Explore the Michelle Ostrove Blog

Song ideas come when you least expect it. Some of the greatest hits came from a dream. Other hits came from personal life experiences. You never know when or where an idea will strike! Some of the most famous hits came from a dream. Paul McCartney said that some of his greatest hits came to him when he was dreaming. Many other songwriters have had the same experience. Billy Joel’s song “River of Dreams” and Sting’s song “Every Breath You…

Singing or playing piano for a large audience or a few people can be intimidating. Some of the world’s most famous performers have suffered from extreme performance anxiety or stage fright like Ozzy Osbourne, Brian Wilson, Cher and Harry Styles to name a few. Harry Styles had severe stage fright when performing with One Direction. During a concert in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was forced to leave the stage in the middle of a song because he got sick and threw…

Singing with good technique is essential no matter what genre you are singing. That means you must use excellent technique when singing rock music, classical music or even pop music. classical music. There are three elements for a great voice. The first step for an amazing sound is blending both the chest and head voice together (mixed voice), which will give you a full and solid sound. The middle voice feels like a lighter version of chest voice and a…

Streaming songs has become the #1 way for consumers to experience new songs, album or single song releases. The purchase of a physical album is declined immensely. Beyonce has become a trend setter by releasing a new song with a “surprise drop” and this has become common practice among artists. The music industry has gone through a vast transformation in the past decade. Even though 2011 does not seem that long ago, the difference in the music industry is immense!…

To become a great singer and have total freedom with your voice requires much work. An exceptional vocalist is someone who is dedicated to their craft, works hard, and is willing to do whatever it takes to become the best they can be. There are some distinct qualities of an amazing singer. The first trait is pitch control! You must have the ability to hit the note, stay on the note, It is necessary to be able to hold a…

If you are serious about your singing or piano performance and want to perfect your craft, practice in front of a full-length mirror. This exercise will allow you to see your body movements and facial expressions while singing or play. There is no better tool to really make improvements while you perform. To really make an impact, your presentation needs to be smooth, seamless and polished, which means the delivery of the song will really touch the audience. Your singing,…

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! It’s up to you: it takes work and dedication! The first thing you need to do is train your voice. Learning how to…

When you sing a song or play a song on the piano, it’s important that you connect to the song (you need to feel and emotionally understand the message of the song). Sometimes people (including children) attach to the melody and beat. As a singer or pianist, you need to care about the meaning of the song. This will instantly improve your performance because you are connecting with it, enabling you to sing with emotion. If you can connect your…

Every voice has it’s unique set of strengths and weaknesses. You truly cannot compare voices because they are all different. How do you know which songs and styles are good for your voice? I’m going to give you some tips to help you find the right songs for you. It’s always important to choose songs that you like and feel a connection to them. Then sing along with the artist to learn the melody, make sure the song fits within…

Whether you’re backstage getting ready for a performance or watching Youtube videos, it seems you can’t get away from seeing people warm up their voice by singing through a straw. The straw must be thin in order for the exercise to work. But what does this actually do for your voice? As you sing through the thin straw, it allows only a portion of the air to pass through. Because the air coming through is partially blocked by the muscles…