Testimonials

Matt Bomer

Golden Globe recipient

Normal Heart, Echo, Maestro

Janet Feindel is a wonderful and unique instructor of voice [and Alexander]). There are countless situations in the professional world in which I have employed her techniques… Not only are her methods effective, but the manner in which they are taught is both fun and practical… She approaches instruction with gracious ease…

Victoria Pedretti

MTV Award

2 nominations for People’s Choice Awards

Graduate of Carnegie Mellon, School of Drama

Hill House, Bly Manor, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Ms. Feindel taught me how to access my whole body when using my voice. I started skeptical of her methods and slowly became her biggest fan! I now feel confident I can, at the drop of a hat, make significant and imaginative changes to my voice to suit any character…..One of my favourite teachers ever…..Very grateful!

Josh Gad

Disney Legend Award Recipient,
Tony Award Nominee for Book of Mormon, Olaf in Frozen

As an actor, starting out, one of my greatest challenges has always been my vocal work. Janet Meadelle taught me no only how to address my vocal weakness but more specifically, why to address my vocal weaknesses. As a result, my vocal work has become an integral, gratifying aspect of my work on the stage, film and voice over. ….She draws on her own past experiences, to reference our struggles and fears. In other words, she is not afraid to put herself on the line, in order to achieve the best from her students. In my humble opinion, that is the very essence of what makes a great teacher- the ability to also play the role of student if necessary.

As a result of Madelle’s tutorials, I was able to fully commit to every intention without damaging my vocal folds and without sounding contrived, or fake. She was able to create a natural, relaxed process, by which my voice was able to inform my choices and not visa versa. Consequently, having had the opportunity to work with Janet Madelle Feindel, both in the classroom and the living theatre itself, I feel more qualified and proud to support her…she is a competent and extremely talented member of our community.

Martha Henry

Officer of the Order of Canada

Recipient of the Governor General’s Lifetime

Achievement Award in Performing Arts

One of a handful of supreme vocal coaches in the English-speaking world… Her ability to incorporate this Alexander work with the voice training has put her in a category all her own. She is brilliant – and unique.

When I became Director of the Stratford Festival’s Conservatory program, one of the first teachers I hired was Janet Madelle Feindel. She came to us regularly while I ran the program and was, without a doubt, one of our most influential teachers. There may be another voice teacher in the world who combines the Alexander Technique with vocal training, but I don’t know of one and I cannot imagine another teacher with Feindel’s exceptional instincts and mastery in both areas. Janet could work with any training institution, film or theatre company in the world.

Dagmara Domińczyk

Succession, Common Ground, Broadway

During my time at Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, Janet Madelle made an inedible impression on me from the moment I took her first class. She was passionate about vocal training and knew how to impart technique and invaluable information in ways that made sense to young actors. Madelle was kind, generous with her time and extremely supportive. She was able cater to each actor’s individual needs and was adept at making you feel confident, even as you struggled with insecurities. I began to grow as an actor in ways that were both exciting and necessary because of her teaching- my voice got stronger, my breath deeper, my body more present. The awareness and tools she shared with us have allowed me to feel confident to this day-whether I am acting on the Broadway stage or in front of a camera. I will be indebted to her, always.

Telly Leung

Lead in Alladin, on Broadway

Janet (or “Madelle”, as we affectionately called her) gave me a foundation of healthy voice usage for the stage that has allowed me to perform in seven Broadway shows, two national tours, and multiple regional and off-Broadway musicals and plays at the highest level since I graduated from Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. Her expertise in both vocal health and Alexander Technique was brilliantly integrated into her curriculum to teach her students how to use their voices with freedom and economy - something that is vital to my current work, playing the physically and vocally demanding role of Aladdin on Broadway eight shows a week. What makes her a gifted instructor is the combination of her expertise and personal approach to each student.

Iben Pedersen Vestrheim

Director, Shakespeare Festival for Young Performers, London, UK

Graduate 2022, Honours BA, Liverpool John Moores University/Institute of the Arts, Barcelona

I am so grateful to have had Janet Madelle Feindel as my voice teacher during my BA (Honor) in acting. She provided me with all the techniques and support a starting performer needs to succeed. She pays attention to details and has her students well-being and understanding in focus. I now use her Vox Explora and Alexander technique approach as an essential part of my everyday routines. Janet sees the needs of each individual student and specializes her lessons to meet their particular requirements. She is an absolute inspiration and joy to work with.

Maria Lauro

Acting Honours, BA, Liverpool John Moores University/

Institute of the Arts, Barcelona

Campanhia de Teatro O Sonho, Lisbon, Portugal

Madelle was my teacher for three years at the Institute of the Arts Barcelona in the BA (Hons) Acting degree. During that time, her guidance was precious. I am now an actress with the Companhia de Teatro O Sonho (The Dream Theatre Company) in Lisbon, Portugal, and her Vox Explora and Alexander technique work have been essential in my daily warm-up as they have been helping me to create and play several different characters in an efficient and safe way. A charming person and an attentive teacher that I think you would love to cross paths with.

Krista Yu

Dr Ken (ABC)

Professor Feindel is truly a special teacher because she brings the best of both worlds when considering how she supports, and how she critiques. While she is constantly supportive, she is far from ‘a softie.’ She always maintains a professional level of work….. to extremely specific and constructive, yet not demeaning, notes when helping us with monologues (which she helps us root out from a place deeper than solely the actor’s voice, but from the actor’s soul).

