Sani
"I bring my experience from many different fields into my lessons. My students' goals are the focus – and confidence for life comes on top."
It's almost like something out of a Hollywood movie: a guy from Hamburg in Los Angeles. That's Sani. (Vocal coach and singing teacher)! He would have loved to drop out of school before graduating, but that was out of the question for Sani’s parents, who wholeheartedly supported his dreams. Even before graduating, he booked a flight to L.A. As soon as he had his high school diploma in hand, he was off. Today, he calls Los Angeles his second home.
He's the kind of guy who sticks to Plan A. Someone who lives and breathes music with every fiber of his being. The piano was his first instrument; he also sings and plays the guitar. Following in the footsteps of Hans Zimmer, Sani's great role model, he now composes film scores—and he's doing it successfully.
"For me, there's always been only one Plan A. If you really want to succeed in music, the idea of a Plan B shouldn't even exist."
Even as a toddler—he was about three years old—he’d grab a guitar and "strum around," as he puts it. That was the beginning of a musical journey that remains very intense to this day. Sani showed a clear interest in music, so his mother promptly enrolled him in the church choir, followed by piano and guitar lessons.
Mindlessly memorizing tedious techniques quickly bores him. So he swaps his guitar lessons for an electric guitar and an amplifier and teaches himself everything all over again from scratch. The same goes for the piano. He does it his own way—the way he feels is right. For a seven-year-old, that’s quite self-assured—a clear sign of a musical career ahead.
His time in the children's choir came to an end when he reached his teens. He had outgrown it. Here, too, he resolutely forged his own path and sought out a vocal teacher specializing in modern singing. A little later, he switched to a vocal coach who focused on pop singing.
A few days after graduating from high school, he wakes up in Los Angeles.
"I was completely on my own and had nothing. I found a shared apartment. Since I didn't have much money, I slept on the floor without a mattress for the first few days. But I was highly motivated to make something of my musical career.‘
He buys a keyboard—yes—and a mattress, too. A little while later, he buys an amplifier and plays cover songs on the Santa Monica Promenade, such as those by Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran.
"Going out and performing in public helps you so much—you gain so much self-confidence, meet new people, and that opens doors for your career."
He is studying at Santa Monica College. A few years later, he takes a detour to one of the other hotspots for film music: London.
Sani attends Point Blank Music School. Because there was one more thing: film music. He wants to acquire the necessary technical know-how for that. Outside of school hours, he follows his calling and continues to teach himself—as usual—about film music.
"It was an incredibly liberating feeling to know that I could focus solely on that (film music, ed.) and wouldn't be distracted by anything."
He stayed in London for a year and landed his first job composing film scores. As if that weren’t enough, he was awarded a scholarship to the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. This led him to move back to his second home, L.A. There, he learned everything there is to know about singing, film music, and—above all—composition from Hollywood greats.
The bottom line so far: what a dedicated person! Sani is a film composer—that’s his main focus—as well as a singer and songwriter; he’s also been coaching other singers—from beginners to pros—since 2018.
He prepares his students for performances, accompanies them during studio recordings, and helps them refine their songs.
Sani has also been a part of the CK Voice Academy since early 2023.
When asked, "What can your students expect from your classes?“, he replies immediately:
"Fun, but also really serious."
Sani's students talk about how goal-oriented his vocal coaching is. He guides you toward your vocal goals in a focused way, step by step, tailoring his approach to what you and your voice need at that moment. One of the most important elements of his lessons is fun—because that simply makes the process go more smoothly.
What a wealth of experience: on stage, off stage, and behind the scenes; in the studio and in composition—Sani is at home everywhere. Because he knows what he’s doing.
If you want to benefit from this wealth of experience and are looking for targeted lessons that will truly help you achieve your dream of singing as efficiently as possible, then book a free trial lesson with Sani now and experience that Hollywood feeling for your voice firsthand!
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