Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio

Songwriting should be a creative and enjoyable process. It is a personal expression of yourself and there are no set-in-stone rules. You need six guidelines for songwriting such as: inspiration, a theme, structure, lyrics, melody, hook you’ve got the basics down. 1. Always look for inspiration in whatever you do to create a song. Inspiration can come from an experience, emotions you are feeling, or just observing someone else’s experience. You find inspiration in books, nature, another song, tv or…

How do you create a powerful singing voice no matter what register you are in? If done correctly, it’s all done through breath and diaphragm support. Understanding how it works and what it feels like are key. How would you naturally increase the power in your singing voice? It’s exactly the same as increasing power in your speaking voice. As you inhale, your breath pressure comes under the vocal folds causing the vocal folds to vibrate. If there is a…

The roll of singer and the roll of an artist are different career paths. Each role is just as important and well respected, but there are distinct differences and here’s why. An artist has a unique and distinct sound when they sing. Whenever they sing any song, you will recognize their voice immediately. A singer will mold the sound of their voice to the song or genre and basically copy the original artist who recorded the song. An artist focuses…

One of the keys to moving from one register to another smoothly is to avoid pushing or pulling up or down. Your chest register overlaps with your middle register and you head register overlaps with your middle register. This mixed voice is a combination of chest and head voice, creating a smooth transitions from one register to another. When singing with a mixed voice you are balancing air pressure and airflow. By using a mixed voice, you will not have…

When you stand up on stage to sing, there is literally nothing for you to hide behind. No piano, no guitar, no instruments, it’s just you! You never know when an opportunity will arise to sing. That’s why it’s important to keep your voice in excellent condition. Here are five steps to help you get your voice in the best shape and keep it that way. Every few months reevaluate your voice and note the progress you have made.  Record…

Have you ever heard someone say “there is not enough time in the day” or “I don’t have enough time to practice my vocals or piano.” You need to learn how to manage your time. Here are some tips to help manage your time. Try planning out your day the night before. Set deadlines for tasks and stick to a daily schedule. Set a specific time every day to practice singing or play. By implementing effective time management, you will…

Working through a new song is always fun! As you sing or play through the song, mark the area or areas that need work. Every song has a challenging section or two that needs work. Whether you are a singer, pianist, songwriter or musician, there is always a section in a song where you get stuck. You try singing or playing that section and it’s not working. What do you do? Develop a problem-solving mindset. Look at your problems from…

Mistakes and failures happen in life and they can be building blocks to success, if you don’t quit. An actress once told me that her parents would cheer her on and celebrate her failures and mistakes. Why, because you are one step closer to success. Instead of beating yourself up over your failures, cheer yourself on! It’s all about your perception of the failure. It’s not the mistakes and failures that make you, it’s how you respond to the situation.…

“Never limit your vision based on your current resources” quote by Michael Hyatt. If you have no vision, no goals set, you’re adrift with no direction. It does not matter how old you are or how far you’ve come, you must always have a vision and then set your goals to accomplish your vision. Having a vision gives you a sense of purpose and direction. Do you want to be a songwriter? Do you want to be a singer? Do…

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 relies on a source of air being exhaled in a steady stream, 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…