Flute Vibrato Options

[The Old Lady]

I have been developing my vibrato from non existent to one I can switch on and off in the bottom 2 octaves. When I am in the 3rd octave, I don't seem to "feel" a vibrato there. I can't hear it because it's too fine a noise for my poor hearing, but I also can't "feel" it inside me.
Do other people have trouble getting it in the higher notes at first?
I hope this makes sense. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)
Bev

[Flossie]

I can't remember from when I learnt vibrato. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

One thing I notice when I'm out of practice is that the top octave seems to naturally lend itself to a faster vibrato than the lower octaves (which I'd guess is related to the faster air speed used for these notes, but I'm not entirely sure - Andante will know (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)). A slow vibrato seems to be easiest to control on the lower octaves (especially the bottom one) and a faster vibrato seems to be easier to control on the top octave. However, you need to be able to do different vibrato speeds and depths in all three octaves.

It may be that a slow vibrato is easier for you to 'feel', so it might help to work on increasing the vibrato speed on the lower octaves and learning what the different speeds feel like to you, and then try the top octave with a faster vibrato. Then once you have vibrato working in the top octave slow the speed down again there. You'll possibly find to start with that there may be a tendency for some of the notes - especially top F# - to break, because the up and down of the vibrato is basically slight changes in air speed and the top octave is more sensitive to air speed.

Not sure if I'm explaining things very clearly there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) I know what I mean, but it's harder to write it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

[Flossie]

Another excerise which you might find helpful for developing top octave vibrato is diaphragm pushes. Push and release with your diagphragm so that the note just breaks with each pulse, sarting with one pulse a second and building up to 2 pulses, 3 pulses, 4 pulses per second. Keep each note going with the pulses until you run out of breath and work your way up in semitones. This obviously isn't vibrato, but it develops the right muslces for controlling the slower and deeper versions of top octave vibrato. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[The Old Lady]

Thanks Flossie, that's helpful. If higher notes are faster, then that is probably why I can't feel them.
Iexpect most flute players are getting ready for parties, and there will be more ideas tomorrow.
Have a healthy new year Flossie. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Bev

[Flossie]

Thanks Flossie, that's helpful. If higher notes are faster, then that is probably why I can't feel them.

The high notes don't have to be faster - in fact you will need eventually to be able to do them at lots of different speeds and depths - but they are easier to control if they are faster (or at least I find that they are). You can start off by doing a slower vibrato on the top octave which matches the speed and depths you are doing on the other octaves, but this is more challenging in terms of the control that's required and so might take a bit longer to 'get'.

[The Old Lady]

Most of what I am playing has fast high notes, and so tricky to do. I have some pieces which have longer low notes, but will try your method.
Have a good time at Leeds. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

[Flossie]

Most of what I am playing has fast high notes, and so tricky to do. I have some pieces which have longer low notes, but will try your method.
Have a good time at Leeds. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

Do some work on vibrato separately to the pieces. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I regularly do vibrato exercises as part of my warm-up. Vibrato should be part of the tone, rather than an addition to it - but it does need to be worked on in isolation as well in pieces in order to have control of a wider pallete of vibratos and tone colours. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'm assuming you aren't being taught the wide, uniform 1980's 'English-method' vibrato which has a consistent speed and depth regardless of what is being played - if you are being taught this then ignore me because it's a different method of playing and of sound creation. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I tried lessons with someone who taught this method and it really didn't work for me - but that doesn't mean it doesn't work for other people. Her first comment to me was "you've been taugh french method and I don't like it. I teach the English method and it's totally different". It certainly was totally different (especially in terms of how the air is moved out of the lungs and into the flute), and having heard her demonstrate things to me I realised that I really didn't aspire to the kind of flute sound she was creating - but players are different and like different things (so don't worry if you are being taught the wide uniform vibrato and you like that sound - it's what everyone else in the County Youth Orchestra was taught). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[gedall40]

If I may be permitted to add my two-pen'orth to this interesting but rather exclusive thread ( (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) ) my teacher adopts the "I don't teach vibrato" method (I don't know which nationality that would be (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) ). But she has started suggesting which pieces would benefit from some, and which would not.

Like you Bev, I have found some vibrato in the lower register, which to me seems to enhance the sound, but I have none in the top register. I am aware of the danger of sounding like a bleating nannygoat, so I guess I am not trying too quickly to develop it.

I look forward to getting some personal tuition at Leeds tomorrow in return for hopefully playing a nice accompaniment to Flossie's solo piece (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) .

[The Old Lady]

If I may be permitted to add my two-pen'orth to this interesting but rather exclusive thread

All are welcome. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I am aware of the danger of sounding like a bleating nannygoat, so I guess I am not trying too quickly to develop it.

If you sound like a goat I will be sure to tell you Gerald. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)