"I was curious."
"All the cool people do it."
"There`s no harm in doing it."
"I won`t get addicted."
"I can quit whenever I want."

Right now, I`m not addicted to vibrato...but I`ve heard that many people can`t stop doing it. It`s sorta freakin me out. Why do these people become addicted? I`m a little (just a little) afraid of continuing vibrato.

Yesss!!? Masturbation is quite addictive isnt it?

Ahem!

u scared me for a second there, i didnt think u were talkin bout playin the violin. umm addicted to playin vibrato, thats not a bad thing i guess who cares keep playin it get addicted whatever.

I think people get so addicted to vibrato because they`re not really aware they`re doing it. I can`t do it, but I only play traditional fiddle music so I don`t want to. It`s not really desireable in trad music, and then it can be a problem.

How not to get addicted? Don`t start...

Don`t listen to the "light classics" that radio stations play during the day- they will give you urges to do horrible vibrato. Don`t listen to flute players or cello players either- I don`t know what it is with them and vibrato.

Harvey

I think a lot of musicians and singers use vib to cover up bad intonation.

Raff

Actually the vibrato of strings and voices is not really the same. The vibrato comes naturally for classical vocal singing, when the voice has reached its maximum projection spot. It is not like strings, where u need to move yr wrist to get it. But classical vocalists do add some fake`vibrato` sometimes to accentuate certain features of the song. IE: trill. Over doing a vibrato is a bad thing. It will eventually take away the music, the details, the articulation,the character and the musical direction. Esp. unecessary forceful vibratos all through the song.

All

I think Kyung Wha Chung`s tuned into the wrong station!

Its all about control; vibrato is part of some music and not of some. Like piano pedals, if you like, you have to learn to apply vibrato at the right places to make the right sound (i.e., the sound that you intend to make.) What you might call addiction is the natural tendency to produce resonant sounds and to check the intonation.

A master of the violin does not need to check his intonation, for it comes naturally, and only needs to apply vibrato where it is necessary, for his resonance comes from his bowing.

Jay

Wot!!? You mean this isn`t the impotence clinic!!?

Ya, i agree vibrato is the most addictive thing after maturbation. I just can`t stop playing it as it is improving by leaps and bounds. sometimes i just meant to practise some etudes on my violin, and before i could get a thorough practise, i start playing a few vibrato notes and then i find myself playing vibrato on Schinder`s List and Massenet`s meditation and then before i know it, i`ve been playing it for the past three hours.

I think vibrato is the most touching technique in string instruments. Don`t resist it, enjoy and embrace it.

Violin

Some people`s vib is so wide they`re playing in three keys at the same time!

Raff