Posted by SP on April 07, 2008 at 12:56:51:
In Reply to: Vibrato on alto sax posted by alison on April 07, 2008 at 09:03:47:
While I have minimal experience with this, I know how I have been instructed to instruct it.
First understand that the vibrato is not produced by breath support as it is vocally. It is produced by the jaw, making very small movements up and down, carefully so that a TMJ situation doesn't occur. It's really more of the embouchure relaxing and becoming firm.
Try the vibrato first in measured form. I think this helps to avoid a fast shaky vibrato. Set a metronome, and relax and firm the embouchure to a slow eighth note, maybe like you are saying "OH-OO-OH-OO" within the frame of the embouchure...that being my description of how it feels to me. Then like anything else in need of practice, bump up the met and work it slow to fast.
That is my understanding anyway....