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"I traveled from my home in Panama City, Panama, all the way to New York City, just to study with Karen Schadow, the founder of The Voice of Success. Her program and her decades of professional experience taught me communication skills that will last a lifetime. As an on-camera television professional, the quality of my voice is everything. Karen helped me correct my trouble areas and fine-tune all areas of my presentation. Karen Schadow and The Voice of Success is something that I would recommend to every professional -- from attorneys to sales professionals, teachers and actors to college students. This is the program you've been looking for!"
Brianna Meighan "Just a brief note of thanks to express my sincere appreciation for all that you have done in helping me to improve my voice and communication style. It is truly amazing what you are able to achieve in a few short sessions. Your experience, knowledge of the subject matter and wonderful teaching style made the whole experience enjoyable as well as beneficial. "I still remember many of the cues you taught me and continue to practice my proper breathing and the use of shorter sentences. I am also working on introducing more vocal variety into everyday speech patterns. Again, sincere thanks for all your help, for your patience with a novice, and for your concern for my success as a communicator. I wish you and all those fortunate enough to be your clients, continued success!"
William De Vizio, D.M.D. "Dear Karen: "The ACI Conference is long past and although everyone has moved on to other venues and projects, no one will forget your dynamic workshops on presenting themselves and speaking out. The skills you taught are ones that we will use in all aspects of our work, and I am still amazed by how much we all learned in a very short period of time. "These two workshops should be required of all wildlife biologists and communicators ... We were indeed fortunate to have your participation and are especially grateful that you were able to take the time to offer both programs. For those of us who participated in your workshops, it was both a valuable experience and a treat. Thank you for coming to Lenox and for providing such outstanding training."
Ellie Horwitz "I had the opportunity to participate in a Karen Schadow voice workshop at a communicator’s conference in Florida last year. Wow! She directed the voices in the crowd like a maestro conducting a symphony. We were all trying her exercises and making improvements in our speaking abilities within a half-hour. I enjoyed it so much that I invited her back the next year, to the same conference, to offer it again for those who missed it. Her techniques work; they are memorable and fun at the same time. Her workshops make even good communicators better and more confident. Don’t miss a chance to work with her."
Judy Stokes "For years I delivered speeches and found the audience yawning, and I didn't know why. In only one session, Karen diagnosed the problem and came up with a game plan. After briefly working with her, when I delivered my last speech, I was met with thunderous applause. Karen is the Voice Doctor who can truly change your life........that is priceless." Ken, Financial Services Executive "Karen Schadow gave our faculty and staff a well-rounded presentation on communication basics, which really hit home with them. Whether it was remembering APB (articulation, projection, breathing), 'staying in the moment,' or taking a breath before speaking, our doctors, nurses, clinical and support staff noted they felt armed with tips they could incorporate immediately into their daily work. "
Michele Fisher, Media Relations Specialist "When you talk to Karen Schadow about how your voice sounds and how you come across, she tells it to you straight. Yet she maintains a warmth, sensitivity, and sense of excitement that make working with her fun and constructive. She helps dispel your fears that speaking with volume and confidence means being aggressive or fake. And she has accumulated a battery of excellent exercises for tuning the voice and strengthening the spirit. I highly recommend both her classes and her private lessons."
