How To Do Vibrato Without A Shoulder Rest

Vibrato requires movement in the hand, yet often violinist using no shoulder rest can struggle with a rigid left hand and a really tight clutch between the head and left shoulder. Learn techniques of how to unlock the left hand, the head and the left shoulder and discover how to play and vibrate freely without a shoulder rest. Please remember, players who do use a shoulder rest also benefit greatly from a knowledge of these techniques. Mary

[@johnaustin1825]

Charming and very useful video. Mary gets straight to it - no wasted chatter like a lot of other videos.

[@violinstudiowithmaryv]

Thank you very much, I'm delighted you found the video useful! Mary❤️

[@CocoTheFrancesca]

Thank you so much! I was struggling to do vibrato, but your video was explained much clearer than others! ❤

[@violinstudiowithmaryv]

Hello! Thank you very much. I'm delighted you found the video helpful - good luck with your vibrato! Mary❤️

[@gangdeng2254]

Thank you so much, Mary, really appreciate your video, very helpful!

[@violinstudiowithmaryv]

Hello! I'm delighted you found the video helpful and thanks for letting me know! Mary❤

[@ritanmartinez8630]

Very well-explained, very interesting to listen to and watch. Thank you so much!

[@violinstudiowithmaryv]

Hello! Thank you very much, I' delighted you liked the video! Mary❤

[@amezcuaist]

Very impressive and informative video

[@violinstudiowithmaryv]

Hello! Thank you very much! Mary💗

[@milosflaca]

I use a cloth on my shoulder to have extra grab for my violin (especially to avoid clutching the violin with the head and shoulder). Playing in a relaxed position, is crucial, I’ve found, to be able to play fast, if you need too. I have small hands, so the cloth also helps me to twist my hand less. I used to dance (I was a ballet dancer for many, many years) and I’ve realized that playing violin is like dancing with a partner. There is a lot of adjusting (body wise) and getting to know the instrument. It is a very weird instrument. I was struggling a lot to get the right intonation and as soon as the shoulder rest was off, the notes and the sound magically appeared 😂 Thank you for this tutorial. I am months away from vibrating but I want to prepare myself when that happens :) Doesn’t hurt to figure things out in advance!

[@violinstudiowithmaryv]

Hello! Your perspective is fascinating - thank you. You know, I usually think of other musicians as my partners when we practice to fit with one another musically, but I've never thought of my violin as my partner... it's more like a part of me. Your insight and way of working things out is fantastic and so interesting! It's wonderful that you found your sound and the notes by taking off the shoulder rest, congratulation! And your awareness of taking care of your head and shoulder is also so important. You're setting the stage; I know you'll do really well with vibrato! Mary💗

[@armchairzen]

Calling out the relationship "between the head and the left hand" was very enlightening. The straightforward approach, holding the violin with the admonition "your fingers need to learn how to do this" was the most helpful thing I've heard at my beginner stage. Thank you so much!

[@violinstudiowithmaryv]

Well, thank you for that! It's exciting thinking of you creating violin mind maps as you explore these interesting relationships between hands and mind. It's a huge and fascinating part of learning the violin. Mary❤

[@bahman1186]

Thank you!

[@violinstudiowithmaryv]

Thank you! Mary❤

[@nocomment5006]

Exactly what i need!

[@violinstudiowithmaryv]

Great! Mary💗

[@lolamas3042]

Hola Mary! Tocar sin apoyo para el hombro siempre me parece un "milagro"... Sería interesante experimentar... Anne-Sophie Mutter es una de esas violinistas que tocan sin apoyo para el hombro y parece que el violín forma parte de ella...es impresionante verla tocar... Mil gracias como siempre por estos consejos, Mary...hay mucho que aprender... Cuídate! 💜🎶💜🎻

[@violinstudiowithmaryv]

Hello Lola! Yes, watching Anne Sophie Mutter is amazing and puzzling - she is so natural yet strong and agile, but how does she really do all that she does without that most helpful of devices - a shoulder rest! Most orchestral violinists use a shoulder rest because of long, demanding hours of rehearsals. I've only met one orchestral musician who didn't use a shoulder rest and his position was horrible; he laid his cheek flat on the chin rest with his shoulder holding the back and yes, he had the most awful neck problems... But look at Mutter or Ida Haendel holding their violins and whizzing about and it's so beautiful to see - like magic! However, it's still a great thing to experiment a bit with the techniques so we can learn to balance between the head and the hand, as we should be doing even with a shoulder rest. Take care Lola! Mary💗

[@Double-Yew-Bee]

At 3:58 it sounded like your sound post fell😮

[@violinstudiowithmaryv]

That was my earring against the chin rest! 🙂M

[@barbarahart9941]

So why would one even contemplate going without a shoulder rest if it complicate things? Love your lessons. Gas

[@violinstudiowithmaryv]

Hello Barbara! Thank you very much, I'm glad you're enjoying the videos! We all know the shoulder rest can be an instrument of torture when it's not comfortable! But wouldn't it be marvellous for lots of violinists if proper knowledge of these issues was more widely spread? Sadly most people just end up squeezing their shoulders and experiencing pain with or without a shoulder rest. Mary❤

[@armchairzen]

Hello: I'm just starting, and I'm determined to play without a shoulder rest. Many people play without them, and share some thoughts similar to my own. Partly, it's because I don't want to be hobbled. I want to be able to pick up any violin and play it, without the sense I need my personalized shoulder rest. Also, it's said there's an effect on the tone with the wood body directly on your collarbone, and a certain "connection" to the sound of the instrument by the player. The physical contact I have with acoustic guitars comes to mind as another example of a tactile sensory perception that compliments the joy of playing.

[@violinstudiowithmaryv]

@@armchairzen what a lovely philosophy. Hopefully you will learn a comfortable method to hold your violin and to use your left hand freely. It's interesting what you say about the connection to the instrument on the collarbone. With a shoulder rest the violin touches one's neck and the violin's vibrations are felt very intimately. Also for all of us, there are the vibrations we feel through the strings on the fingerboard, similar to feeling piano strings through the keys - both wonderful feelings. Despite your determination not to be hobbled, perhaps you could leave a chink open in your mind for the demands of comfort. Thats what should really determine whether to use a shoulder rest or not; your physicality, build, length of neck etc. See how you get on. Good luck and I hope you do well. Mary❤

[@armchairzen]

@@violinstudiowithmaryv Thank you Mary. You've helped me to understand that I may need to abandon my compulsion to play without a shoulder rest. They were invented for good reason, after all!