Mariam SARKISSIAN

The Sarkissian Method® is a cognitive vocal technique created by lyric mezzo‑soprano and pedagogue Mariam Sarkissian after a long post‑traumatic self‑reeducation of her own voice. Rooted in the great bel canto tradition yet formulated in contemporary cognitive terms, the method offers a clear, structured way to train and optimise sung and spoken vocal expression for singers, actors and professional voice users of all ages, styles and levels.

At the heart of the method lies the Balance Triangle®, an original pedagogical concept that links three interdependent dimensions of vocal expression: creative thought (intention, text, imagery), technical thought (breath, resonance, timbre, articulation) and physical execution. By learning to place every vocal gesture within this mental “coordinate system”, students acquire precise technical automatisms while preserving freedom of imagination and emotional truth.

Mariam Sarkissian’s synaesthetic notebooks In Search of B Flat offer a literary and poetic gateway into this universe. Through childhood memories, colours, sounds and the recurring, elusive B‑flat that structures her inner landscape, she describes how mental images, emotions and vocal gesture constantly interact, illuminating the intuitive foundations of the Sarkissian Method® and the Balance Triangle®.

In practical terms, the Sarkissian Method proposes a progressive set of daily exercises and “mental algorithms” that install a stable professional technical base: high vocal position, balanced breath management, unified timbre and healthy projection, whether in intimate spaces or large opera houses. The same core tools are adapted to each voice type and repertoire, and can be used both for initial training and for rehabilitation after vocal fatigue, accidents or technical dead‑ends.

Because its concepts are clearly defined and verbally shareable, the method also provides a common language for teachers and students. It is taught today in numerous conservatoires and schools in France and Belgium, in workshops and masterclasses, and through an online Virtual Curriculum that allows singers and speakers worldwide to explore the tools at their own pace.

Described in Mariam Sarkissian’s book I think, therefore I sing – The Praise of Cognitive Belcanto, the Sarkissian Method® is the first known vocal technique to explicitly unite artistic creation and cognitive organisation of thought, offering performers a reliable path towards both technical security and deeper expressivity.