Hello Letitia! Yes, it can feel difficult and very full of effort to get that sound straight away and yet it's so desirable, isn't it? This little very easy -seeming technique is just the ticket! I hope you do well. Take care. Mary❤

Hello! I'm so glad you found the video useful! I know language differences add a difficulty. Try clicking on the 'settings' wheel at the bottom of the video and click on 'subtitles' 'options' 'English' ''auto translate' then choose your language... I do hope you find a way. Thank you and take care. Mary❤

Hi Ronnie! Glad you like it and hope you find it useful. Thank you. Mary❤

I'm delighted you find the videos helpful! Thank you very much for your very kind thought, but no financial gift is sought... My channel is all about encouraging violinists, through their own development, to make progress on the violin and within the self so we can have more enlightened and powerful people who understand the true nature of communicating beyond words in a world that sorely needs healing. Mary❤

Thank you very much! Mary❤

Hello Lola! And yet those who practice arm vibrato also need to have a hand that is not gripping the neck between the thumb and 1st finger. The little sliding exercise is so easily adapted by adding the arm instead of the wrist...I'm looking forward to hearing your impressions... (It's a mystery to me how people can play for long periods with arm vibrato - I find it so tiring and stiffening!😒) Help, my favourite wooden spoon is warping fast, maybe I need to use a thicker one.. I hope you enjoy your practice with your trusty wooden spoon! 😅😊😅 A hug! Mary❤

Great Katie! Mary❤

Hi Mary , this is helping me . The tapping alone is helping with tension 😁

Hi Katie! Wonderful, I'm so glad for you, because tension is interfering with your 3rd and 4th fingers ...keep tapping and keep sliding your hand so you can understand how free your left hand should really feel, and it's a great feeling! Mary❤

@@violinstudiowithmaryv will do, thanks Mary 😀

Hello lam! Thank you, I hope you will find the technique helpful. Yes, you've picked up on the point that the tapping and sliding come from exactly the same movement of the hand. It's just that the fingers are doing slightly different things within the hand movement. And realising that the vibrato action is made by moving the hand, continuous vibrato from finger to finger is also caused by moving the hand, which does not need to stop even when the fingers are changing. This realisation is the key to understanding so we can keep every movement of the fingers within the same hand action, from tapping to sliding to shifting to vibrato to continuous vibrato. I'm not quite sure what you meant by 'sustain' the vibrato action. Do you mean it peters out after a while? Mary❤

Yes. By the way, I tried the tap and slide technique. I discovered that my vibrato was not relaxed and loose because I was pressing instead of tapping. Tapping sets the tone for a more relaxed vibrato. It's really helpful, thank you.

@@iammir8365 I love your accurate observations! Great that you have found this technique helpful - thanks for letting me know. Keep going! Mary❤

Hello! Let's take a couple of steps back...if your thumb and 1st finger used to be very tight, then your 1st finger may be used to pressing far too hard, causing the thumb to respond. It's a cycle. Go slowly from sliding to tapping to vibrato with your 1st finger WHILE HOLDING THE VIOLIN WITH YOUR OTHER HAND. Observe what happens to the thumb and first finger when the violin cannot fall and experiment with just how lightly you can get away with putting the 1st finger down on the string for vibrato. And remember, if your thumb is really a pivot, it doesn't get tight even for the 1st finger. You need to support the violin all the time while retraining your thumb and 1st finger to loosen and move, loosen and move. Repeat the sequence slide, tap, vib, slide, tap vib...without the bow over and over until your fingers loosen and you can trust them. I hope this helps... Thank you and please let me know how you get on. Mary❤ Oh and by the way, great that your other fingers are doing vibrato well - well done!

Thanks so much. You were totally right, I am definitely pressing down with my first finger harder. I'm starting to have a little luck loosening my grip, but it's a hard habit to break. I'm not giving up though! @@violinstudiowithmaryv

@@mement0_m0ri You know, you've really helped yourself by identifying where the issue actually is - very well done! I know it's not easy loosening off this type of habit...It takes a lot of patience. But it's fantastic you've already managed to start to loosen things. I so admire your determination to succeed. You will do it, I'm sure! Mary❤

Are you overthinking it? I thought the first joint in your fingers was already moving in your vibrato videos...remember, it's the hand moving that creates the vibrato movement...but I'm not exactly sure what you mean Katie...could you give more info? Mary❤

@@violinstudiowithmaryv hi Mary , so when the finger taps down it goes straight into the vibrato motion which includes the first joint being flexible . That’s my understanding . That’s what I struggle with . Yes I do over think it you are right 😀

@@katiemartin2428 Now I see...you know, it's essential to be able to play both with and without vibrato. My guess is that you never practice without vibrato(!) The action of all the fingers should be clear and straightforward BEFORE you ADD vibrato, because you see, vibrato is an ornament that is added. But why am I talking about no vibrato in answer to a vibrato question? Well, the issue is that in the best violin technique, the fingers are exercised and conditioned first and when the fingers are ready, we then add vibrato. I've often mentioned that you would make great progress if you would practice finger drills and scales without vibrato to exercise the fingers to make them strong and accurate...I realise you've got the vibrato bug, but I would still urge you to concentrate for a while on what makes all violinists better - plain fast accurate scales without vibrato... you will then find your better - conditioned fingers much more flexible and your vibrato action much better. That's the way to do it, so go for it Katie! Mary❤

@@violinstudiowithmaryv thanks Mary , I’m going to keep on with the scales and drills , think they are doing me good 😃

@@katiemartin2428 brilliant Katie! Thank you. Mary❤

Hi Katie, the fingers are not at right angles to the neck because the hand is turned a bit to facilitate the fingers going down easily...a sideways tap sound a bit odd and you seem to have lost some orientation...why not post a little video on your channel so I can see what you're doing and let me know when it's viewable? Thanks. Mary❤

@@violinstudiowithmaryv ohhhh thanks Mary , have done now 😀

@@katiemartin2428 It was very funny to hear you starting to giggle! What a nice movement - the thumb and the wrist are both allowing the hand and fingers to move very freely...you're nearly there! Now do exactly the same movement while gently putting your fingers on the spoon, so go from tap to roll...you see, the vibrato movements isn't really made with the finger itself, but it comes from the hand movement causing the finger to roll. I'd really appreciate another short video to see if you can progress to leaving your finger on while keeping your thumb and wrist moving. Thanks Katie! Mary❤

@@violinstudiowithmaryv oh that’s great Mary thanks for the feedback !! That was my husband he got me laughing !! Definitely will, off to practice 😀

This is very helpful! So beautifully explained, and it makes so much sense to me.

Hi Debbie, Good for you! Every minute you spend thinking about not squeezing is gold for the future; it does have an effect, slowly but surely. Take care. Mary❤