I am regularly receiving questions from singers regarding the subject of vibrato; people wanting to change theirs, add more, make it less, etc…
So, I thought it would be good to write a blog on vibrato to address some of these issues.

First of all, what is vibrato?

“Vibrato is a musical effect consisting of a regular pulsating change of pitch. It is used to add expression to vocal and instrumental music. Vibrato is typically characterized in terms of two factors: the amount of pitch variation (“extent of vibrato”) and speed with which the pitch is varied (“rate of vibrato”)^[1].”- from Wikipedia

Please read the full explanation on vibrato from Wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibrato.

Your vibrato is a direct result of the release of tension in your voice.  If your voice is free of muscular tension, you should have a natural lovely vibrato, not too strong or too slight.  Vocal tension though, can cause your vibrato to be off in two extremes: out of control fast and heavy, which can lead to a warbled pitch or a speedy flutter, or sometimes when pressing on the larynx unnaturally, your vibrato can be stifled and repressed causing a straight, often flat, tone.

Good healthy singing is what you as a singer need to focus on.  As a result you will find your natural vibrato.

There are different styles that then lend themselves to varying degrees of vibrato as well.  On one end of the spectrum is early music classical singing.  In this style, very little vibrato is preferred, and singers sing it with a straighter tone, which they manipulate to do so.  On the other hand, in Romantic Opera the vibrato is rampate, but hopefully not overpowering.  Both of these sounds can be effected or manipulated, but it is ideal to sing the style in which your voice naturally lends itself so that your voice remains healthy and pliable.  So for example if you are born with a naturally straight-ish vibrato, Verdi may not be for you.

I often have people writing me asking me how their vibrato can be like some other voices that they like.

Everyone has their own natural healthy vibrato.  To sing like someone else would not be healthy for you.  You, of course, can mimic another sound, but that is a skill of impersonation as opposed to great singing.

Sing well, sing true!

Ariella Vaccarino

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Written by Ariella Vaccarino creator of  Voice Lessons To Go (singing lessons on CD) and author of  Vocalize!

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Some of you may have a large one some may barely have one, some of you may not know what I am talking about.

Vibrato.

Vibrato is a slight pulse in sound that create in your singing voice as you sustain your pitch.  Some people’s may move very quickly like a bell, or flutter, others may have a real slow wobbly vibrato, while others may have a minimal one with a straight tone.

Different genres may call for different vibratos.  For example a boy soprano will have nearly no vibrato while an operatic soprano’s vibrato may be a great interesting addition to her sound.

A vibrato is a natural occurance in your singing voice.  You want to have a vibrato, but it needs to be something that is released naturally.  Some times we find that it is too excessive due to some vocal technical issues, whether they be tension in the tongue or throat muscles.

You can see this when people sing: their jaw or tongue flapping.  Ideally our mouths, jaws, and tongues should be relaxed while we sing.  There is a certain amount of tension, or energy needed lower in the body for well supported sound so if you can keep the stress in your legs and abdominals- that is ideal (over jaw and tongue).

If you do have some jaw or tongue tension, that is not necessarily bad, unless it is excessive.  It also depends how your vibrato is coming out if it an addition or distraction to the beauty and character of your voice.

You can work with your teacher on taming or releasing your vibrato.  Don’t be afraid of it.  I would be happy to evaluate any questions that you may have about your vibrato in my Vocal Assessment program on my website: www.voicelessonstogo.com.   (Where you send me a link or mp3 of your voice and I send you back my evaluation within the week.)

Sing well!

Ariella Vaccarino

creator of Voice Lessons TO GO and author of Vocalize!