-Professional Singer with specialty in teaching multiple genres; Pop, Rock, R&B, Classical Music and Musical Theatre -Master's degree in vocal performances -Certified CCM teacher

Find out more about Rana

• 1) When did you first develop a passion for music and your favorite instrument?

  My family on the mother’s side is very much artistic and into music, my uncle was a very famous pianist, and he was playing or practicing every time we were at his house. I think that grew a big interest in me for music, all those different genres that he played and going to his concerts, it just seemed surreal to me! My first instrument was actually piano; I started with him teaching me, but he was too strict and old school so we had to change teachers!!
  I’d say my favorite instrument other than human’s voice is cello!

• 2) Is there a particular type of music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  It’s interesting cause it keeps changing as I age! Like before it used to be classical music, probably Handel or any other Baroque composer’s music! But now it’s Metal and hard rock! And it’s so hard to choose but I’d probably say Lorna Shore for the time being!

• 3) Explain to us the most difficult or riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  Well a difficult lesson is when you have to teach a student who’s not there at you classroom, because they wanted to be there: like kids when it’s their parents’ decision or dream for the kid to learn to sing, and the kid doesn’t really want that. So of course there’s no passion or motivation behind it. But even more difficult is an adult who signs up for the lessons with their hard earned money, but they’re not putting the effort, they’re not practicing or committed and makes you wonder why are they taking the lessons then?!
  
  Now riveting in my opinion has two meanings, one as in challenging and one as in interesting. So in terms of my most interesting experience of teaching, I would say what makes a lesson very interesting for me is when the student shows up to the lesson prepared, has done their part in terms of searching new songs, or has listened to different versions of a song and knows what they want, what sound are they looking for, what technique they want to master and ask questions.

• 4) What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  As a singer who has already played piano and flute, I would say singing is definitely the most challenging instrument of all. The reason is because you can see all other instruments when you’re playing them, you can touch them however singing in my opinion is “imagination combined with techniques”! It’s very much based on your intuitions at the moment of singing and you’ll have to internalize all those techniques within your body, while a lot of it is sensory. And not to mention what might work for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another person, each student has to find those placements within their own body and experience it themselves so it’s not a model fits everyone.

• 5) What are your keys to success?

  Being honest with yourself about your goals. Once you have defined these goals for yourself then you can walk towards them, and then be consistent about it. And most importantly, don’t be afraid of making mistakes, that will help you get better at your instrument, take risks and own it.

• 6) Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favourite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  1. Amazing Pat Benatar. As a female singer with classical training background, I have a lot of respect for her and her beautiful voice has always been an inspiration for me.
  
  2. Adele: I love how real her music is. No auto tuning on her songs, which is making everything fake nowadays, and how her lyrics seem to come heart, so authentic and genuine.
  
  3. Maria Brink from the band “In This Moment”. She’s an amazing singer and does distortion and clean vocals very easily and it just shows me how great of a technique she has!

• 7) Provide a valuable anecdote related to music or your days at music school.

  That being vulnerable isn’t weakness. In my first ever professional opera, on the last scene which was very dramatic (I was playing the role of a patient with cancer) I couldn’t stop crying in our first rehearsal because it was a very tense moment emotionally and I felt so embarrassed. The director took me aside later and told me that phrase, being vulnerable isn’t a sign of weakness. It shows you’re human and you are really invested in your art. And I always share that with my students.

• 8) What are the little touches that make you a Superprof in music?

  As someone who has studied instrumental music, and has played professionally for years in orchestras, then went to school for classical singing and opera, then later on got another degree in contemporary singing, I think I use a combination of all these three different worlds when it comes to teaching vocal techniques to students. Some students are more technical (as in anatomy of the voice and music theory details) while some are more tuned to senses and feelings of singing (more interested in singing by ear rather than from sheet music) so you have to have a good understanding of all these concepts as a vocal coach. I think this is one of my fortes when it comes to teaching.