Vibrato

Vibrato is described as a slight oscillation in pitch. Vibrato can add an expressive color to a tone. After a few years of experience, oboe players should try using vibrato in solos and melodic lines. This video contains a brief example of an exercise that is used to achieve vibrato early on.

There is some debate as to whether vibrato comes from the throat, diaphragm, or air stream. In general, the best advice is to experiment and find the best tone quality with the most control over the vibrato. Oboists should be able to control the depth and speed of their vibrato. Listen to masters on a variety of instruments to develop your sound concept of vibrato. Some examples are embedded below.