Michelle Ostrove Vocal & Piano Studio

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

Any aspiring singer should aim to achieve clear enunciation (to articulate, pronounce each syllable). The right inflections (rise and fall of pitch), diction (the style of enunciating) and pronunciation (the way you sound out a word) affect the feeling of a song. If you are mumbling the words you are singing, you will not get your message across because no one will know what the song is about. A good singer will have clear enunciation and they will craft each…

To begin writing your own songs can be a bit intimidating. The starting process of writing a song can take just as long as finishing the song. Choose the idea or subject. The idea or story you want to tell can take some thought and brainstorming. Here are some tips to help you along. Working with a few people can help in the beginning. You can bounce ideas off each other and help get the creative process going. If you…

Singing is a physical production and actually has cardiovascular benefits. Even if you do not move around, the muscles in the torso, neck and the lungs are being used. A singer creates sound by using the abdominal and back muscles, the rib cage, throat, oral and sinus cavity. The vocal folds (cords) snap open and closed when you sing. There are so many different bodily functions going on when vocalizing. If you are performing a live show, the physical activity…

Do singing voices age? Yes, as you get older your larynx, vocal cords and the rest of your body ages. Your skin goes through the aging process, it thins and stiffens. The larynx and vocal cords begin shrinking as well. As the vocal cords lose flexibility, a singer can lose control over the top of their head register, become less flexible and a singer’s voice can shift and drop. Many changes will happen over time as you age. As a…