Dr. Dee Daniels - Vocalist · Educator · Composer · Mentor

A consummate jazz, blues, and gospel vocalist of the highest calibre, Dr. Dee Daniels performs internationally in both intimate and large-scale settings. A celebrated recording artist, composer, and inspirational speaker, she is also a highly respected educator and mentor whose artistry and insight have shaped singers, musicians, and educators worldwide.

At the heart of her teaching is the Total-Self Approach to Singing - a holistic vocal and artistic development framework she created to integrate the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of the artist. This approach moves far beyond technique alone. It challenges singers to align body and breath, clarify intention, deepen emotional authenticity, and develop conscious control over their expressive choices. The result is not simply better singing, but more truthful communication, greater presence, and lasting artistic confidence.

Dr. Dee’s clinics, workshops, masterclasses, and residencies are designed with the jazz vocalist in mind, yet her methodology benefits all non-classical singers and instrumentalists. Participants consistently discover that the same principles that shape vocal expression strengthen musical phrasing, storytelling, and interpretive authority across disciplines. Her sessions are immersive, dynamic, and practical, grounded in real-world performance insights while encouraging creative risk and self-discovery.

Each experience creates a focused environment where singers step beyond habit and into conscious artistry. Through guided exploration of breath, resonance, emotional intention, phrasing, and narrative clarity, participants move past imitation and into authentic voice ownership. Students leave not only inspired, but equipped with precise tools they can apply immediately in rehearsal, performance, and their continued evolution as artists. Growth occurs when fear yields to trust - when singers allow the music to move through them with honesty, purpose, and disciplined awareness.

Dr. Dee’s journey began at the age of nine when she sang her first solo in church and experienced, firsthand, the power of voice to move hearts and create connection. That moment was the beginning of her commitment to artistry in personal expression and shared communication. With decades of performances, recordings, and teaching, she has distilled this lived experience into a teaching philosophy that honors voice as both instrument and messenger.

Storytelling is central to her work. Every song carries meaning, but interpretation gives it life. Dr. Dee guides artists to uncover the emotional truth within each lyric and melody, helping them deliver performances that are clear, compelling, and deeply human. She teaches that technique exists in the service of expression - and expression is what forges true connection.

Her work also extends into what she calls the Legacy Voice - the conscious cultivation of an artist’s unique identity, presence, and long-term impact. Through this lens, singers are encouraged not only to refine their craft but to claim their voice as an extension of purpose, truth, and contribution.

Deeply committed to mentorship and education, Dr. Dee established two Dee Daniels Vocal Jazz Scholarships to support emerging singers: the first, founded in 2001 at Capilano University (North Vancouver, BC), later relocated in 2017 to the DeMiero Jazz Fest (www.demierojazzfest.org), where it continues today; the second, launched in 2023, is administered through the Jazz Education Network (www.jazzednet.org). These initiatives reflect her ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of courageous and expressive artists.

For Dr. Dee Daniels, music is not decoration. It is communication, revelation, and service. Her work invites artists to sing not only with skill, but with intention, integrity, and soul.

Selected Clinic & Workshop Topics

VOCAL DEVELOPMENT & TECHNIQUE

Crossing Vocal Bridges: A Seamless Approach
Learn techniques that enable singers to transition smoothly between vocal registers while maintaining tonal consistency, emotional continuity, and artistic confidence. This session removes fear from the passaggio and replaces it with control, awareness, and vocal freedom.

The Dr. Dee Daniels Rose Breath & Numbered Activation Vocal Techniques
Dr. Dee’s signature methods develop precise breath coordination and intelligent support, forming the technical foundation for expanded vocal range, both higher and lower. These techniques stabilize the instrument, eliminate unnecessary tension, and allow for seamless, efficient production across the entire vocal range. The result is greater stamina and consistent tone production.

Phrasing: Melodic & Rhythmic Exploration
Discover how intentional phrasing transforms vocal performance into compelling, conversational storytelling. Participants refine musical interpretation through rhythm, nuance, articulation, and emotional shape - strengthening both artistry and communication.

