“There is nothing better than to wake up in the morning and know that my day is going to be filled with music and smiles!” For Tina Ranoso Bangel, this is what her passion for music has given her. “Music, singing and teaching give me joy…” Teacher of innovative music programs Kindermusik (for babies and toddlers) and One Voice (for pre-teens and teens), Tina has defied expectations and her own doubts to achieve her success. In 2010, her One Voice students held their end-of-year showcase at the Sydney Opera House, no less! “Not many people can say that they have sung at the Opera House before…seeing how proud the kids and their families were, was very touching and overwhelming” But for Tina, it doesn’t even have to be something as monumental as singing at the Opera House for her to be affirmed that she is on the right path in her life. She recalls a three-year old student who “broke out with her own ballet routine in a room full of 12 families…this was the same child, a year ago, that would hide behind her hands every time she was greeted hello.”
It was Filipino singing legend and Broadway star, Lea Salonga that first sparked in Tina that love for music. When she was 7 years old, she was given her very first record by her aunt. It was of the then-10 year old, Lea Salonga. “I was so inspired to sing and would listen to the album every single day. To this day I still have that record and my dream is for Lea to sign it!” But familial and cultural expectations had Tina putting any dream of a singing career aside in favour of finishing high school, going to university and getting a ‘proper’ job. She finished a degree in Bachelor of Science majoring in Nutrition. “I worked in the industry for a number of years before I noticed that all my paths led me to music.” Little by little, Tina let herself indulge in her musical passion. Up until she decided to study Contemporary Voice at the Australian Institute of Music. “The institute provided me with amazing contacts and networks. I joined a covers band, taught for a performing arts school and studied music full time.”
That was 15 years ago and Tina has never looked back – “It’s a career that I would not trade” For 7 of those 15 years, she was part of a covers band called ‘Myd Nyt Sun’ which was owned by accomplished guitarist, Gordon Hunte (who has worked with top recording artists such as Sade, Billy Ocean, Bob Marley and Johnny Nash). The band is in high demand for parties, weddings and corporate functions. “We were fortunate enough to work with Leo Sayer, Wendy Matthews, Human Nature just to name a few. We also had the pleasure of singing for Delta Goodrem’s dad’s wedding at the Opera House” It was Hunte who schooled Tina in “treating music as a business… music Business, Marketing and networking.” As a soloist, Tina has supported some of the Philippines’ biggest artists such as Imelda Papin, Pops Fernandez, Vina Morales, Sharon Cuneta, Martin Nievera and later this year, she will be a backing vocalist for Zsa Zsa Padilla.
But it is in being able to impart her love for music onto others that Tina finds the most satisfaction. In her youngest students she loves “knowing that music nourishes a child’s mind- helps them create, learn, develop socially, mentally and physically. It helps a child have a sense of self.” She loves watching her One Voice kids develop enough confidence in themselves to sing in front of their school, make YouTube videos of themselves singing their own composition or a cover of a favourite song or have the initiative to network with other musicians and begin to build their music career. Tina is also in the process of developing local support acts for major Filipino concerts throughout 2015. “There is something magical knowing that you helped an adult or a child believe in themselves enough to sing and perform in front of hundreds of people.”
Tina has many plans up her sleeve. This includes hosting One Voice Holiday camps, releasing a music CD for kids and creating a One Voice School of Singing e-book with an online singing programs for distance learners. So, it is without a doubt that Tina Ranoso Bangel is living up to the words of her mentor, Marie Forleo: “Realize you are on this Earth for a reason and the world needs that special gift that only you have.” With the full support of her husband and her six-year old son (“…“Mummy, I’m proud you!” is one of the sweetest things that I hear…”), Tina’s many dreams will surely come true! n