Ed, Architect, New York City "Some people are born to teach. Karen Schadow is one of them. After only a few lessons, I began to find a public speaking voice I never knew I had. Karen's devotion to her craft, her love of words spoken, and her ability to paint meaning with the sounds of human voice, put her in a league with all the great masters of communication. The energy, the enthusiasm and the excitement she exudes when she teaches, is positively contagious. She takes all the drudge out of learning and replaces it with joy. Karen's confidence in me - long before I had any in myself - has taken hold. I've actually begun to look forward to those opportunities that will allow me to test my newly acquired skills at public speaking. I wish I had met her years ago." Terry Park Hyde "Karen Schadow is a consummate professional with background both behind and in front of the camera. Her experience in the theater and her own love of speaking to an audience give her the ability to get inside her clients' heads. She creatively works to develop the breath, the voice and the enunciation of words so that in combination, the presenter is able to deliver thoughts, ideas, plans, etc. and have the message be absorbed by the audience. I became aware through our work that the delivery to a large group of people is profoundly different than is a one-on-one conversation. The timbre of the voice, the enunciation of the full word and the timing of the word-flow are critical to letting the audience actually hear what you have to say. Karen helped me tremendously in taming my anxiety about public speaking by arming me with the tools that then gave me the confidence and presence so necessary for success...And what a success I had !!!" (at the 2002 Matrix Awards) Paulette McLeod "Hi Karen! "I took private lessons with you a few months ago, and I wanted to thank you and relate a little story. I was with some people that I hadn't seen in several years, and after a while they commented on how much better I seemed than before. I was curious, so I took one of them aside and started digging a little deeper. At first he couldn't put his finger on it, but soon he started to comment on how I was speaking! He said that my pace and enunciation were different, and he found it much more engaging now! I have further to go, but this was a real testimonial to the power of voice training and really helped underscore the value of the investment I made in our lessons. Thank you so much again, and I look forward to your future coaching!" Guy Ardito "Karen's focus on breathing starts during the first session. I started out trying to say too much in one breath, and generally let my voice trail off at the end resulting in what is called "glottal fry." However, with Karen's patient guidance and encouragement, I have shed my old ways and now breathe more often, more deeply and say less with each breath. This enables me to focus on projecting and enunciating rather than getting my entire thought out through one fading gasp. "I would recommend Karen's sessions to anyone who tends to focus more on the distraction of audience perception than on content. In addition to improving my delivery through technical guidance, Karen coached me into realizing how much I have to share. Between the improved breathing and escalated confidence level, I feel more relaxed in all participatory settings."
Lisa Tomlinson "Karen, I wanted to personally thank you for the voice and media training you provided last week. I learned more in several hours over a two day period than I thought possible. I never knew what it takes to actually come across effectively on the (television) screen, and now I know. The voice training was great, and I see it as a tool that will last the rest of my life, whether I am in front of a camera or not. Your approach and materials were very conducive to quick learning and that is much appreciated. I look forward to practicing and using what you have taught us." Ken Haddad, Executive Director "I want you to know, Karen, that your seminar was an enormous help to me. I learned so much and look forward to putting these lessons into practice. Going into this seminar, I was thinking that I had a lot of experience in front of cameras and microphones throughout my 18 years of service with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and I was thinking that I already knew a good bit about good communication skills. With your help, I quickly realized that I really had much to learn. "There are so many aspects of on-camera communication that I had never considered, beginning with the basics of learning to breath properly and how that affects your ability to make a strong, professional impression on the audience. You also have an excellent teaching style that I would characterize more as 'coaching' which makes learning easier and more effective. Thank you for taking the time to lead this workshop. I can assure you my professional life and performance will be much improved after this experience." Nick Wiley, Director, Division of Game Management "I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work with you, and your training greatly improved my voice and communications skills. Your direct approach and easy-to-use materials made learning how to speak more effectively an enjoyable and easy task. I would strongly recommend your training for anyone seeking to speak more clearly, confidently, and effectively. I found the on camera sessions most helpful and I know that they will lead to better results for me. I continue to work on my breathing and other exercises to reinforce the sessions I had with you. Breathe! Breathe! Breathe!" Dr. Thomas H. Eason, Ph.D. "I am happy to say that I have known Karen Schadow for more than 18 years. She was a stand-out colleague when I first signed on at WABC TV as an anchor/reporter and she remained a wonderful caring individual even after she left to start her own company. Karen is a bright, articulate business woman who has left her mark on the New York market and many of the people who work here. People like me. Once she puts her mind to it, there is nothing she can't do." Roz Abrams "When you invest in a session with Karen Schadow you'll learn how important breathing is to developing your vocal style. After only one hour with Karen, I was an instant convert. Now I'm trying to avoid letting my voice slip into ‘glottal fry‘ and instead am focused on enunciating, delivering my message in a clear and concise way and of course -- breathing more. I would recommend her sessions for any novice or seasoned professional who has to do public speaking, television or radio work. She has dramatically improved my sound and quite surprisingly, my on-air presence. I am now more relaxed and confident than ever before!" Allison Hemming, "Your voice is such an important part of how you present and express yourself in your daily life, both professional and personal. We often put so much attention on the content of what we're saying, or on our appearance, but totally neglect how we speak! Karen has been instrumental in helping me improve the way I use my voice. After years of speaking with poor vocal habits, I'm amazed at the progress that can be made after a few sessions with Karen and some practice. Working with Karen has been a fantastic, fun and rewarding experience. I would recommend her to anyone!"
