Where does vibrato come from? Does it come from the throat, the abdomen, or the diaphram? Thanks

I feel mine comes from the diaphram and the throat, but I think that it can come from all 3 depending on the player.

No, but I have read it shouldn't come from the throat but the abdomen.

a proper, relaxed, expressive and controlled vibrato comes from the throat..

Thanks for all of your responses

I am just starting to learn how to use "correct" vibrato (it took me 6 years).
My teacher explained that students should avoid throat vibrato (at least while not being advanced students) because there are risks of doing it wrongly (sort of the goat thing).

According to what she is teaching me, intermediate level should first train to do it from the abdominal region, particularly for lower notes - slower vibrato. I have so tried and I could do it from first attempt, only that it is difficult to understand (and to explain) how.

The abdominal muscles are noticeably working for this effect and it could be the diaphragm is also opposing them, but one cannot feel this muscle (though I have read it is the strongest and biggest in the body).

When it comes higher notes and faster vibrato, it seems (to me) the source moves higher to the chest zone but still not to the throat.

Teacher said there are people that can also produce lips vibrato (??).

Patrick says good vibrato comes from the throat and sure he knows! Bout it probably means that professionals use or can use the throat for it, but probably it is not the best way to start as a student.

In any case, I am not allowed to do it with the throat right now. These last years it has been a constant fight to get rid of my spontaneous vibrato (it did not fit the works style or simply it was not good enough).

First time I was "officially" introduced to it is with Mozart's Andante (1/2 D second bar section B).

Of course my comments refer to a particular teacher and her method (and my personal way of learning), it could be completely different with other teachers and other students.

My teacher says I have a very "natural" vibrato. What does this mean?

Natural vibrato - you just naturally push the pitch either up or down without really thinking about it (everything sort of sounds pretty)

so its a good thing, right? If its a bad habit, I wanna stop it.

Oh ok, I don't sound like a goat, it sounds mormal. I just thought its better to learn the correct way instead of the way I do it. But if its good, then I'm happy!

I never learned vibrato, and I can control it faster or slower as I see fit, once a teacher tried to teach it to me, it almost ruined it..

It just depends on how you feel comfortable; vibrato doesn't specifically have to come from one location. I heard James Galway say that his comes from the throat, and mine comes from a combination of the throat and my thoracic cavity (not really the diaphragm and not really the lungs, but kind of a combination). My friend the tenor sax player does it with his tonsils, which is really odd. Whatever makes you feel like you're doing it right and doesn't seem forced is how you should do it, in the end.

It really depends on what you are trying to achieve. A deep wide vibrato starts low down in the abdomen. but also the throat is good for expressive vibrato as long as it stays open. If you hear noises when you play, start again and relax. My teacher started me off in the abdomen with a metronome on 60 and doing 1 osilation per beat then two , three , four five and finally six (over about a year), its good to have this technique so you can vary your speed. Also there is nothing worse than this permanent osilation. It isnt always necessary and if you have a beautiful tone, there is no need to cover it up.... its like why put make up on a beautiful face?! Listen to sharon bezaly, she hardly ever uses it... an interesting technique that in general is much harder to pull off


Regards

I do my vibrato exclusively in my throat, and I don't sound tense at all, a tense throat will cause a tense sound no matter what..a good, controlled vibrato does not come from the abdomen...

i disagree patrick that one should do something exclusively in one area, yes whilst the throat is good for certain vibratos, so is the diaphragm and abdomen. Personally i use them all depending on what i am trying to achieve! BUt i stick with my point that making a beautiful sound without vibrato is more difficult, so my best advice would be to mature that side of your playing

regards