Leila Najafi

About Me

My passion for music stems from my family and teenage years. At the age of 11, I began learning piano under the guidance of Maestros Ali Hananeh and Ali Beryani. My grandma and dad both had incredible voices, and the way they sang those old songs and melodies always blew me away. That's what inspired me to take singing lessons professionally in 1999. By 2008, I'd passed my vocal exams and earned my teaching license. Since then, I've been teaching singing while also taking my own learning journey further with various training courses.

Teaching Method

The core focus of the class revolves around teaching the Persian vocal tradition (including the Capital School and Isfahan School), radifs (melodic patterns), tasnifs (vocal compositions), and voice training. However, the extent of the student's interest and aptitude will determine the amount of instruction in traditional singing, which is a more challenging aspect of the curriculum. Generally, during the first few months, shorter and simpler vocal pieces along with tasnifs will be taught to gradually introduce the student to the world of radifs and Persian traditional singing

Experience

• Extensive training in traditional Persian vocal tradition, voice training, traditional solfege, vocal design, and the complete workshop of Maestro Shajarian under the guidance of Maestro Naghmeh Gholami since 2001 • Completion of masterclasses in classical singing with Maestro Mario Taghadosi, a course in classical singing and radif analysis with Dr. Omid Nikbin, and solfege and music fundamentals with Maestro Razmik Ohanian • Certified vocal instructor by the Ministry of Culture • Teaching traditional Persian singing at Rudaki Music School, Raz Theater, Oud Melody, ... since 2008 • Online teaching since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic • Director and singer of the Nahal Music Group • Recording of albums and numerous concerts