HOW TO TACKLE VIOLA VIBRATO - After 10 years of trial & error, which exercises actually work??

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Vibrato has been an aspect of my viola playing that plagued me for years! However, with the right advice and a lot of working smarter, not necessarily harder, things are on the up!
Much love, Heather x
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[@heatherhawken]

I do just want to say, please forgive the really awkward angle 🤦‍♀️ I'm super limited on where I can put my camera to film so it was a little hard to get right... Anyways, hope you enjoy it! It was just bothering me! x

[@rtcommodore9354]

Thank you for this practical technical advice. It is so rare for someone to teach the viola specifically, rather than treating it as an aside to the violin. The extra size and weight of the viola demands different technique.

[@heatherhawken]

Thank you so much! Glad you found the video useful. Exactly! I was surprised at how few viola specific videos there were out there so thought it was about time that changed.

[@noramaddock4165]

I just loved watching this. I am a professional violinist and teacher and have explored vibrato teaching methods and exercises somewhat obsessively for the last five years. I definitely agree with so many of your points and have also found the exercises you shared to be the most relevant to the final vibrato goal. I agree guitar/cello position is usually a waste of time…the elbow moves completely differently in an upright violin/viola vibrato. Also love the emphasis on relaxation and exploring individual differences to maximize comfort and ease. You seem very sweet and genuine. Keep on with your great work!

[@heatherhawken]

Hi Nora, thank you so much for such a lovely comment! x

[@umiviolalefut1593]

I am a Violist, a very small Violist, 5'3".... I have played through college... I can do harmonics, double stops, positions, left hand pizz, ect. Vibrato is my kryptonite... but I cant live in baroque forever!!! So here I am again.... Hoping for a better result.

[@karenpeaden271]

I love how you progress this.starting with arm...makes since...this is all so foreign movement to us starting out...........thank you

[@heatherhawken]

I'm so glad you found it useful! x

[@dianajones990]

This is wonderful, practical advise to pay attention to what muscles you are working, and being relaxed. Thank you!

[@heatherhawken]

You’re so welcome! Glad it was helpful ☺️

[@dehmarcarothers8938]

heyyy i am a new subscriber and i LOVE your channel!! i just started playing viola about 5 months ago and when i tell you that this video is helping me ALOT! ❤️

[@heatherhawken]

Hiya! Welcome! Bless you that’s such a lovely thing to say… let me know how you get on 😃

[@politico9575]

I was forced-ish into the viola when I was 16 or so upon learning that music students needed a "second study" (bloody why?) and, as a pianist, I'd be no exception. I dropped it to everyone's relief within about 18 months after making it known that I was an avid singer, and that suited much better as the required study. But with my vocal inclinations I always thought I was a natural string player and I've resurrected my student instrument once or twice, and again just recently. I could never do vibrato - standing with the viola I'm basically a block of frozen, immoveable muscles, the total quintessence of tension. But I will stick with it. Well done yourself for sticking with your channel in the face of substantial subscriber apathy - I'm well acquainted with this problem. I'll play around with your suggestions - I can't work out for the life of me how to raise my left arm, with or without instrument, without a bulging bicep, but work around it, LOL. Thanks.

[@heatherhawken]

Yes I know a few pianists who encountered that requirement! From what I understand it's so that they would also gain some ensemble playing, or in your case singing, experience. In regards to your bicep issue! haha. Focus on using your lats and the big muscles down your back to hold your arm up rather than trying to use the arm as the primary source of strength. When you lift your arm into position, allow your shoulder joint to sit low in the socket and that will help engage your back. Hope that helps!

[@emmaholt4943]

i’m taking my grade six in about 20 days and i have not learnt vibrato yet so i rlly hope this works! thank you so much tho, this was rlly helpful! x

[@heatherhawken]

Ah all the best for it! Just make sure you don’t rush any of the steps, that can lead to lots of tension so trust the process ☺️ x

[@alirezadolatiani1017]

U really really help me to exercise vibraito

[@heatherhawken]

Glad I could help!

[@juliettegilgen1538]

Top! I look so much forward to trying all these… especially the 2 elbows 👍

[@heatherhawken]

I know it seems a silly thing but it really helps!