Whenever I got a script for my series regular role as Molly on Dr. Ken (ABC), the first thing I did was mark the ’s’s and ‘z’s - a distinction she feverishly had me work on. In fact, from working with Dr. Ken, Cougar Town, the Middle, Switched at Birth, and Agent Carter on ABC, to the Thundermans on Nickelodeon, to Parenthood on NBC, to truly any professional project, when shaping each of the character’s I have played or auditioned for, I always make sure that I explore and find my character’s voice in a way I discovered through Professor Feindel’s curriculum. My favorite warm up is still the ‘constructive rest’ position she taught us and I honestly get compliments on my voice all the time, especially right now as I am working on a confidential voice over project.

I believe in Professor Feindel’s morals, and I believe in what she stands for as a person and an artist. She is an incredible role model: a passionate artist with a kind and generous heart.

From reading her fantastic book, to learning from her classes, to interacting with her, many agree with me that she brings a radiant light…. and on a personal level, I owe all the compliments I receive of “wow you have an amazing speaking voice” to her. Because of her, I truly freed my natural voice.

Linda Addlespurger

Director, Hope Academy of Music and the Arts

...Janet Feindel comes with a wealth of experience in Shakespeare, having trained with and coached with Cicely Berry, CBE, for Theatre of a New Audience productions of The Merchant of Venice and The Jew of Malta, with Academy Award recipient, F. Murray Abraham in the title roles. Both shows played to sold out houses at the Duke Theatre, Off Broadway. The production of Merchant also played at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Complete Works Festival, again to sold out houses and critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. Mr. Abraham also hired Feindel as his Alexander Technique coach.

Feindel has also coached the renowned Stratford Festival in Canada, including the Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Training, the Canadian Stage Shakespeare in the High Park and many others. She is certified in a number of established techniques and also synthesizes these with many of her own successful approaches as detailed in her comprehensive book, The Thought Propels the Sound, Plural Publishing...

...In the context of our collaboration at Hope Academy, what has stood out has been the care and encouragement she has shown our students, which has helped to build their confidence. In the same spirit, she has guided the CMU students to teach in this generous and supportive manner, to the great benefit of both groups of students. The CMU students have served as terrific mentors and role models for the Hope Academy students and, in the process, have gained confidence in their own ability to articulate and share the principles of the work.

John Irving's photo, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Dylan Fergus

Producer, Casual Films

The roles of Noah Bennett, Passions, Tim Dillion, All My Children

As my teacher and coach, Feindel has had as great impact on my work and my career as an actor, producer and director…..I have used Janet Madelle’s teachings during the filming of feature films, in preparation for regional theatre, and as a tool to maintain my vocal stamina during the filming of over 200 hours of television….Janet Madelle’s work has a great influence on me, artistically and personally. I strongly recommend her…

Antoni Cimolino

Artistic Director, Stratford Festival, Canada

Janet has worked with many of the world's top directors and has a strong sense of what aspects of voice and Alexander work will enhance a director's approach through rehearsal and into the run. This kind of skillful support for a director's vision can make a vital difference to the quality of a production. Janet's talent and her ability to fuse a number of different methods make her contribution unique.

Janice Price

Former President, The Banff Centre, Kimmel Center

Janet's personal approach combined with her ability to clearly communicate techniques and exercises, make her a wonderful teacher.

I had previously heard glowing reports about Janet's coaching from members of the Stratford Festival acting company, particularly with regards to her work on dialects. Working in a large repertory company you are always keenly aware of the need for collaboration and teamwork, and Janet truly excels in this area. Company members regularly praised her for the quality and sensitivity of her notes…. Janet is a dedicated and passionate professional with a great deal to offer any theatre or educational organization.

Robert T. Sataloff M.D., D.M.A., F.A.C.S.

Chair, Voice Foundation

Former Conductor, Thomas Jefferson University Choir

Professor and Chairman, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery

It is a pleasure to recommend Professor Janet Madelle Feindel…… with enthusiasm and without reservation.

She is an internationally recognized voice/dialect and speech trainer and Alexander Technique teacher. She is particularly gifted at simplifying complex topics and educating people concisely and efficiently.

I have known Ms. Feindel for more than a decade, primarily through her activities in association with The Voice Foundation (of which I am Chair). I have observed her teach on numerous occasions; and I am familiar with her work and her reputation in the field.

Her commitment to vocal health and injury prevention is recognized widely. In October 2017, her contributions to the pedagogy and care of the artistic voice were recognized by Pacific Voice and Speech Foundation with an award of a lifetime honorary membership. She contributes regularly to the The Voice Foundation Symposium on Care of the Professional Voice held annually in Philadelphia as a workshop leader. She is also part of a team of distinguished coaches at the conference who offer voice coaching to scientific presenters. Many of the individuals are not native speakers; and in some cases, the Symposium provides their first opportunity to present in English. Ms. Feindel’s technical skills and positive teaching style provide grounded support for these individuals and help them gain technique and confidence.

Ms. Feindel offers an unusual combination of professional theater experience, academic skill, and pedagogical depth. She is positive in her approach to problem solving and is intuitively collaborative.

…. In addition, she is an accomplished writer, particularly her book outlining her methods THE THOUGHT PROPELS THE SOUND and more recently, her chapter in PERFORMER’S VOICE, both published by Plural Publishing……

Her activities have brought favorable recognition to Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, Institute of the Arts Barcelona, and Concordia University, internationally.