Explore the Michelle Ostrove Blog

Singing style is all about producing a variety of vocal techniques to create musical sound with your voice. There are different styles of singing, but good basic technique is the same regardless of the style. But each genre has different facets for the vocal style. The foundational techniques are posture, soft palate, tongue placement, diaphragm & breath support, smoothly transitioning from one vocal register to another, and training the ear to sing on pitch. Building a good, solid vocal foundation…

A chord progression is a series of chords played in sequence (in a specific order) for musical composition. The chords used in a chord progression will depend upon the key that the song is in. Every singer, pianist (musician) and songwriter needs to understand chord progressions. Chord progressions are usually expressed in Roman numerals, for example I-V-vi-IV (which is 1-5-6-4) which is a common progression. So if this sequence of chords were played in the key of G major, the…

What is a hook? The hook is a powerful tool; a repeated phrase of a song that makes the song unforgettable. Songs can have a few different types of hooks throughout the song. The hook is a part of the song that grabs your attention and “hooks” you in; it is the lyric and melodic phrase that grab your attention. The songs “Let It Be” or “Yesterday” by the Beatles, simple words and musical phrase but memorable and powerful. It…

Breathing properly is crucial for any singer, whether they are just singing or playing piano while singing. Breath support and control make a big difference in the sound of your voice. Without proper support and control your voice will sound weak and you will lack control. When singing the body requires elongation of breath and a higher rate of breath energy. There is a need for higher energy and stamina than the speaking voice; this requires more muscle control and…

Social media has totally changed the game in the music and entertainment industry. From streaming songs on itunes and spotify to launching someone completely unknown into stardom! Social media has completely changed all the rules. Many artists like Shawn Mendes, Halsey and Justin Bieber used social media to get where they are today. More and more people are using the social media platform to share their talent and get discovered. How did they do it? Halsey’s life was changed in…

Occasionally a student walks in my studio and asks “Can you help me improve my voice? Will these lessons really help me?” The answer is absolutely! Over the past 20+ years, I have only worked with one person that had a very difficult time with pitch. He did improve, but it was a long process. I’ve had parents tell me they are amazed at the improvement in their child’s voice since they began singing lessons. Taking piano lessons is completely…

Harsh dry winds wreak havoc with a singers voice during the winter months. Spending time out in the cold weather doesn’t help. Low humidity decreases the fluidity of mucus and causes the vocal chords to dry out. This can easily create cracking and hoarseness in a voice. Overuse of the voice, such as prolonged intense singing or shouting at a rally, can also strain the vocal folds (cords). What causes vocal fold (cord) injury? 1. Singing loudly with poor technique…

Presentation is extremely important! You’ve heard the saying “Dress to impress”, it’s very true; how you present yourself matters. First impressions leave lasting memories. When a singer comes out on the stage, that confidence, swagger, attitude and presentation of ones self creates the mood for the audience. Stand tall (imagine a string being pulled up from the top of your head), shoulders back and down, and don’t fidget!! Now it’s time for your runway model walk (just kidding, but not).…

What are chords? Common chords are three notes that are played at the same time (block chord) or simultaneously (broken chord). Three notes are often described as required to define a chord. There are partial chords and four note chords (see blog 12/19/20 Four-Note Chords), but for simplicity we will discuss the common chord, which is three notes. Any chord can be inverted, arranged in a different order called an inversion. What is an inversion? Webster’s Dictionary defines it as…

Every singer strives to sing with control and power in their voice, very few start out that way. I have come across a few singers that start naturally with power at a young age, but It normally takes time and work to achieve power and control in your voice. Where does the power come from? It’s not yelling; the power comes from the diaphragm and breath support. You need to sing from the diaphragm (your check cavity) in every register:…