Violin Vibrato and its Application

Vibrato is often seen as a mysterious concept because of its individuality and inseparable relation to personal taste. Therefore, one can sometimes recognize a specific musical sound produced by a specific soloist from their unique vibrato having become much of their stylistic signature. From the perspective of violin learners, we ought to build a correct and solid foundation for basic vibrato technique and then add our own musical signature. It is important to avoid developing wrong habits in the first step of learning vibrato. In this thesis, I will introduce the historical background of the violin vibrato; mention the controversial issue of where to play with vibrato; explain how it was popularized; and dissect the practice methods, as well as how to apply different types of vibrato to different styles of music. By examining different musical excerpts from certain genres, readers may gain a clear and intuitive understanding of the relationship between vibrato and different styles of music. This paper aims to summarize useful and historical information about violin vibrato. In the end, this paper may benefit violin learners and hobbyists by providing valuable violin practice strategies and practical instructions.