Xavier, New York City Consultant "After last night's class, I must say that I never thought that speaking to a group of people, however briefly, could actually be a pleasant experience. Over the course of six weeks I've developed a much better feeling of my own voice and the things I need to work on during my continuing practice. I really liked your way of drawing people out and felt very comfortable in your class. I realized that even though I'm not a "born" speaker, with enough practice I can and will get to the point where I'll be able to take my voice for granted and can focus on WHAT I'm going to say. Again thank you very much for a thoroughly enjoyable class." E.L, Translator, New York "The benefits of your program truly exceeded my expectations. One of its strengths is the way you tackled my difficulties from multiple angles -- physical, mental and psychological. As a result of our sessions together and practicing at home, my confidence increased in interviews, and I was able to make effective eye contact when speaking. In the past, my thoughts, as well as my speech, had been jumbled in stressful situations. You taught me to articulate cogently and confidently. "With the interview, speech and presentation skills you taught me, I was able to get into all of my top choices for graduate school. I also competed for, and won, a significant five-year fellowship. Besides helping me snag the opportunity of a lifetime, the skills I learned with you have transferred over into my personal life. I feel more at ease with myself and I think other people see me as being smarter, happier, and friendlier too. Thanks so much, Karen."
Josh Marshack "Having endured years of humiliating speech therapy as a child to correct speech problems resulting from a cleft lip and palate, I began voice coaching with Karen Schadow to improve my storytelling with fear and trepidation. But Karen immediately put me at ease. Karen tailored her coaching to address my specific needs, even inventing new vocal exercises to help me. She showed me how breathing is key to good vocal performance. Her patient coaching improved my articulation, pitch, and breathing, giving me more confidence as a storyteller. I would recommend Karen Schadow to anyone who wants to speak with 'the voice of success'!"
Jim Cyr "Who knew there was so many intricacies to breathing and enunciation, tone and rhythm?! Not I, which was obvious after an intense one-day session with Karen Schadow. She is a tremendous teacher, one with the ability to instruct and critique with honesty and firmness, yet with a confidence-contagious, you-can-do-it motivational flair. "Now my media appearances show polish and professionalism, intelligence and enthusiasm! My newly developed abilities are reflected in the delivery of my message and in my demeanor." Gina LaGuardia, "All my life, my voice was so soft that not only could people not hear me well, but sometimes they didn’t even notice that I was speaking. I knew I needed to use my diaphragm, but I simply didn’t know how. "Finally, I found Karen. There was a lot to cover in a 3-day, 10-hour session, but at no point did I feel nervous or pressured (only a little shy when we tried to add some colors to the voice). I was able to take full advantage of the session, thanks to her warm and supportive attitude. "Videotaping was an effective learning tool. I had a tendency to mumble, and there in the videotape I saw very little mouth movement, even though I had been consciously moving my mouth a lot more than usual. "Now I can project my voice much more strongly with the newly-acquired breathing technique (never thought I could!) and I can speak more articulately by making my lazy tongue and drowsy lips work harder. That helps me not only professionally (whether I work in the simultaneous booth or in front of the audience), but also in my daily life. Thanks Karen!" Etsuko Kumata, "Karen is a master at her craft. She can, with almost magical powers, energize and imbue the most mundane voice with a powerful, persuasive resonance. She can quickly and incisively diagnose your needs and train you to be a gifted public speaker." Michael, New York City Attorney "Karen Schadow is a remarkable person, both professionally and personally. I currently work as a full-time anchor, and not one day goes by that I don’t give thanks to Karen and all that she’s taught me. It is really amazing how many people in this industry don’t realize how valuable - and important - the voice is. And unless you truly realize what it takes vocally to make it in this industry, you certainly won’t go far. "Through Karen’s practical, hands-on instruction, I have been able to capitalize on my vocal abilities and make the best of my career. And when I see other reporters and anchors who are struggling vocally, I quickly refer them to Karen Schadow - for I know through her, they will get the professional help they need. I have even gone over some of the exercises with my agent, who