I need help with vibrato.

Making the vibrato sound is very hard for me. It sounds like my normal playing to me. When I try too hard, bumpy sounds come out.

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Hi!

For some flutists, vibrato just comes out naturally. For others, it's really difficult. But don't worry if you're having trouble now. With consistent practice, you can have a lovely vibrato.

First, it's important to have good air support and a fast air stream. Do some deep breathing exercises and get your air going fast. See my instructional pages here...

Breathing

Deep breathing

Start the vibrato slowly. The vibrations should be no faster than one second apart. If that's too fast to play evenly, make them two seconds apart. Use your metronome to be sure they're even.

The vibrations should also be very deep. Go ahead and exaggerate. For each vibration, make the sound "ha."

Don't speed up until you can play at least 8-10 vibrations at a metronome rate of 60 for each vibration. That's one vibration per click.

Then speed them up so you are playing 2 vibrations at 60 beats. Move your metronome up one notch and do the same thing. Keep going to about 80 or so.

Now go back to 60 beats and try to do 3 vibrations on each click. Then do 4.

When you've accomplished this, try alternating your vibrations with 2 vibrations on one click and 3 vibrations on the next click.

Eventually you can eliminate the exaggerated, slightly obnoxious vibrations and strive for a light, shimmery vibrato.

I really recommend listening to performances of fine flutists and trying to emulate their vibrato. You can find tons of flute performances on Youtube.com. How about this one...

C P E Bach: Sonata in a minor for flute alone

Also, listen to singers and try to imitate their vibrato.

Try recording yourself to see if you can tell the difference in your tone with and without vibrato.

Finally, check out my vibrato page for more advice...

Vibrato page

Good luck!