Souls of the Studio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working with Karen is transformative. Her ability to meet students where they’re at and personalize your process of learning is unique and extraordinary. She provides guidance to reach your potential and creates a space of non-judgement that really allows you to go beyond what you thought you were capable of. Combining musical training with energy work has helped me tap into something much deeper that I truly would not have been able to find anywhere else. Working together over the years has helped me conquer my fears and produce work I’m genuinely proud of. This holistic style of teaching has not only helped me improve as a singer, but also as a person. Working together has helped me approach music and life more authentically. After 15 years of working together, I can confidently say that working with Karen is beneficial at any point in your life.​

- Carly A.​​​​​​

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As a professional singer, I have been trained in specific techniques that have hindered the scope and application of my sound until I began working with Karen’s energetic body approach. This process has challenged me to get out of my head and go inside my body and further still into the earth and energy fields for the source of my sound. It’s a very bottom-up approach: draw sound energy from the earth, through the pelvic floor, and release. With that holistic base, we then incorporate traditional vocal training tools to give the voice flexibility and depth so I have choices in the way I present my sound. Connecting to the root of my authentic sound as it is meant to vibrate in my unique instrument has been healing. This method of practice is grounding and spiritual and has opened my intuition so that I have a clearer understanding of my mind/body/energetic connection as it pertains to sound. 

- Brigid L.

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An experience nothing short of eye opening, or should I say ear opening: During a music rehearsal led by Karen, she had the seemingly amateur cast of Fiddler on the Roof engage in a sound energy exercise with our primary goal being to sync our sonicity with one another. The result of this exercise did not just end with each individual’s inner and outer voice opening up to a point of enchanted entanglement with those around them, but went as far as unlocking a potential for immediate access to expanded range, color, intonation, and auditory awareness. This manifested for myself as the unexpected excursion to a metaphysical space where “wrong notes” did not, in fact, sound wrong. They blended with the “right notes” of the intended harmony and added to its warmth and depth in sound. Furthermore, my role in the production gave me the task of singing a G5 completely alone at a time where my range topped out at an E5 on a good day. To my surprise, and everyone else’s, that G5 came out pure and smooth as it should for a baritone. I knew, however, that there was no kidding myself. That would not have happened if we had not taken the time to connect and engage in the sound energy world prior to engaging with the earthly musical realm. The method Karen practices is an experience far from the typical source of modern day voice and music education, but that might just be why it is all the more powerful.

- John H.

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Karen is a wholistic voice coach. Her approach goes much deeper than typical voice coaching. She has provided a crucial understanding of music theory and the physiology of singing for my 8th grader. Beyond that, they have worked together extensively on audition anxiety at a level that has given her tools for life. My daughter has grown tremendously as a musician and a person through her work with Karen. ​

- Robin E.

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I’ve been doing theatre from a young age but before I started with Karen I struggled to find my voice. I had a lot of anxiety with auditions, and Karen taught me techniques to calm my nerves in that environment. 
Instead of telling me to be louder and more confident, Karen helped me become comfortable with my voice until those things came to me naturally. I always feel so well understood when working with Karen and it seems like she has a fix to every problem. Whether it’s with singing, acting, piano, or music theory, she always has a way to help and improve you. ​

- Golda E.

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As a middle-aged person exploring voice and singing in a musical for the first time since childhood, these methods for both individual and group practice have been extremely helpful. Through exercises in energy movement and learned listening, Karen has helped me use my whole body to find “my” sound. She used these same techniques to guide the cast in sharing sound, energy, and music with each other - a powerful exercise that helped create a sense of community among us. Practicing the techniques alone and with other cast members helped to both energize and calm us as we prepared to go on stage. I look forward to continuing on this musical journey.

- Amy G.

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Singing is truly a gift and taking voice lessons has helped me to recognize that. I have grown so much throughout my time taking lessons. Taking down barriers through movement, energy work, and in so many other ways has allowed me to sing with so much peace and freedom and it has been so rewarding. Through voice lessons I’ve learned how much the body and our experiences impact our voice. Through the guidance of Karen, I’ve learned how to listen to my instincts and body, and it has allowed me to release my voice in a way that is healthy, joyful, and unique to me.​

- McKenzie B.