Tense Violin Vibrato? Try This Trick

[@jamesnotsmith1465]

I have been dealing with an 'inflexible' knuckle issue for years. It has frustrated three instructors. I think a simple remark made by an on-line instructor may have helped more than anything else I have tried. Lighten up on the pressure you apply to the fingertip. As you rock back, also lift up until the string is almost ready to separate from the finger board. This release of finger pressure allows the knuckle to flex. When I practice vibrato thinking about using the least amount of fingertip pressure possible, I can actually produce a vibrato sound.

[@professorV]

Hi James, I’m happy to hear you’re having some success! Thanks, Todd

[@ArteSortilegio1000]

Merci pour la information, Thanks You very much, Bonne Continuation, BONNE ANNEE 2023

[@professorV]

I appreciate that, thank you, and I hope you’re doing well!

[@michelleherman6952]

I think the toothpick idea is a great one, especially for kids who are learning vibrato and have a tight knuckle like you said. Thanks for the idea!

[@professorV]

Thanks, Michelle! I appreciate your input very much.

[@nap0bridge]

Hey Mr. Ehle!! Another great teaching video. 👍😄 Great to see ya again.

[@edmundoleal3969]

👍 Thanks, I will try it after my scales today.

[@professorV]

Thank you!

[@renshimarek]

Super ! :)

[@ricaard]

Haven't seen you online in a while, Todd! Hope you are well. Wonderful lessons as always!

[@professorV]

Hi ricaard, thanks very much. Hope you’ve been well!

[@kabuky1256]

Thank you for this video! This really helped me with my main struggle when it came to vibrato.

[@ChrisEbbrsen]

Dear Instructor, please forgive my forgetting your.name. I will pass along a little secret as to how to keep left thumb from choking violin neck. I sit on inexpensive piano bench next to my Huffy mountain bike. The right hand grip makes a great support for the violin neck and I can then relax my thumb because my violin is supported by collar bone and right handlebar grip. I support it just below the cats tongue on the scroll. I then use the remaining 4 fingers to do their job in a light natural manner. It works for me. Hope this helps! Do be careful not to put undue pressure on the scroll or the.neck will snap! Happy leisurely vibrato! Enjoy!😅

[@ChrisEbbrsen]

Ya know! That seems like an extremely good indicator of tense vibrato! I have not tryed it yet. Might a wooden match stick also work? Or I shall have to whittle my own tooth pick. You Sir are a genius! At least it might possibly serve as an indicator of loose and or tense vibrato. I hope to try this very soon. Thank you!😅

[@version12001]

That actually makes sense. Thank you!

[@professorV]

Thanks for the nice comment!

[@augustinechinnappanmuthria7042]

Super super super lovely

[@diviajar]

So good to see a new video from you! I've tried the toothpick trick even though I don't have this particular problem (I do have plenty of other problems), just to get the feeling. The problem with it is that once the toothpick falls, you need to take the hand off the position to fetch toothpick and place it again. If your student is like me, the problem isn't that he doesn't understand the movement. I knew what I had to do. I just couldn't do it on the violin. Lack of flexibility and coordination. It came with time. But I'm super old, so everything is slow. One thing that helped me a lot was watching videos of great violinists and playing along. Monkey see, monkey does, really. Even nowadays, when my vibrato won't come, I play along watching the hands of a great violinist. Like magic, my hand does what it needs to do, purely immitation. So, perhaps if you just play with him some super easy piece he plays, vibrating. He may just end up getting it, just by automatic immitation. I hope he knows what an honor it is to have you as a teacher! Greetings from Belgium!

[@professorV]

Thank you for your very kind comments, Diviajar! You are correct, a student will often benefit from playing with me once their vibrato techniques are established. They can try to match my motions and width. I appreciate your input very much.

[@pasqualetto_bass]

Cool video, thanks!

