STUDENT & PARENT TESTIMONIALS

I was a student and colleague of Joan Minnery for many years. Joan was my music instructor through

the Starr Sensations School of Music for roughly a decade, where she taught me music performance and basic music theory. Alongside being a student of Joan’s, I was also a part of the children’s choir she directed, Starr Sensations; participated in and assisted with the Brantford Cabaret, and performed across Ontario in numerous groups with Joan.I was deeply involved with every aspect of Joan’s teaching and performance career from 2003 until 2015, when I moved away from Brantford, Ontario where she is located. I now reside in Toronto, Ontario where I attended and graduated from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography Studies in 2019. I am continuing my education to eventually become a qualified high school teacher as well as furthering my career in the performing arts.

Joan Minnery is a phenomenal music educator, particularly for children. She approaches teaching in a very unique manner, giving her students the freedom to direct themselves as she assists in whatever avenue they choose to pursue. I experienced this myself and continue to see this beneficial method of teaching applied through her current vocal lessons, SING It Brantford. Joan has a deep understanding of how to work with children, she is a gentle and enthusiastic teacher who provides her students with countless opportunities to perform and showcase their talents.
Throughout my time as a student of Joan’s, one of my main focuses became competitive singing throughout Ontario. Through Joan’s instruction I won multiple awards at competitions such as Rise 2 Fame Youth Talent Search, National Star, Norfolk County Fair Talent Search, CNE Rising StarCompetition, Brantford Kiwanis Music Festival, and Brantford Idol/Has Talent. I was one of many of Joan’s students who were incredibly successful at these competitions. Joan worked tirelessly to prepare her student’s for competitions, all while involving and centering them in the entire process.Joan’s teaching extends beyond individual vocal lessons in the form of the Brantford Cabaret, a group that began as a performance for the International Villages Festival as the New York, New York Village to the interactive musical theatre course that it is now. Joan works to create a fun, interactive learning environment where people of all ages and skill levels can be introduced to musical theatre. I had the opportunity to participate as well as assist during my years in high school. It was an invaluable experience to work in this environment with Joan, it was an opportunity that ignited my love of teaching and directing. Joan is incredibly generous in offering her skills to teach not only her students, but also those who work with her in the industry.

Along with being a student of Joan’s, I also spent over a decade performing alongside her in showcases all across Ontario. I transitioned from solely a student and participant to a colleague in performance. Joan made this opportunity available to many of the people she mentored over the years. Joan works non-stop to entertain not only the communities she is a part of, but many beyond as well - she tirelessly gives back to her community in the form of music, art, and education.From music lessons, to performance, and everything in between, Joan Minnery was a large part of igniting and nurturing a deep love of art and music in me. So much of my young life was shaped by Joan Minnery and her many ventures in music, and my career path and aspirations continue to be influenced by her teachings and mentorship to this day.  Taya Humpartzoomian, Toronto Ontario, May, 2021.

Please read below for more amazing letters ... 

I have known Joan Minnery for over 8 years. She has been my daughter's vocal coach throughout this time.

She also has numerous accolades for motivational speaking, dance, writing and so much more. 
Joan is responsible, efficient, organized and competent. Joan is always looking for opportunities for her students to shine; organizing vocal performances in the community, assisting them in writing, recording and promoting their original songs and supporting them in their personal lives. Joan is a pillar in our community and if you ask anyone about Joan, their response is always positive, speaking of her generosity and community work.
Joan has an excellent rapport with people of all ages. Her ability to teach both young and old through her music, movement and motivational speaking is truly admirable. Joan has excellent communication skills which allows her to connect with all kinds of people and inspire them to always give their best effort. Joan is an excellent person and I highly recommend her for any endeavour that she may seek to pursue. She is a valuable asset to any community, person, event or organization. Caroline Angus Rowe & Bryanna Rowe, Brantford Ontario. April 2021

