Explore the Michelle Ostrove Blog

ADDING WEIRD TEXTURES TO YOUR SINGING

By Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio | June 8, 2023

Do you want to add more color and texture to your singing. There are a few ways to add weird textures to your vocals that will really create a cool and distinct sound. Some of the weird textures are breathy, growl. vibrato or a delicate vocal sound. These textures will evoke emotion when you sing. The delicate vocals sound like a haunting or ghostly sound. You can use a pause or break at the end of a phrase. Country singers…

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4 TIPS TO STAND OUT AS AN ARTIST!

By Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio | June 6, 2023

If you are serious about becoming a professional singer, you need to treat it as a business. Having your own business means you have a hustle mentality. Your success is in your hands, don’t expect to be “discovered,” have the mindset that you need to put your voice and your music into the listening ear of everyone! Here are four points to help you stand out as a singer. 1. As an artist, you should have a distinct and recognizable…

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MAPPING OUT A VOCAL PERFORMANCE

By Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio | June 1, 2023

To masterfully sing a song with confidence and superior performance, your song should be mapped out, notations made to perform it at your best. You should already have the ability to move from register to register seamlessly mastered, as well as breath and diaphragm support. Those are your foundational support structures. As you move through the song you will notice key points that need to be addressed and figured out before your performance. Print out a lyric sheet and start…

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OVERCOMING IMPOSTER SYNDROME!

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

Yes, Imposter Syndrome is a real condition. It is an internal psychological experience making you feel like a fraud despite success and achievement in the music field. You will feel constant self-doubt, even when you are excelling in your field as a singer or pianist. It all starts with negative self-talk creating nervousness, restlessness and anxiety. We will discuss the syndrome as well as ways to overcome it. If you have a very difficult time assessing your competence and skills,…

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DEVELOPING VOCAL RESONANCE

By Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio | May 25, 2023

The ability to use vocal resonance is an essential skill for any singer.  Resonance will enhance your vocal tone, increase your volume, reduce strain and fatigue. Vocal resonance is the result of your vocal folds vibrating and the amplification of that sound through various cavities in your vocal tract. Your breath is the fuel for your voice, not only does it support your vocal cords, but it also helps with pitch and dynamics. Make sure to use your breath to…

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SINGING IN HEAD REGISTER

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

We’ve discussed the chest register and the middle register in the previous blogs. The head register is described as vibrations you feel in your skull or head as you sing. If you place your hand on the crown of your head and simply hum the letter “M,” you will feel the vibrations in the palm of your hand. If you try to make a siren sound like “WEE-oww” or Waaaaaahhhhhh,” that is your head register. There are different ways to…

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USING YOUR MIDDLE VOICE

By Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio | May 18, 2023

The middle register (middle voice) is between your chest voice and your head voice. It is simply the area that crosses over from the chest voice to the head voice. Using your middle voice is relevant in all singing styles. Think of your middle voice as the bridge between your chest and head voice. When using your middle voice you should feel vibration around the lower part of your face, chin, and upper neck area. What you are feeling is…

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CREATING A POWERFUL LOWER REGISTER

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

The chest register, also called lower register refers to the natural manner of action of the vocal folds. The majority of talking is done in this register. When you sing in your “chest voice” you should feel more vibration around your lower neck, and sternum. Most men speak entirely within their chest voice, while most women use both their chest and middle voices to speak; this is referred to as “speech level”. It begins and ends in different places for…

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VOCAL WARM-UP REGIMEN

By Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio | May 11, 2023

There are many reasons why vocal warm-ups are so important. Your warm-up regimen should include breathing exercises, as well as vocal exercises. Warming up keeps your voice healthy, helps you sound your best and protects you against vocal damage. They also stretch your vocal cords and help clear your throat. It is the best way to prepare you voice for singing. The first part of your vocal warm-up regimen is breathing exercises. For instance, inhale rapidly through your nose with…

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TRY DIFFERENT STYLES OF SINGING

By Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio | May 9, 2023

Singing or playing piano with a specific style depends on a few things. How do you interpret the lyrics for a song? What do they mean to you? What feelings do the words awaken in you, and how can you evoke those feeling to the audience? Where does it make sense to increase or decrease volume? Also, the rhythmic pattern you choose to use will create a specific feel and style to the song. Whether it’s Pop, Country, Opera, Classical,…

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