[@TranTVuong]

Thank ❤

[@ChrisEbbrsen]

dear Mr. Elle, I tryed whittling a toothpick for indication of tense distal flanges, and I lost the toothpick. It held fine as long as I was tense but then scooted. I'm finding that this aid might not be the best for me. It.seems to me an elderly woman had it right; and that was in order to have a loose vibrato one must have a decent shoulder rest in order for the thumb to take a vacation and not choke the neck. I was chided for choking my violin neck as a child and may have a complex hovering around this issue. I think slight backward pull to each distal joint a better loosening procedure for me. I believe Wallace Richey has some good gymnastics that can an will add suppleness to my left hand. Thank you for trying this toothpick idea, maybe I'm doing it wrong. Very greatful for your efforts to engage a fluid vibrato for students. Very much appreciated. Looking forward to more as you are able. Yours, chris in u.s.2year student 40 years ago. I gave up because of too much pressure to read music. I wish now I hadn't given up, but I must learn slowly, the hard way. Bye for now.😅

[@professorV]

Tension is a real problem for every, and sometimes trying harder makes it worse. The point of this video is to show where the motion in the finger comes from. Take a look at this old video and see if it helps. Best of luck! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZ6yYmiEa7lsm8ksi=T0ZlEKE9LHCl0tAy

[@miguelbarahona6636]

Are you the Todd Ehle that played in Jag Panzer albums?

[@professorV]

Hey Miguel, yes, that’s me. I had a great time playing with those guys.

[@miguelbarahona6636]

@@professorV Awesome!. Nice to talk to you, I love those albums (I own the CDs) and your violin is a nice addition to the atmosphere and the sound of the band. Glad to meet you Todd. All the best to you!

[@professorV]

Thanks, Miguel, and best wishes to you as well!

[@annasolonenko3224]

Bravissimo caro Maestro!!!❤❤❤❤

[@professorV]

Thank you, Anna! Best wishes

[@granthawkins9142]

Im having a separation of right and left hands when i try to practice vibrato.

[@professorV]

That’s pretty common, although I know it’s frustrating. Try working without the bow a little each day to develop the new habit. When you feel ready, try adding the bow - but be patient with yourself. Best wishes!

[@michellelee1178]

Hi professor, I was thinking if thumb placement the issue impeding the vibrato. I experimented vibrato without placing my thumb on the violin neck and I can vibrate freely than when I placed my thumb. I believe thumb placement can be a reason.

[@professorV]

Yes, I agree that thumb tension can hinder the flow of the vibrato. Practicing with the thumb off can give you a real sense of freedom, as long as you’re able to keep the head and shoulder relaxed. Try placing your scroll against the wall while doing this. It will give you a little support. After you get a good finger motion, try adding the thumb. Don’t squeeze, just cradle the neck. It can sometimes help the place the thumb under the neck, at least at first. It’s harder to get the “death grip “ with the thumb under the neck. Then you can experiment with different thumb placements to find a good balance, able to reach all four fingers, and avoid the squeeze. Keep the scroll against the wall until it becomes a habit. Good luck!

[@michellelee1178]

@@professorV Thank you very much for the instructions ❤

[@JSB2500]

The toothpick idea won't work for me! Real world data: Your tip joint bends around 70°. Mine only bends 30°. Gigantic difference! It's caused me zero trouble in life, until maybe now. I have no trouble playing a wide pitch range vibrato with my second and third fingers, and first finger pitch range is quite good too. My fourth finger range is quite limited, but good for some purposes. However, I need to use all my finger joints, not just the tip one. *What pitch range, in cents, do you think is needed? I'm really interested. You can find out what range you achieve using a tuning app on a phone.* I see that your second finger bone remains level as you vibrate. I can see that that's lovely, but I cannot do that at all. Maybe other students have the same problem? The upside for me is that my finger joints never collapse and are great for piano concertos and changing car gearboxes 😄😎. If you'd like to see what I mean, see the Bach BWV 542 on the main page of my channel. Maybe the fugue. I can also make some violin vibrato videos if it helps. I get a cent change of around 60-65 (at vibrato speed), so around two thirds of a semitone (half step). As I say, it does involve all my finger joints, not just my tip joint like with you. I hope that's useful data for you. Thanks for the video!

[@professorV]

Hi John, I appreciate your feedback very much. Everyone is different, of course. I don’t think there is a single range or width, it would depend on the music. I think the best vibrato enhances the music, but doesn’t stand out on its own. It becomes part of the overall musical phrase. Thanks again for sharing!

[@MosesWrite]

Hey, do you have an email? I would like to ask you a question.