Meet the teachers

Debra Lee

Piano, singing, songwriting

Teacher, pianist, singer, songwriter, and performing and recording artist, Debra Lee is a West Chester University graduate with advanced studies in piano pedagogy, and is a certified Voiceworks™ Associate for the TOTAL SINGER method. She teaches vocal techniques that enhance singing in all musical styles: pop, jazz, rock, blues, country, R&B, musical theater, choral and classical. She is knowledgeable about basic vocal physiology and health. She has taught and coached aspiring young singers, choral singers, hobbyists and professional singers, and is effective in teaching everything from pitch correction to optimal vocal health, relaxation, and performance techniques for both the stage and the recording studio. Ms. Lee's students and vocal clients have included children as young as 5 and award-winning recording artists.

A classically trained pianist, Ms. Debra is a past board member of the regional chapter of MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) and continues ongoing piano pedagogy studies to keep her teaching current and fresh. Her piano teachers and mentors have included the late Mary Theresa Soper and Marvin Blickenstaff, both recognized classical pianists, educators and pedagogues. She is a skilled sight reader, has studied and performed classical music, and has experience as an accompanist for musical theater and pop music.

She writes and performs her original music as a solo performer and in the songwriter duo Lyra Project (with Rick Denzien), and sings professionally at events, including jazz standards. Ms. Debra is a background vocalist/studio singer at Boffo Recording Studio and can be heard on numerous recording artists' CDs. She sings in the choir, plays keyboard and sings in the contemporary worship band, and leads children's music at First Presbyterian Church of Ambler, which hosts DenLee Music School recitals.

Ms. Debra is patient and caring, often combining piano and singing in lessons and encouraging creativity through songwriting. She also facilitates songwriting workshops as a co-coordinator for the Philadelphia Chapter of NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International).

Rick Denzien

Guitar and ukulele, songwriting, vocals, recording arts, vocal coaching, voiceover booth setup

Lifelong musician, award-winning songwriter and teacher Rick Denzien brings his years of experience into each lesson with humor, and inspires students to be creative and write original songs. He enjoys working with students as young as 7, teens, and adults of all ages. His teaching combines traditional guitar technique and music theory; vocal and microphone technique for singers; and, for songwriters, song structure, lyric writing, melody, rhyme, music theory, chord progressions and voicings, and the elements that make a successful commercial song.

Also a highly skilled sound and recording engineer, Mr. Rick teaches aspiring studio musicians and songwriters, and students interested in recording sciences, engineering and production. As a record producer he has worked with well-known bands, artists and musicians over the years. He runs Bah-fo Recording Studio, affiliated with DenLee Music School, and Slot One Entertainment, a commercial recording studio. Besides being a talented guitarist, Mr. Rick is a versatile musician who also plays keyboard, drums/percussion and wind instruments.

Mr. Rick also serves as a vocal coach, both in the production process and for voiceover (VO). He teaches voiceover artists and audiobook narrators how to set up their VO booth and recording gear for book reading. He is familiar with ACX and VO requirements and has run many VO sessions, including for PBS.

Mr. Rick and George the Tech have worked together for years. On one of George’s recent East Coast visits, he taught a handful of his best customers at Bah-Fo Studio. While they were there, one of George’s group got a VO job that had to be done right away. Mr. Rick showed him into the studio, and he recorded the job and submitted it on the spot. He said the room was dope.

He mentors high-school and college students who are serious about music as a profession. Mr. Rick has taught college-level classes in recording, production and engineering, has served as a panelist at music-industry conferences, and has led workshops on songwriting and the music business. He is knowledgeable and experienced in music publishing and law, which he passes along to the students he mentors and coaches.