Mic Technique: Voice Meets Technology
Master microphone handling, proximity control, and dynamic balance for clarity and authority in live and studio environments. This session trains singers to use the microphone as an extension of musical expression rather than a barrier.

ARTISTRY & EXPRESSION

Making It Real: Storytelling Through Song
Singers do more than sing — they shape a personal narrative, using the song’s lyrics as their foundation. Whether that interpretation arises from lived, observed, or imagined experience is irrelevant to the listener. What matters is that when it feels real to the singer: genuine, honest, and deeply personal, that authenticity draws the audience in and invites them to connect with the performer. When the story resonates within, it resonates outward, awakening and forging powerful connections in those who are listening. Through Dr. Dee’s signature three-step process, singers learn how to access emotional truth, claim lyrical intention, and deliver performances that move, transform, and stay with the listener long after the final note, all within a single session.

Continuing the Story Without Words: The Art of Creating Scat
Scat is not a detour from the story; it is its continuation. When the lyric ends, the narrative, emotion, and visual implication live on through sound. In this session, singers expand their expressive power through rhythmic and melodic exploration, learning to “speak” musically beyond language. Participants cultivate improvisational freedom while sustaining the emotional thread of the song, allowing feeling, imagery, and intention to flow directly from the voice. Scat becomes a wordless extension of the story, vivid, personal, and unmistakably alive.

Personal Grounding Techniques / How to Create with Focused Energy
Strengthen your stage presence and creative focus with Dr. Dee’s signature grounding techniques that center both body and voice. They are informed by her guiding mantra, a conscious devotion to serving as an expressive channel for profound connection. This approach delivers heightened clarity, commanding presence, and purpose-driven performance that captivates, moves, and leaves a lasting impact.

PERFORMANCE AND COMMUNICATION

Performance Presentation: Stage Presence & Personality Development, Body Language & Movement
Step into the spotlight with intention. Learn how to inhabit your music physically and emotionally through posture, gesture, stillness, and personal style. You’ll explore how body language shapes perception, how energy is transmitted through movement, and how to present yourself as a fully integrated, expressive artist whose presence speaks before a single note is sung.

Audience Interaction: Getting Them into the Palm of Your Hands
Turn performances into shared experiences. Develop the ability to read a room, shape its energy, and guide audiences into active engagement. You’ll learn how to create rapport effortlessly, communicate between songs with confidence and authenticity, and cultivate the magnetic presence that makes listeners feel held in the palm of your hand.

Listening: Comparing and Analyzing Vocal Styles
Train your ear like an artist. Deepen your interpretive vocabulary by studying phrasing, dynamics, tone color, stylistic nuance, and emotional intention across a range of vocalists and genres. You’ll learn to recognize what makes a performance compelling, absorb new influences with discernment, and translate your insights into your own evolving vocal identity.

CREATIVE PROCESS AND TEACHING

Song Arranging
Transform the way you shape a song. Explore how to craft arrangements that honor the original spirit while amplifying your unique vocal character. Learn to make intentional choices in form, feel, groove, dynamics, and storytelling so every performance reflects who you are — not just what the chart says.

Choosing Repertoire
Select songs with purpose and precision. Develop a clear framework for choosing material that aligns with your vocal range, artistic identity, emotional truth, and long-term goals. You’ll learn how to build a repertoire that not only fits your voice but also elevates your story, your brand, and your impact.

A Vocalist’s Responsibilities and Jargon
Step into the professional space with confidence. Become fluent in the language musicians use from rehearsal to band-leading terminology. Understand what’s expected of a vocalist in studio, on stage, and in collaborative environments. Master the etiquette, communication skills, and preparation habits that make you a trusted and respected musical partner.

New Tools to Create or Enhance Your Skills as a Vocal Teacher
Expand your teaching toolkit with strategies rooted in clarity, intention, and whole-artist development. Strengthen your ability to guide your students' emotional expression and artistic confidence.

Student Testimonials

Educational Postings