i've been playing the violin for a while, i started when i was about thirteen in school, kept it up for about two and a half years, quit, and picked it up again this year. i can still remember everything, so that's all good

but..

vibrato - no matter how hard i try, I JUST CAN'T DO IT! and it is very frustrating any tips? also.. i don't think my shoulder rest is on correctly, but i think that's because i only have a cheap violin because it's not a die hard hobby. but it does start to hurt my arm after a while.

thanks guys my left arm/hand appreciates it

Well you really can't explain but here's a site that can probably help. http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Vibrato-on-a-Violin and if you don't have lessons you should probably think about getting some. What you can try doing about your shoulder rest is try rejusting it, if that does not work, try using a big sponge or something with padding. Hope this helped!

I learned vibrato on my own!!! Can you believe it!!! I dont either. but i did. Determination is the key. I just observed other advanced violinists do it. Its three ways: finger, wrist and arm. Finger is usually the hardest. Wrist the common and arm is for stubborn fingers like my index. On my own personal discovery, its a rolling of the fingertips on the fingerboard and strings. usually, a combination of wrist and finger produces good vibrato. Arm vibrato is for really grand and loud passages and for stubborn index fingers. haha! They say that vibrato is like your voice singing and produces wave patters. Its a personal thing also!! One's own vibrato is unique like a fingerprint. Though sometimes we could imitate other's vibrato, its wave patterns defines us. Try observing videos of soloist in youtube and other websites. You'll learn!!! My teacher said she'll teach after 2 years!!! I learned it withint 4 months!!! You can too!!!!! I believe you can!!!

Try on your own to find hoew to make vibrato, but keep on your lessons you have to prctice and follow the method buy some books maza for example.
Now you could try to make vibrato horizontically with your 1 finger only this is the first step after this practice for months maybe a year you will have a vibrato.Good Luck!

my junior high teacher always made us start by moving the finger (working only one at a time obviously) SLOWLY back and forth. it takes patience and practice and when you get the hang of it after a while you can move faster until you get to the right vibrato sound. it does take a while and won't happen just in a day or even a week for that matter. just work at it hope i helped!

Do what that last person said, its how I learned. Even better with a metronome

i taught my self and i am only 12

To be ready to vibrator, you should have you position swift freely and quickly.
You also have your accuracy in evey note you play.
It does not mean you have accurate fingers, but you can reposition your
finger quickly after to press them down on the string at the inaccurate
spots.
At this level, you may try to play a note at inaccurate position around
the exact spot, and that is vibrating.

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To be ready for vibrator, you should have you position swifting freely
and quickly. You also have your accuracy in evey note you play.
It does not mean you have accurate fingers, but you can reposition your
finger quickly after pressing it down on the string at an inaccurate
spot.
At this level, you may try to play a note at inaccurate positions around
the exact spot, and that is vibrating.