Student Testimonies

- Denice is the most knowledgeable, kindest voice teacher I’ve known. She goes above and beyond to make recitals a beautiful event and to support students at performances outside the studio. Jennifer

- I started lessons with Denice a few months after moving from Italy to Edmonton. It was extremely important to resume lessons in vocal technique which I had studied in Italy. After making inquiries, I was referred to Denice by a contact who spoke highly of her. This information proved to be correct and for me it was a real turning point for my singing, because it opened me up to wonderful technical and musical world.
For me, Denice’s lessons are real guidelines to follow with extreme dedication because in this way you can achieve leaps in vocal quality . Her teaching is always interesting and varied and above all easily implemented during my public performances. In my opinion, Denice is now irreplaceable as a teacher.
I think that Denice is an excellent teacher because of her great technical and artistic knowledge of vocal production, preparation and performance, but I also especially appreciate the wonderful feeling of being put at ease by her friendliness and acceptance right from the first moment I met her. She has great ability to listen to you and understand the problems that often influence the learning process of the individual student. She offers excellent reflections on my performances while showing me how I can continue my improvement. Denice is a wonderful woman who always has a good word to say in helping you overcome the difficulty of the moment. I have had many teachers in my career, but Denice is the only one with whom I have established a feeling of accomplishment, especially during the first year of study with her when I did not speak a word of English. She was wonderful because she was able to explain using examples and gestures, which made the lessons understandable and very useful.
I think those who wish to grow as a singer can not help but entrust their voice to this teacher who is also, above all, a wonderful friend. Andrea

- My first encounter with Denice was at a recital I attended to support my sister who was a student at the studio. The first thing I noticed was the admiration and respect all the students had for their teacher. As soon as Denice started introducing the first performer I thought to myself, this is someone I would feel comfortable learning from. My experience has been nothing but positive, Denice takes every opportunity to educate and share her love of music. She has helped me grow in confidence as a singer and a performer. As a student it was easy to understand instruction and appreciated attention given to proper technique. Denice has this way of helping you stretch yourself while still keeping the process light and enjoyable. It has been an absolute pleasure learning from her. Allena

- Denice is without question the best instructor I have ever had. She so patiently sees the best in each student, bringing out their best tone and teaching them to use their voice in the healthiest way possible. I have shattered so many conceptions I had about my voice and what it could do, simply because Denice matches all of my efforts, every time. Denice’s lessons are centered around freedom. Freedom to come as you are, no matter what has affected you during your week, freedom to laugh, smile and learn while focusing on absolute freedom of the voice. We de stress, we unwind, we discuss our love of music, and we do our best to achieve as much vocal progress as possible. The recitals she plans are beautiful experiences; rich in history, with unbelievable amounts of effort and energy put into them. Her lessons are grounded in history and vocal pedagogy; she has undergone many pursuits to ensure her knowledge of "the voice" and "beautiful, healthy tone" is nothing short of all encompassing. I feel so safe investing my time and knowledge under her instruction; she has answers and insights for any vocal query, with much literature and affirmation from other scholars to back her. The way Denice matches repertoire to each student in our studio is fascinating. Her repertoire knowledge is unbelievable. No matter the age of the student, Denice is able to offer an instruction that is respected and revered. From her youngest students, to her students with special needs, to her oldest students, none of us would vocally be where we are without her, and none of us would ever study under anyone but her. Garrett

- Music was always a constant part of my life growing up so naturally I developed a deep love of singing. Through the years, my desire to improve and develop my voice grew and with Denice’s guidance and instruction I can finally say I am accomplishing that. She is truly a miracle worker, not only is she a phenomenal vocalist herself but she has an innate ability to teach as well which is such a rarity I find. She is knowledgeable, committed and passionate; believing so fully and completely in your potential that you cannot help but become a believer yourself. I’ve seen growth in leaps and bounds and done things with my voice that I did not think possible before I met Denice. I am so thankful for Denice and I look forward with anticipation knowing that the best is yet to come. Marcile

