Finger Vibrato exercises.

[Rusco]

That seems odd.

Agreed.

More natural, too.

And again.

Yeah, I understand where JCortese is coming from with the rotation idea, I play piano too and it does help there. That said, the flute is another instrument and the guys whose styles I admire most on flute, whistle and uillean pipes seem to just have this amazing control over finger speed when playing vibrato. I don't see much evidence of wrist rotation in their playing but maybe I'll check a few vids in slo-mo. Interesting discussion anyway guys, (for me at least) Thanks a million.

[benhall.1]

Yeah, I understand where JCortese is coming from with the rotation idea, I play piano too and it does help there. That said, the flute is another instrument and the guys whose styles I admire most on flute, whistle and uillean pipes seem to just have this amazing control over finger speed when playing vibrato. I don't see much evidence of wrist rotation in their playing but maybe I'll check a few vids in slo-mo. Interesting discussion anyway guys, (for me at least) Thanks a million.

I play piano also. Well, not so much these days, but back in the day I was winning competitions (local ones) with it. Thought of making it a career at one point ... Rotating the wrist instead of using the fingers properly was seen as poor technique. And, I must admit, on piano, as well as on flute, I find it distinctly unhelpful. If you get the fingers working properly, you don't need to even move the wrist. Look at some of the best pianists - sometimes it seems almost magical how still their wrists are.

Here's one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpZr_cbYbXo

[Peter Duggan]

Thought of making it a career at one point

You were better than me, then, Ben! Despite it being the instrument I still use most in my career...

[benhall.1]

Thought of making it a career at one point

You were better than me, then, Ben! Despite it being the instrument I still use most in my career...

Ah well, you'd be better than me now. It's a funny thing, how we change over a lifetime. (Says he, contemplatively.)

[Peter Duggan]

Ah well, you'd be better than me now.

I meant 'then' as in 'if you'd contemplated it as a career' and not as in 'in those days'! I've always been a limited pianist (a bit of a bodger, really), though people round here (geographic, not C&F!) seem to think I'm better than I am because that's what they see me doing most and they've limited basis for comparison. So probably the most perceptive and treasured comment on my pianism I can remember was way back in Edinburgh University days, when I heard lecturer Colin Kingsley (who was a fine concert pianist) describe me to someone as 'a useful piano player'. Which I take as code for 'a good bodger'!

Edit: just Googled him, and good to see he's still around and playing at 92!