Complete Vibrato Mastery
What you'll learn
- develop a consistent and beautiful vibrato, from the beginning stages of the technique through advanced applications
- fix vibrato issues, such as a vibrato that is too fast or too slow, inconsistent, non-existent, as well as issues with particular fingers
- demystify vibrato and take it from a technique you either "get" or you don't, to an achievable, expressive tool you can master
- understand and apply the most appropriate vibrato for each musical situation, phrase, and genre
- understand the historical and modern applications of vibrato for masterful interpretations
- learn to apply the right kind of vibrato to fiddle waltzes and airs, plus, add a dose of cool with a Rock and Blues vibrato technique
Requirements
- a violin or viola and bow and the ability to play simple songs and scales at minimim (advanced beginner/intermediate level)
- generally good intonation (playing in tune)
- a generally good sense of timing/rhythm
- a metronome (optional, but helpful)
Description
Through 38 hands-on video lectures and 17 play along tracks learn a systematic vibrato method that will take any violin, viola, or fiddle student with no vibrato experience to an expressive, consistent vibrato in 3-6 months.
More experienced players will gain skills for improving their vibrato technique while learning to create consistency and variety, in preparation for various applications across the Classical music time periods, as well as other music genres.
You'll learn how to troubleshoot and fix issues common with students trying to learn vibrato, such as a vibrato that makes you sound out of tune, issues with the 1st or 4th fingers, a vibrato that is too fast or too slow, as well as issues with form, cohesiveness, initiation, and continuous vibrato.
We'll explore ideas for musical interpretation, cover historical and modern applications of vibrato, the prerequisites needed for successfully learning vibrato, vibrato warm-ups, and even a flashy modern vibrato cousin great for adding to your Rock or Blues improvisations.
Along the way, enjoy samples of various vibrato styles performed by Laurel Thomsen through Classical favorites, fiddle tunes, and some of Laurel's original compositions. Additionally, links to a variety of articles help us dive deeper into the history and applications of vibrato.
To keep you on track, lessons end with a recap of what you should practice, consider, and remember. Similarly, a series of play-along practice tracks, several PDF practice outlines, and a detailed six month weekly practice program PDF ensure you are organizing the various exercises effectively, all the while seeing and hearing your progressive achievements.
Finally, the new Complete Vibrato Mastery group on Facebook gives students a place to share progress and gain further tips from the instructor and other community members.
Happy Practicing!
Who this course is for:
- violin and viola students who have some experience on the instrument and can generally play in tune
- string teachers who want to learn a systematic approach for developing vibrato to pass along to their students
- cello or bass students who want a method for learning vibrato that can be easily applied their instruments
- all string players who want to add beauty, color, intensity, and passion to the music they play
Instructor
- 4.9 Instructor Rating
- 412 Reviews
- 3,217 Students
- 1 Course
American genre-bending violinist, composer, and respected educator, Laurel Thomsen, has released a handful of albums and performed classically and for a variety of bands and artists since 1998. Since 2013 she has been touring over 150 dates a year throughout the North America as the "musically diverse and lyrically refreshing" Roots-Folk duo Dan Frechette & Laurel Thomsen.
With a rich and expressive violin tone and an interpretive style that can both rock a solo or add backup texture and groove, Laurel is frequently sought for her ability to add depth and emotion to diverse styles of music. Penguin Eggs Magazine called Laurel “a terrific violinist and accompanist".
Laurel is passionate about not only sharing music on stage, but helping others along on their musical path. Her multi-media guides to string playing technique - Improve Your Bowing Technique and Improve Your Violin and Viola Technique, available through String Letter Publishing, have become trusted educational supplements for violin, viola, and fiddle students around the world. Also a longtime Strings magazine contributor and the creator and host of iTunes’ popular Violin Geek Podcast, since 1996 Laurel has dedicated herself to the success of hundreds of violin, viola, and fiddle students as a private lessons and workshop instructor. Recognized for her abilities in troubleshooting challenges and inspiring dedicated students of all ages, since 2009, as the New York Times reported, Laurel has also been an innovator in the world of teaching online via Skype.