Through her own hard work and her wonderful voice she first mastered the singing of courtly Tarabu; songs of the palace, in praise of the Ruler, and sung in Arabic. She then translated those rhythmic and poetic structures onto popular tunes.
Akiwa mtoto wa watumwa, Siti alianza maisha kwa akali ya kitu, lakini kwa juhudi yake mwenyewe na sauti yake ya ajabu, aliweza kwanza kuimba taarabu ya kawaida, baadaye katika makasri na kumsifu Mfalme, na hata kuimba kwa Kiarabu. Baadaye aliigeuza midundo na mifumo ile ya kishairi na kuwa katika vinanda vya kawaida.