Fundamental Movements
Basic Vibrato Motion (2.3)
- Knock three times on a vertical surface.
- First, knock politely, bringing the arm up and keeping it stationary. Perform three separate knocking motions from the wrist. If you were to do this repeatedly, fatigue would set in, with the risk of injury.
- Next, notice the difference when you lift your forearm and move continuously by a forward movement of the upper arm, following through with three knocks.
- Move to a horizontal surface and open your hand, keeping your fingers gently curved in an arch from the bridge. Lift the forearm with a flexible wrist and drop onto the flat surface, producing the three consecutive knocks, now absorbed by the fingers.
- Experiment using the basic vibrato motion using only your thumb (in each hand) as demonstrated in the video, maintaining a quiet hand throughout.
- If the forearm and upper arm remain fixed during the vibrato motion, fatigue and stiffness will set in, particularly when you do a longer series of attacks.
- This is very common, but is easily remedied.
- Prepare to lift your forearm and follow through with the basic knocking motion. This time, as the upper arm moves forward, allow the wrist to ascend. This means that the wrist must be low enough (although still in the medial range) for the first attack.
- Add successively more attacks, still moving forward, so that the wrist gets slightly higher with each attack.
- Then, perform the motion repeatedly, combining the in-and-out movement of the upper arm with the simultaneous up-and-down movement of the forearm. The wrist is supple and the movement is visible in the horizontal and vertical planes.
- This is the cycling vibrato motion needed when we play repeated notes, octaves, chords and tremolos.
A. Reinagle - Minuet in C, Op. 1 No. 2
- We can integrate the basic vibrato motion from the outset of our studies. If you have been studying for some time and have yet to assimilate this movement, do not worry! You can begin cultivating this motion immediately to free up your technique and prepare to advance much more easily to play increasingly advanced elements.
- Utilise easy repertoire such as Reinagle’s English Minuet to fully sense what is required to "input" this motion into your body. Each successive application will become easier as you approach increasingly more difficult repertoire.
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Fred Karpoff
Winner of the Frances Clark Keyboard Pedagogy Award presented by MTNA, Fred Karpoff has performed as soloist and collaborative pianist on four continents and presents workshops throughout the world. After recovering from a career-threatening injury, his life’s work is realised through guiding teachers and pianists toward more efficient, healthful and expressive playing as the Artistic Producer of Entrada Piano. Fred has served as Professor of Piano at Syracuse University and Visiting Professor at the Eastman School of Music. He holds the DMA from the Peabody Conservatory and is an international Steinway Artist.
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