is so versatile, easy to do, and doesn't go to extremes like the finger and arm types. A word of caution: many students, in their beginner and intermediate stages, make the mistake of bending the wrist back and forth, while keeping the finger stationary, in trying to produce the vibrato. You are right that the finger and wrist should move as one unit toward and away from you. Keep in mind that the main point of vibrato is to vibrate the tone BELOW the true pitch, not above it or both above/below it...therefore, a vibrating note should sound normal, then a little flat, then normal, then flat, etc. all in rapid succession--never sharp.
I would strongly suggest that you adopt the wrist vibrato as your main vibrato technique, saving the other two for the rare situations which could benefit from them; chances are you won't encounter many such situations. I hope this helps, and good luck in your musical endeavors.
Sincerely,
Dave