- I have been a vocal student of Denice Bennett for two years.  During this time I have profoundly increased my vocal control, power, clarity of voice and my range. Denice has an extraordinary ability to explain abstract or difficult concepts in a unique way using a variety of tools to convey knowledge and technique. These include diagrams and anatomical throat and vocal fold models as well as vivid imagery to invoke the imagination. Seeing how the voice works makes concepts stick and one's technique begins to improve immediately. It is thanks to her instruction that I was able to successfully audition and now to sing with the Richard Eaton Singers. Denice's students include a wide range from beginners all the way to professional opera singers. In addition to being a teacher, Denice herself is an accomplished performer with a powerful soprano voice. This gives her great ability to vividly demonstrate what she is teaching. Her warm and generous personality, her wise guidance and her incredibly effective methods create friendship and trust within her Studio. I give her my sincere thanks for helping me increase my performance skills to a level of excellence I could never otherwise have achieved. I assure you, if you are looking to discover your true vocal potential, you will find your lessons to be the highlight of your week as do I. Vedran

- I remember moving to Edmonton and thinking " I need a voice teacher". I have been singing and really wanted to improve my singing voice. The moment I walked into her studio it was a match. She just knew what do with my voice, where to start and how to handle it. I have been her student for 5 years and the amount of improvement I have experienced in my singing and SPEAKING voice has been motivating. I learned and improved more than I could imagine. Denice is incredibly patient and never gives up on you. She provides a safe environment for you to express and find your voice in and outside her studio. That was so important for me to develop as a singer. Denice is truly a knowledgeable teacher and singer and I'm blessed to be learning from her. Ayan

- Being part of Denice's voice studio is like being warmly welcomed into a loving home and extended family. She is an amazing voice teacher with very precise technique, excellent training tools and such a discerning ear she can hear when her students have a thought that wasn't properly supported on the breath. Even more than this, she pours out her heart and gives freely of her time and energy to giving her studio a vibrancy and aliveness that will carries her students through many years of growth and vocal development--while making them feel extraordinarily cherished and nurtured. I am very thankful for the ever-open welcome that Denice provides to me. I owe much of my vocal development and love for classical singing to her work with me. When I spend months away from the studio pursuing various vocal opportunities that have become available to me from her training (like Opera Nuova, the Edmonton Opera, and other private and company gigs), I know the door will be open to me upon returning and that Denice's fountain of knowledge and nurturing will never run dry. Justin

Instructor Testimonies

- As a singer, studio voice teacher, and conductor of both auditioned and non-auditioned choristers, I am grateful to Denice Bennett for her expert, empathetic guidance in vocal pedagogy. The lessons I receive, as well as answers to my many questions, are compelling and full of revelations that continue to enlighten my own practice as a singer and mentor to others in their singing journey. I am encouraged to participate in Denice’s recitals, events in which all the singers enthusiastically support each other’s art; and when I teach, I am thrilled to be able to demonstrate or explain gems of technique, tone, diction, and interpretation acquired in the studio of this exemplary professional. Voice Teacher and Conductor, Edmonton

- I am a music instructor in Edmonton who studies with Denice and I have a child who studies with her as well. What we appreciate most as the student and parent is the dedication that Denice brings to her teaching. She is a true teacher in every sense and not only awakens the curiosity of a student in learning but nurtures their development and growth of their instrument along the way. Her devotion towards passing along her knowledge of the artform is unbending and she always places the students well-being and interests before her own, which is a rarity amongst teachers in the performing arts. Sadly, pedagogy is most often sacrificed for the sake of business amongst Voice Teachers. This is certainly not the case with Denice. The reason why interest is kept amongst the youth for Classical music, a niche in society, is because of teachers like Denice who still believe in the value of educating students and respecting the belief that this form of music and their connection to it is essential for the survival of Classical music in the future. We appreciate how lessons are structured around the needs of the student. This means that time is effectively used to assist the student through any weekly challenges. Solutions both short and long term are tailored to the student. For example, voice projection is encouraged based on the stage of voice training and not forced at early stages. Denice knows what is appropriate for each stage of the developing voice at any age. As a teacher myself, I can testify to the professionalism and passion Denice imparts to each one of her students. Piano Teacher, Edmonton, Parent of Voice Student