has been more than eager to share them with other clients. "The efforts and instruction of Karen Schadow are invaluable. If it weren’t for her, I would not be where I am now, nor be on my way to where I am going professionally with my on-air career." Victoria Mondesire "It seemed to me that every time I was faced with the prospect of a public speaking engagement, the butterflies started and would not go away. Of course, in the past, I presented effectively, but I was so nervous that I often ‘missed‘ my speech. After working with Karen several times, I was able to get in touch with the power of my voice and actually be present to what I was doing. She helped me with practical concerns and techniques that had the overall effect of building my confidence--something I have never been able to do regarding public speaking in over 30 years! Thank you!" Steven Shapiro "As an attorney, studying with Karen has not only improved my everyday communication skills, but it has also given me the ability and confidence to pursue a second career as broadcast journalist." Janine "Standing in front of an audience frightens me: At least it used to. After a few coaching sessions with Karen Schadow, I was ready to stand up and present to anyone. I gained the confidence with Karen to speak publicly - and to do it in a powerful way. "As soon as I realized the benefits of working with Karen, I had her meet with everyone on my design staff. Although they don’t do a lot of presenting before groups, they do have to present their creative ideas to clients. And they need to do it in a confident and compelling way, even if it is one-on-one. "Karen’s style is professional and warm. No one was intimidated or felt embarrassed during the training. In fact, we had a lot of fun! We are grateful to Karen to what she’s done for everyone here at Suka & Friends Design. I highly recommend her." Susan Karlin "Karen’s techniques and training are an excellent way to maximize the effectiveness of one’s speaking voice, not only for broadcasting, but for any presentation. As part of my job, I am frequently interviewed on television. Karen’s training has really helped me improve my ability to communicate during these interviews in a clear and engaging manner." Kevin Gooley "In junior high, I was always very quiet. If you heard a small whisper float out of a corner, most likely, it was one Anita Lim. So, I told myself that in high school I would be extremely outspoken. I tell myself many things. By the time I met Ms. Karen Schadow, I was already in my last year of high school and still wasn't outspoken at all. This time, it wasn't that my voice was inaudible, but that I wasn't comfortable speaking in front of groups of people. I wondered how I would be able to speak naturally in class. So, I met with Ms. Schadow thinking: I have to talk in front of people without the awkwardness, especially without turning red all of the time. With Ms. Schadow, I learned breathing techniques that amplify the voice, the pronunciation of commonly disregarded letters, intonation and presentation. In the end, the breathing and intonation techniques really helped because being able to speak loudly in class made me much more confident. Now, I volunteer answers more than before and when presentations roll by, I'm there and really not as frightened anymore. I even get the urge to talk in class nowadays and that, coming from the former mute girl in the corner, means a lot." Anita "I was lucky enough to have had Karen Schadow as a Professor of Communications. I have encountered few professors who have the ability to connect with and motivate their students like Prof. Schadow. It was encouraging to see a professor so excited about the subject matter, and it was obvious that she enjoyed being in the classroom. Her real world experience combined with her clear-cut, enthusiastic teaching style made for an extremely valuable experience. I am a stronger, more confident student having met Karen Schadow." Andrea Baumgarten "It was not only the sessions with Karen that were thoroughly instructive and enjoyable, but even her 'homework' was fun. I couldn.t wait to practice my new 'TH's' and 'L's' every day. I saw Karen for public speaking skills, but after a few sessions I was interested in acting classes as well! Unfortunately, given the demands of my current business it was not an endeavor I could pursue, but that was the kind of enthusiasm she created during our sessions. Karen will listen to you intently, recognize what needs to be improved and then be even more diligent than you are in implementing whatever is necessary to produce a great voice." Dilek Caner "Eight sessions later I feel more confident in regard to something as simple as breathing to something as important as speaking and expressing myself in any given situation. Confidence -- it is a beautiful thing and Karen sure knows how to nurture it! A heartfelt thank you! P.S. If you're thinking about it, do it!" Susan M. Dutzer |