 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Ruby
Date: 2004-11-21 22:24
I have been playing the flute for 5 years and my band director just introduced me to vibrato. He didnt really give me a good explaination on how to do it and I dont think he really knows how because he plays tuba. So could anyone please give me some tips on how to master vibrato.
Ruby
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Author: hautbois
Date: 2004-11-23 13:52
first and formost there must be sufficient understanding that your current control of tone quality, projection and intonation has reached a certain level of achievement, otherwise, it is not recommended that you learn vibrato because it requires a not only a strong support of air but also a very clear mind when done.
the aim of vibrato is to basically add warmth to sound.
sometimes intensity. so the use is quite subjective, but at last it must be natural. the first step is to experiment on vowels. using the movement of the throat, as in play the simplest long tone on the flute, say a middle B. then add vowels in between, without separating anything, as in HAH or HOH. Then, try to accomplish this in a rhythmic sort of way. Consult your band director and see if it sounds natural.
Next the difficult part comes in. Try and play the B again.
This time, without using the vowels, try and alter the pitch (lower the B) by levelling the amount of supprot in the diaphragm. In a very slow pace play a normal B, a flatter B, a normal B, a flatter B vice versa in a slow minim pattern, then slowly increase the velocity. This should be the kind of vibrato that we are looking for.
this is as an exercise. so REMEMBER, VIBRATO WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IF IT DISGUISES BAD INTONATION, CHANGES PITCH TOO DRASTICALLY, OR SOUNDS INTENDED OR PULSATED.
of course for full reference of true vibrato application i suggest you try Trevor Wye's flute practise books in 6 editions. Incredible book for flute. Must try!
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Author: Beth
Date: 2005-01-06 12:05
The development of vibrato depends on your ability to control your air stream. Vibtato entails small fluctuations or pulses of the air. A good place to start is by playing short puffs of air on the syllable ha without tonguing. This will activate the muscles that eventually help to create and sustain vibrato. Once you can play the ha's cleanly start to string them together by playing quarter notes then eighth notes. Use a metronome to keep them even.
Once you can play the ha's as eighth notes at around 120 the next step is to smooth them out. Use the same method this time using the syllable hu. The notes should be connected with no separation. Imagine the shape of the pulsation to be that of a sine wave. If this is difficult play a crescendo then a decrescendo starting as half notes progressing to quarter notes. When you have mastered the control of the air stream return to the hu's starting slowly and increase the speed.
At this point you are ready to try and meter the pulsations. I like to have students work with triplets as it creates a nice "spinning" sound. Start on a Bb scale, one octave, playing four beats of triplets per note ascending and descending. Start the metronome at a tempo where you have absolute control over the pulsations. The first step is the ability to control the air stream. Once you can do that slowly increase the tempo over time. The goal is to be able to play this exersice at 132 on the metronome.
Finally, vibrato is used to create color, warmth and intensity in the sound so the speed of the vibrato should change to express the mood of the music. Never play with the same vibrato speed all the time. Use vibrato as a great artist uses color. It should never overpower the tone but enhance it. Good Luck!
Beth
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