Explore the Michelle Ostrove Blog

SONGWRITERS SHOULD USE A LEAD SHEET

By Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio | December 14, 2023

The lead sheet is an abbreviated form of music notation. It contains just the essential musical information for a song. The lead sheet is a very efficient way to show a musical idea for a song. None of the piano accompaniment is written out in music notation. A songwriter would be wise to create a lead sheet for a band. This will allow creativity and not put the band members in a box. The typical lead sheet contains the lyrics,…

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BREATH CONTROL WHEN SINGING

By Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio | December 12, 2023

Breathing is so natural and automatic to us, it’s hard to believe that we could be doing it wrong. Breath exercises for singing can dramatically improve the caliber of vocal performance. Each note and phrase are produced by a continuous stream of air being exhaled holding the notes in place. Proper breath work is crucial for any singer! The description of breath work in vocal pedagogy is described like this: the diaphragm pushes the air from the lungs through the…

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WHAT’S INSIDE THE VOICE BOX?

By Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio | December 7, 2023

What is inside your voice box? There are many components of the voice box. They are the larynx and the vocal cords (folds), but the larynx has many parts. The voice box is another name for the larynx. The larynx helps you to breathe and the vocal cords make the sound. The Larynx is made up of the laryngeal skeleton which has nine cartilages: the thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage, cuneiform cartilages, corniculate cartilages, arytenoid cartilages, and the epiglottis. The cuneiform,…

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HEALTHY BODY HEALTHY VOICE

By Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio | December 5, 2023

Your health is the foundation for everything! Whether you are singing, playing piano, taking a walk, or enjoying time with family, without good health you cannot enjoy anything. In order to have good vocal health, and have a solid vocal foundation to belt out a song, you must have good physical and mental health. Singing is a sport, as well as an art. Always keep your voice in tip top shape. During the holiday season it’s important to take care…

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POWERFUL WAY TO SING IN YOUR HEAD REGISTER

By Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio | November 30, 2023

There are different ways to sing in your head register. You can sing in a classical way, the sound feels like it’s going to the top of your head. That can be done with some power or a lighter tone. You can also sing in your head register with a mixed voice. This gives a fuller, richer and more powerful sound. What is the difference? It’s where the sound is vibrating. When singing classically or old school, the sound feels…

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KNOW YOUR VOICE

By Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio | November 28, 2023

It’s important to know how your voice works and what is going on when you sing. We will discuss the chest and head register today. The difference between the two registers is where you feel the vibration. When singing in your head register, you will feel the soft palate lift. The soft palate is located to the rear, roof of your mouth. When singing in chest register, you will feel your larynx drop. Let’s start with the chest register. To…

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MENTAL STATE WHEN SINGING

By Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio | November 23, 2023

No matter what age you are, always remain a student. Never stop learning, learn to listen to others and hear what they have to say. Two people can experience the same incident and walk away with two different stories, because they have different perspectives. What they see and translate in their mind will be different than what you see and how you process the information. You must have grit with purpose to create a good mindset for your singing performance.…

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YOUR INTENTION WHILE SINGING

By Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio | November 21, 2023

Why do you want to be a singer or pianist? Is this something you would like to do as a career? Or are you just having fun and want to learn? Or do you have deeper intentions? Are you trying to get a message out? Is there a desire to share your experiences and feeling to touch other lives? Whether it’s a career or you are just having fun, you need to dig deep and let yourself be vulnerable. This…

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CREATING YOUR STAGE PERFORMANCE

By Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio | November 16, 2023

As an artist and singer, you need to envision what your performance will look like. What is your look, are you going to play an instrument, will you dance or have dancers on the stage with you? What will your colors be (what colors do you love), will you stand still, what will your stage be like? Will you hold the mic, keep it on a stand, or use a head piece? What performances from other artists inspire you? Use…

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DIFFERENT WAYS TO MAKE A SONG YOUR OWN (PART 2)

By Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio | November 14, 2023

This blog is a continuation of “Different Ways To Make A Song Your Own” (Part 1). In the previous blog we discussed phrasing, articulation, bending notes and runs (or riffs). Today we will look at vibrato, dynamics, using different vocal onsets and inflections to create your own spin on a song. Vibrato can be used to add a little texture and emphasize certain places in a song. Vibrato is not a natural thing that happens for every singer. Some singers…

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