by Taryn

Have you ever wondered if singing was something every person's capable of? If you've ever performed in a choir at school or church, you've probably run into a wide range of vocal skills and found yourself asking: how much of one's ability comes from natural talent, and how much can be developed? Having been long plagued by this question, I recently had the opportunity to ask voice teacher and Broadway performer, Mary Setrakian, what she makes of it.

"There is only a tiny percentage of the human race that is born completely tone deaf," Mary tells me. "This means that they can’t ever match a pitch with their voice when they hear it. They can certainly enjoy singing, but there won’t be a melody. Everybody else, including people who have trouble staying on pitch, is definitely able to sing and to improve their singing." That's a hopeful thought for many of us.

Mary--Singer, Actress, Teacher, Inspiration…

Mary's personal story is also full of hope. Born in San Francisco to singing parents, she was surrounded by music as a child. Her father had her gathered 'round the microphone with her three brothers from the time she was a little girl. "To this day," Mary reminisces, "I have a tape of me singing 'Happy Day Day New New' ('Happy Birthday to You' at age two) and 'I Want a Girl Just Like the Girl that Married Dear Old Dad.' I’ve been singing ever since. I’m told that I made up songs that didn’t have any endings. My audience would have to stop me."

Audiences don't stop her now, though. She's performed on Broadway and toured in productions of Phantom of the Opera, Hello, Dolly!, Les Miserables, and Evita. She also took her one-woman show, A New York Romance, to San Francisco, Charlotte, New York, and enjoyed a seven-week run in Los Angeles. Mary describes the show as "an eclectic combination of songs from Broadway to pop, rock, opera, and rap," and counts it among her most personally rewarding professional achievements. "I learned so much from doing the show, and was thrilled by the response." She even has a CD of the show, live from her hometown of San Francisco.

In addition to performing, Mary also teaches voice lessons, to everyone from beginners to Broadway performers and film stars. She prepared Nicole Kidman for her Moulin Rouge audition (certainly a success); she is currently working with Disney, teaching the leads and cast members of the Broadway and touring companies of Aida; and she teaches 8 to 12 year olds in the Lion King program (finalists for the show take part in a workshop called Kids' Pride.) Besides all that, Mary also teaches a singing course at the acting school, Black Nexxus, which integrates singing techniques with acting techniques. "My students range from actors who have never sung before to Broadway singers who are honing their craft. It’s a magical class!"

I'm curious about whether Mary always felt she was destined for music, and she explains the path she followed to get where she is now: "When I entered Stanford University, I thought that there might be something other than music and acting for me. But I found myself in all of the college choirs, all of the student musical productions, even conducting and writing music for [Stanford's] Big Game Gaieties. Knowing that I wanted a vocal technique that would last me a lifetime, I went directly to grad school after college and received a Masters in Voice Performance from the New England Conservatory in Boston. It was a great choice. After singing in the chorus of the Opera Company of Boston, and a Summer at Tanglewood, I moved to NYC and immediately started performing with the Light Opera of Manhattan: $5 a show in the chorus! (I worked as a secretary during the day.) I then found my voice teacher that put everything together for me, Joan Heller, and the acting teacher that changed my life, Susan Batson."

Joan Heller, Mary's voice teacher, now teaches as SMU in Texas and Mary acknowledges her as "the light bulb" that lit the way to singing in any style she wanted. "Joan only sings classically, but she believed that I could find a way to have a healthy technique for everything, and with her guidance, I did!" And Susan Batson, Mary's acting teacher, helped her "put her singing and acting together as a real art form." (See Susan's IMDB filmography here.) Susan studied with Lee Strasberg and is a member of the Actors’ Studio. "She believed in me," Mary explains, "and gave me the acting technique that will stay with me for a lifetime."

When asked about her vocal methods, Mary says, "I believe in the healthiest and easiest singing possible, with a wonderful breath support and vibrant resonance (different styles are achieved by engaging different resonators). There are some crazy techniques out there. But if a teacher is asking you to sing in your throat or press down your larynx, I am not amused."

Meeting Mary at Creativity Camp in Taos, NM

Mary also emphasizes that there’s a lot more to singing than just vocal technique. "The thing about singing," she explains, "is that the instrument is you. As a singer and an actor you have to know yourself very well. You have to be in touch with your emotions and treat your body as an athlete. Not only do you have to eat, sleep, and exercise well (dance is also important in our business), but you also need to have a deep awareness of yourself on every level." That includes the psychological level, and may even require therapy. Mary shares, "It’s very common for actors to embark on therapy (with a good, qualified therapist). Personally, the process of therapy was paramount for my growth as a woman and an artist."

Something especially significant about Mary's career is that she manages to stay involved in both the performing world and the teaching world. I'm curious, though, does she consider herself more invested in one over the other? "Performing has always been a passion for me, and teaching has always just come to me (I’ve never advertised myself as a teacher, but I’m always being called upon to teach). And so, it’s clear to me now that I will always do both."

And as to whether or not they are both equally satisfying, Mary eloquently responds: "They both involve connecting to people, and stirring one's spirit and soul. In performing, if I connect to the piece I am singing, I then connect to the audience. In teaching, I am able to feel how the student is or is not connecting their technique and acting to the piece. I’m then able to guide them to the connection. It’s an exciting process."

Upon further thought, that sentiment may describe the very reason we crafty gals are drawn to the creative process in general. We enjoy connecting with the tangible materials, and learning through that process--all the while connecting with each other on a deeper level, changing ourselves and our audience in the process. It's enough to make you want to sing!

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Mary has a CD of patriotic and reflective songs, All I Know, on sale now. You can reach her with any questions or comments via her email address at mary@marysetrakian.com.

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