What does senza vibrato mean?

• A. Without vibrato.
• B. With vibrato.
• C. Muted vibrato.
• D. Vibrato on a note.

Answer: (A)

Senza vibrato means you should play without vibrato, producing a pure, straight-tone on the note. Vibrato is the slight, controlled wobble in pitch and intensity that adds warmth, so saying senza vibrato asks for a steady, even sound instead. To achieve this, keep air steady and support strong, relax the embouchure, and tune the pitch precisely without letting it drift. In strings, it also means minimizing left-hand finger vibrato to maintain a clear, unrounded tone. This directive is used to achieve a specific stylistic effect or to blend with an ensemble where a pure tone is desired.