Learning to Vibrato by Anne Nayer, msw, Coach Paradise

Learning how to vibrato has been one of my life goals ever since I took up the violin, 6 years ago.  I’ve taken lessons here and there and mostly listened and learned to play by ear  which is a departure from my musical upbringing as a classical pianist.  I figured a new instrument would give me a new lease on my musical life.  When I walked out of the 5^th String music store in Sacramento one afternoon with a package deal, violin, bow, and a couple of lessons, for a song – I was walking on air.

My daughter hid in her room, called me nuts but I kept it up and found a guy in a barn who taught me a few things.  I got into jazz and despite deserts of not practicing and moments of deep discouragement and frustration – I have continued to play. One thing that has continued to elude me is learning how to vibrato (that shaking of the hand that enhances and rounds out the tone).  Despite progress on other fronts vibrato and failed attempts vibrato kept holding me hostage.

Feeling like an idiot and close to throwing in the towel, it was violin teacher extraordinaire, Julie Beistline, who reassured me that many struggle with vibrato and if I persist, I ‘ll get it.  She would circle me, brow furrowed while observing how I was holding the violin, looking for any signs of tension that were preventing my hand from moving freely and easily.   When she noticed that I was pressing on the neck with my pointer finger the mystery was solved. You can’t hold on tight and vibrato at the same time.

With a more open frame my hand is now free to move up down the neck and free to vibrate.  I’m still like a wobbly colt not quite in control but I get it, I can do it and I do it just right more and more. That something so simple could make such a difference got me thinking about other areas of life, wondering where else I could release tension, save energy and open up the possibility of movement – all by changing one simple thing – like the tension on a sewing machine – where one tiny tweak can be the difference between smocking and seamless.  Sports coaches watch athletes and suggest similarly tiny changes with tremendous impact on performance  as Life Coaches do in other areas of life.

When I first came to the Caribbean I came with a sketchbook and drew outlines of the steep, green mountains of St. Vincent.  One afternoon, sitting with another artist on the deck, drawing, he suggested that I hold my pencil with a lighter grip and draw more freely with a lighter line.  He demonstrated.  I copied.  I have drawn differently ever since.  It can happen in an instant – if you are open – the teacher arises.

I’m looking around and asking to be shown where I am holding on too tight and preventing the very movement that I seek.  I’m asking to be shown where I am so stuck in seeing things a certain way and telling a certain story that I am closed to a new view, the bigger picture and worlds I didn’t know existed, including the wonderfully rounded, rich tone of a fine vibrato.

And I’m keeping in mind that it only takes one idea, one second in time, to change everything, forever.