[@jolipozzi]

Amazing video!!! Thank you! I have been struggling with vibratto for a really long time, love how you explain things. Super helpful

[@heatherhawken]

Bless you, I feel you! It’s definitely a technique that I felt like everyone wouldn’t stop talking about how important it was but few would actually tangibly help 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@sr31803]

Hi Heather thanks so much, are you considering posting a part 2? This has been so helpful already 😊

[@heatherhawken]

Hiya! I definitely could do, I’ve been meaning to make an updated version for a while so I’ll push it up the list 😁 x

[@juliettegilgen1538]

I am discovering elbow link… it simplify a lot both sides - still hard to concentrate on other all the time 🤦‍♀️🤣 thank you so much for sharing 🤩

[@heatherhawken]

You’re so welcome 😄

[@michaelblaney4461]

Givin a viola and told to get ON with it??? So what do you think of 5 string violas with a high e string?

[@heatherhawken]

I think they’re hard to get right… in theory they’re a great idea but I have yet to come across one that has the depth of tone you’d want from a standard four string viola

[@juliac6028]

Thanks! This is really helpful! 😃

[@heatherhawken]

Ah you're so welcome! Glad it was useful 😃 x

[@adkBanjo]

Wow. Very helpful! Thank You!

[@heatherhawken]

You're so welcome! Glad it was useful :-)

[@thomassicard3733]

The Siren Noise: ‘Friends, since it is not right that one or two alone should know [155] the oracles that Circe, the beautiful goddess, told me, therefore will I tell them, in order that knowing them we may either die or, shunning death and fate, escape. First she bade us avoid the voice of the wondrous Sirens, and their flowery meadow. [160] Me alone she bade to listen to their voice; but do ye bind me with grievous bonds, that I may abide fast where I am, upright in the step of the mast, and let the ropes be made fast at the ends to the mast itself; and if I implore and bid you to loose me, then do ye tie me fast with yet more bonds.’ [165] “Thus I rehearsed all these things and told them to my comrades. Meanwhile the well-built ship speedily came to the isle of the two Sirens, for a fair and gentle wind bore her on. Then presently the wind ceased and there was a windless calm, and a god lulled the waves to sleep. [170] But my comrades rose up and furled the sail and stowed it in the hollow ship, and thereafter sat at the oars and made the water white with their polished oars of fir. But I with my sharp sword cut into small bits a great round cake of wax, and kneaded it with my strong hands, [175] and soon the wax grew warm, forced by the strong pressure and the rays of the lord Helios Hyperion.1 Then I anointed with this the ears of all my comrades in turn; and they bound me in the ship hand and foot, upright in the step of the mast, and made the ropes fast at the ends to the mast itself; [180] and themselves sitting down smote the grey sea with their oars. But when we were as far distant as a man can make himself heard when he shouts, driving swiftly on our way, the Sirens failed not to note the swift ship as it drew near, and they raised their clear-toned song: “‘Come hither, as thou farest, renowned Odysseus, great glory of the Achaeans; [185] stay thy ship that thou mayest listen to the voice of us two. For never yet has any man rowed past this isle in his black ship until he has heard the sweet voice from our lips. Nay, he has joy of it, and goes his way a wiser man. For we know all the toils that in wide Troy [190] the Argives and Trojans endured through the will of the gods, and we know all things that come to pass upon the fruitful earth.’

[@clusterstage]

Thank you. so basically, vibrato is the song "let it go" irl. That in not putting too much focus creates better sound as a by-product of less tension.

[@heatherhawken]

Haha that’s a great way of putting it!

[@Nii_1p]

Hi heather I'm trying to do vibrato and instead of moving my elbow for some reason I keep moving my wrists and not my arm. And whenever I try to do the second step with moving my finger back and forth I also keep moving my wrists and not my arm. Please help.

[@heatherhawken]

So moving your wrist isn’t always a bad thing… it all depends on how it sounds but if it’s not the sound you’re looking for then focus on your bicep being the muscle to move your whole upper arm, wrist and hand out and then back in. Focusing on the bigger muscles allows the smaller muscles and tendons to relax and not get in the way. Let me know how you get on!

[@bennash88]

Thanks for tackling viola vibrato! Where do you put the thumb? Should it be loose and move or firm and stay put? Also, do you recommend any viola players I should follow?

[@heatherhawken]

That’s ok! So have a play around, some people like to have their thumb more underneath the neck of the viola, and some prefer it to the side. Either is fine but it’s the one the means your hand is most relaxed that will work best for you 😊 I actually don’t know many other viola players on KZbin… it’s one of the reasons I started my channel! So let me know if you find someone x

[@Unbridled-Whimsy]

​@@heatherhawken@bennash88 I'd recommend checking out Ronald Houston! I think he teaches viola at a university somewhere in Dallas. He posts a variety of videos, I really enjoy his technique-focused ones, it's been very helpful. He also posts string reviews! Thanks to him I now own a Warchal set and am very pleased with their quality.

