 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: Loliver
Date: 2011-12-11 18:23
Hello, its probably a question thats been asked a million times...but is there a way of teaching yourself Vibrato? I just cant seem to do it...whatever I've tried it just sounds weird...I guess its because I'm used to using it on clarinet, but I jsut can't seem to do it on oboe...
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2011-12-11 19:08
Attachment: Vibrato exercise.pdf (44k)
IMHO, it is part-myth that vibrato comes from the diaphragm. Once you have mastered it, you will find that it naturally comes from somewhere halfway between the diaphragm and the throat.
Having said that, I teach it as though it comes from the diaphragm, because once you focus on the movement coming from that general area, it seems to settle in its natural position. Along with the fact that it teaches good breath control (I often find students have better projection and pitch control once they have started learning vibrato, even if they aren't using it all the time).
I will try and attach a PDF of the exercises I use for my flute students, you may want to alter the pitches, but the fundamentals are the same.
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Author: Loree BF51
Date: 2012-01-25 17:03
Mr. Still used to say that he "...didn't teach vibrato, he just set up the necessary conditions for it to occur." Definitely, don't try to use a throat vibrato, as anything thing that tends to close down the throat passage is to be avoided like the plague! Rather, concentrate on developing diaphramatic breathing - when you breathe in, the shoulders should not move up very little, only the stomach should expand outward. Try "panting" like a dog, but slowly, at first, in order to develop flexibility in the breath. Again, when you do this, it's the stomach that should be doing the moving, not the shoulders. There may be some slight movement in the lower chest, but that's okay. Then, gradually increase the rate of pant. This is part of setting up "those conditions". Regards, Loree BF51
R. Still former student
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Author: claire70
Date: 2012-01-25 20:21
I've taught vibrato to a student who couldn't get it to develop naturally by putting a metronome on a slow speed, and making him do the 'pant' that Loree BF51 describes above, to the metronome. (You can also think of it as a Santa-Claus-ian 'ho ho ho' from the belly.) Then increase the metronome one click per week - eventually a natural reflex takes over and you start doing it 'properly'.
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Author: Loliver
Date: 2012-01-25 21:31
Thanks for advice everyone!
In referral to the 'pant', is it to create the note, or you play a note, and kind of pant at the same time, making it louder? I don't quite understand...
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Author: Loree BF51
Date: 2012-01-26 00:25
I’m sorry – I should have been a little more detailed in my explanation. Actually, you don’t use the oboe at all, you just begin by breathing in and out slowly and just loud enough, so you can hear the breath movement. You want to work on making the action, as effortless as possible. When you feel it is as comfortable and natural as you can make it, then you can gradually increase the panting rate.
As I was thinking about this and not having ever played the clarinet, it occurred to me, that whatever happens in the breath system to produce vibrato on the clarinet, needs to be “scaled” back (no pun intended), on the oboe. Maybe, 50% or more (or would that be less?), as I believe there is a substantial difference in air flow rate between the two. Good luck, Loree BF51
R. Still former student
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Author: TrueFinlandishness
Date: 2012-02-02 12:22
I've just started learning vibrato myself. I'll list below the steps I'm currently taking:
1) I placed my hands on my stomach and coughed. This is the position it should be coming from when learning although it normally ends up higher once it has settled and comes naturally.
2) Next, with the reed in the oboe I took a metronome and did the following exercise starting at around crotchet=30 on any scale of choice (I'll use ol to indicate a quaver)
ol - ol ol ol ol ol ol
The first note is tounged followed by a quaver rest. This just gives an indication of pitch and volume and should be a firm stable note without vibrato. Then, without tounging the next note play and vibrato the next six quavers, being very aware of the movement of the diaphragm. The metronome can then be built up.
3) The next step is vibrato in rhythms. Taking another scale stick with a fairly slow metronome mark but this time in 3/4 time. Vibrato two quavers, followed by one set of quaver triplets, followed by a set of four semiquavers. Repeat and increase the metronome mark.
4) After this I repeated the two exercises until vibrato felt more natural. Then take long notes and crescendo and diminuendo over eight slow crotchet beats, increasing and decreasing the intensity (speed and depth) of the vibrato.
5) Now it's time to put this with simple melodies such as hymns or folk tunes.
I hope that helps? I guess that eventually it comes down to have control over your vibrato and as long as it sounds natural and isn't excessive it is correct.
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