JAVS Summer 2001

23

THE BASICS REVISITED: ARTISTIC DISTINCTIONS

II. DEVELOPING PHYSICAL CONTROL Use the following vibrato exercises to develop physical control over the fingertip, hand, forearm, and upper arm as they participate in the vibrato. Always use a minimum ofeffort for each move ment. A. Fingertip Fingertip vibrato action should feel like a vertical press-release action; like a trill with the finger dropping from the back of the hand. Warm up: Drop fingers with a minimum of effort onto the body of the instrument. Feel how the tendons connect all the way from the finger to the relaxed elbow. Allow the fingertip to feel a slight "give" upon landing, with a slight motion rocking forward. Quarter= 60 Play 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 cycles per beat. l~o~~~~ liB r r r r r r r r 1 f r f r f r f r 1 t r t rt r t r 1 E r E r E r E r I

:,~~----"- ~--::~ ./'-C) k" (:>--.; ( .-· ... ~-~:_,-. - --\ ~ c----------. ~") .:.::.__.....:..; ~

Apply this exercise to the following subdivisions:

~ 1 0 etc.

liB [ r [ r

-------=------- 1 0 etc.

liB frf rfr

L___6- -------=------ 1 0 etc.

liB [ r[r[r[r

~ 1 0 etc.

liB frfr[rfrfrfr '--- 6 ----.J L___ 6

B. Fingertip + Hand The hand, forearm, and upper arm can add width to the vibrato. Note that the muscles in the forearm control the hand motion. The vibrato is still initiated by the finger drop; in this exercise, let the hand follow the arc of the fingertip. Warm up: With the left palm facing you, hold the thumb with the right hand and wave the hand alone. Quarter= 60 Play 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 cycles per beat ..----... 2 1r r r r