When I play both the simple system flute and high D whistle, I just naturally get some vibrato on the longer notes. I’m not trying to do it, I think it’s just how my breath support works from the diaphram. The same thing happened when I played r******r. I used to do a lot of singing and was in choirs from grade school all the way through college, so that may be where it originated.
So now, the question is, how do I go about getting rid of this automatic vibrato?
Thanks,
Bob
Practice. Listen. Correct. Repeat.
I struggle with this, too.
Sometimes when I play people
say–what a lovely vibrato you
get out of the flute. Wonder
why I’m crying.
Many years ago I took voice lessons,
and the teacher told me to tense
my belly while singing, to keep
a base of tension there.
I wonder (a) if this is a good idea
in general, and (b) whether
it might help eliminate my
vibrato.
What!!! All those years of working to get it right and you’re telling me it’s NOT supposed to be there? Now how do I camouflage the nerves?
Well, my basic understanding is that vibrato should not be a normal part of the tone for ITM. When it is used, it’s done purposely as an ornament, and it’s more commonly done using finger vibrato rather than diaphragm vibrato.
Bob
Right, unfortunately.
It might be helpful to make your vibrato really deliberate and obvious and huge. Spend some time blowing long notes and going HA HA HA HA HA into your flute. Then stop doing that.