Introduction to Vibrato – Violin Lessons – by Paul Huppert

Learning vibrato is no easy task, considering there are still those who treat this endeavor more as an innate gift than an acquired skill. Just as shifting, bow stroke vocabulary, and tone quality are within the player’s intellectual pursuit, so too is the mastery of a satisfying use of vibrato.
In this lesson, the concept of shifting practice as a form of relaxation to proceed the practice of vibrato is introduced, and will be a mainstay throughout the three lesson vibrato series. Shaping the finger, angle, and structural integrity of the left hand in general are discussed. To better make this lesson accessible to those players that do not shift, I included exercises that do not involve shifting, and are in the first position only.