Let me tell you about Joan Minnery. I am a retired man looking for a way to stay as youthful as possible and decided to try singing, sort of a bucket list goal. I have been taking singing lessons with Joan for several months and I can tell you that it is one of the most fun experiences I've ever had. Her expertise as a music instructor is incredible and her sense of humour and playfulness makes each lesson something I always look forward to. Her dedication to me as a student has been well beyond what I would have expected. She helped me and her other students record our own songs and believe it or not I'm on Spotify now.  In the lessons we have gone past practicing the singing and included as well practice in stage presence and theatrics, and again this is something I wasn't expecting but I feel lucky that I have received instruction in this area too. Joan Minnery is an amazing instructor and a wonderful person. If you are considering singing lessons and want to see good results, I would highly recommend giving Joan a call.  Steve Doran, Brantford Ontario, March 2021

In March 2019 I was still recovering from a ruptured brain aneurysm I had in august 2018. At that time, it was important to me that all my children have some sort of memory of me. When it came to my youngest daughter it was a bit trickier. She was only 7, incredibly shy and her favourite thing to do was be by my side. But singing, singing was the one thing she and I shared. We sang while we cooked, while we tidied, all the time and I didn’t want her to lose that if something were to happen to me. I started searching for a teacher and it wasn’t long before I came across Joan’s website online. I remembered reading so much about her prior and seeing her do live singing once. I knew she could be that one person with the right personality who could both teach my daughter to sing and break through her ever-present shyness. (At this point Emma had relatives she still wouldn’t engage in conversation with, she was that shy!)  I contacted Joan, who had an incredibly busy schedule, but she agreed to work with Emma. Joan was/is one of the few people Emma became very comfortable with very quickly. She enjoyed the time they spent together, the singing and would do her best to belt out her songs. Joan was always a voice of encouragement and thoughtful teaching.Joan often set up singing places for her students. Going to retirement homes, etc. Joan would always ask her to attend, and Emma would look at me and say no. Joan always responded with an upbeat “one day I will get you on the stage” and I would laugh.  By the end of that first year Joan asked Emma to come sing Christmas songs at a retirement home. Shockingly to both of us, Emma said yes and was very excited! She practiced so hard, and she was worried, but I (and Joan) kept reminding her that Joan would be right there beside her if she needed her.

That concert came and I watched my still so shy little girl walk up to Joan, take the microphone, and belt out her song. You could see the pride. As her parents we really thought she would get stage fright, but she sang her song, sat back down with us and looked me in the eye and said “can I sing another?”

Joan gave Emma her voice, Joan empowered her and gave her the place to feel safe to do her thing and gave her a belief in herself that nobody had. When friends teased her because she didn’t take gymnastics (which she had, with her dad sitting beside her on the floor) she looked at them and said “I’ve done it, now I sing.” Her voice and determination is a direct result of the time she has spent with Joan.

With Joan it’s not just singing a song. It’s learning the scales, it’s the reasons why a song was written. Joan is so in tune with her students regardless of age it is just amazing.

Not only were we grateful for all the above but in the spring of 2020, Joan asked after a lesson of Emma had petit mal seizures. I said no, but it made us start watching her more carefully and shortly after that we discovered she had epilepsy. If it wasn’t for Joan being so attentive and aware her diagnosis might have been much more delayed.

Covid hit the world hard, especially for kids. Joan spun that and found a way to bring some normal back to their lives. Zoom lessons, a zoom concert and most exciting writing individual songs with each of her students and recording them. When they look back and talk about the year(s) of covid, for all the difficulties they faced, they have that to promote and be proud of.

Emma decided to enter the Norfolk arts festival. Joan worked with her on her songs, talked to her about what the judges would be looking for, gave her constructive criticism in a manner that helped and didn’t hinder. When she practiced, I would tell her remember what Joan suggested and she would smile. And she won first place for her original song that was written with Joan.

Joan is amazing. What she does with and for her students is beyond words. She empowers them, encourages them, and gives them the voice and the platform to have such an amazing belief in themselves.

We are forever thankful for what she has done for our daughter. 

Teri MacKinnon & Emma Rodrigue, Simcoe Ontario, June 2021.