[@amethystanne4586]

@@heatherhawken Last night I watched a video by Mary Spender talking about and demonstrating playing the viola. Mary is a professional musician, primarily accompanies her singing with a guitar.

[@koky1024]

Me gusta tu modo de 'analizar' el vibrato y sus detalles mas íntimos. Me refiero a 'intimos' con los profesores que tiene la 'respuesta' de todo. En fin, muchas gracias desde Arg. k.anton. violinista.

[@victoriamhendrix94]

Stumbled upon your video because I've been looking at a lot of Viola videos however that is due to I'm wanting to invest in my own as an adult beginner I have been wanting to play since 5th grade however family could not afford it then so I went into chorus instead finally after who knows how many months of research I found a luthier instead of any old music shop which does not know what they're doing I had to ask a lot of friends how to find a good viola because the music stores around here I said viola and they tried giving me a cello LOL not the same thing going through a rent-to-own program so will be making smaller payments so what is mine eventually I will continue to watch this video however if you can think of anything for beginners or just simple how the heck to find music for the alto clef would really appreciate you

[@heatherhawken]

They gave you a cello?! Oh my days… 🤣🤦🏼‍♀️ so my main advice would be to google “viola music” and you’ll find loads of really good arrangements. Especially if there’s a piece or TV theme etc that you want to learn, then search for it and you’ll find some really good options for all abilities ☺️

[@victoriamhendrix94]

@@heatherhawken yes and then to boot when they did find Viola they were like here's the only one we have and you know as well as I do even though adult beginner myself string instruments are measured to the body so then they tried just making me buy that one and it was like this is way bigger than me and I don't want to just buy an instrument at random where I get hurt later on because I didn't care to get it measured to my body but was how much they were trying to push that on me I looked at my friend not knowing about luthiers at the time until I reached out to people that were actually playing string instrument and just looked at her shaking my head and she knew that meant you're uncomfortable and let's get out of here and that was really hard because I really do want to play but I feel like in the long run it will be worth it because I actually found a luthier now where my investment will be protected

[@thomassicard3733]

Any tips for guitarists - guitarists who have been playing guitar for decades - to get over the WRONG motions of GUITAR VIBRATO???? Good Lord help me...

[@heatherhawken]

Sadly I've never played guitar so I don't have any tips there!

[@jennyhuang6886]

Thanks

[@heatherhawken]

My pleasure! x

[@bishalghimirey2993]

Hello , could you suggest a piece that could be used as audition for Berklee College of music, do you think ATCL Viola repertoire would be good enough?

[@heatherhawken]

So most colleges will specify the kind of music they want as the audition pieces. They often even specify exact repertoire. Have they given you any guidance at all?

[@bishalghimirey2993]

​@@heatherhawkenThank you for your reply. The Berklee website states the following for auditions: "A composition from the instrumental/voice repertoire or a movement, sonata, concerto, or etude" That's why I was confused regarding the level required and was wondering if ATCL repertoire would be good enough. Once again thank you for your time and suggestions.

[@heatherhawken]

Oh that's wonderfully vague of them 🤣 I would say that ATCL pieces would be absolutely fine, just make sure you're choosing one that showcases your playing the best rather than the one you think will be "most impressive" if that makes sense?

[@bishalghimirey2993]

@@heatherhawken ok i understand thank you so much for your time and effort......

[@badiansietemil0314]

Haha it is working 😋

[@Atezian]

The problem I am having is that when I vibrato with the string/fingerboard hand, it shakes the viola and causes the bow to spiccato the string because the instrument's body is moving.

[@heatherhawken]

So the chances are that you’re gripping the instrument somewhere, either with your hand itself or with your chin so have a think about where the tension is and then go from there 😊

[@Atezian]

@@heatherhawken That sounds reasonable. I will try to find where that tension is connecting to the instrument body. Thankyou, Heather. I come from guitar so my vibrato muscle memory is moving the strings perpendicular to the neck direction, which is the opposite of the motion required for volin style instrument.

[@thomassicard3733]

Let's face it: Viola playing should REQUIRE a special HARNESS connecting the human player's body, head, feet and the room's ceiling... to the viola... 😕

[@heatherhawken]

Now that would be a lot of kit to drag around haha

[@thomassicard3733]

Let it be, let it be Let it be, let it be... Wait. Is this a Beatles song???? NO. LET it be easy. ALWAYS the answer on EVERY instrument (including VOICE - no jokes about vocalists, please...)