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Comment |
hannah
Registered User
Posts: 1
(2/4/01 2:59:10 am)
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vibrato
I'm experimenting with vibrato right now- trying to discover a way
to get it freed up all over the cello. I have always had trouble
with vibrato, which i think partially is because I was never really
taught how to do it- i basically figured it out (sort of) for
myself. Having gotten to a fairly advanced level of playing I'm now
frustrated with not being able to get the sounds I want- especially
in the upper register.
I'm just wondering what anyones thoughts
are on the topic? Have you discovered anything about getting
different colors out of vibrato? Getting a fast vibrato without
tensing? How are your fingers (and thumb) spaced when playing in the
bout region (say from E on the A string up to D)? One or two fingers
down? Finger tips or pads? What about arm angle? Wrist?
If
you've discovered or been taught anything interesting about vibrato,
I'd be interested to hear.
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Andrea
Registered User
Posts: 18
(2/5/01 5:45:01 pm)
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Vibrato
My experience was that vibrato came naturaly on its own because I
wasn't tense at all and was well set up. The feeling that I get is
that if you're experiencing tensiion while doing vibrato the vibrato
probably isn't the problem because it's such a natural
movement.
If it helps at all, I remember my teacher being
very adamant about feeling the "wobble" of your loose
muscles/sagging fat between your elbow and shoulder, and trying to
think of the movement as coming from there.
I use the tips
of my fingers and the pads (maybe because I'm a Libra and see the
good in everything). I don't usually think about the mechanics of
the different colours, but I guess I vary the speed, and size.
Generally I get colours from a combination of my left arm and
rightarm... something like small and fast vibrato for
piano...
Anyhoo, I'd could go on and on but I should
go.
Andrea
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cellofreak1286
Registered User
Posts: 17
(3/11/01 5:23:31 pm)
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try this
Here is an excersise my teacher gave me when I was in the seventh
grade to get a good tone and relax my arm for vibrato. Start slowly
and run your fingers up and down the fingerboard (start down on the
neck and once you have the hang of it, move up into thumb position).
Do thirty seconds with your first finger down, then add second, then
third, and finally fourth. Thrity seconds on each finger (total of
two minutes). After a few days at a moderate speed, pick up the pace
a little, then a little, and a little bit more. Every time you
increase speed, decrease the area that you run your finger/s over
until you are not moving your finger at all.
It took me a couple
of months to get it down pretty well, but I was a beginner then so
it should be easier for you, just don't push anything! This should
help you loosen your arm's muscles and help your vibrato.
You
can get different colors from your vibarato, experiment with the
speed and the size. It is hard to explain. If all else fails, try
and find a private teacher in your area, explain your dilema and ask
if you could have just one lesson. Good luck!
~Rachel
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celloflame
Registered User
Posts: 4
(4/3/01 3:14:13 pm)
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vibrato
I have been teaching an interresting technique that every time I
teach this lesson, I discover something new about why it is good and
that I should do it myself every month or so.
Take an orange
into your left hand and only grasp half of it so that your fingers
and thumb look as though you have a great thumb position. Or you
could say that if you cut the orange in half and held it on the
table open side down, all of your fingers and your thumb will be
touching the counter-top. Now place the fruit (whole) on the strings
and run it up and down the 'cello feel free to bow while you do
this, it has a surprisingly good sound. Take note what position your
arm is in to go from the nut to the bridge w/o lifting it every time
you get past 4th position. After getting comfortable with this start
vibrato(ing) with the orange in your hand. Your forearm should feel
as though you have a fly-wheel at your elbow and you should hear a
really tasty beefy vibrato sound.
Let me know how you like
it!
the fello cello
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Andrea
Registered User
Posts: 20
(4/7/01 10:37:44 am)
Reply
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oranges, beer
bottles, whats the difference?
playing with an orange sounds a lot like how guitarists will use a
beer bottle as a slide for kicks.
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rocel
Registered User
Posts: 2
(6/2/01 7:51:32 am)
Reply
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Re:
vibrato
Hello!
Perhaps relying on a "natural" vibrato is not giving you
the control that you crave. Yes, of course it must be relaxed, but
also controlled. Boring as it is, long slow bows and a metronome are
the only way... Set the metronome slow, play long bows, and count
the vibrato wobbles in each bow. Start very slow- say 4 wobbles to
each long bow, then 6, 8,10 ect. Notice what movement you make, and
feel in each movement. To start with, it'll sound horrid... but over
time it will help with ths control of speed. You could also
experiment the angle of your hand, how far over the finger board it
is ect (sorry if you have done all these things- guess you
have)!
It's boring, it takes a lot of time, but it works!
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