Transgender voice training offered with skill and compassion
Transgender voice training
is not just about raising or lowering pitch. It's about shaping a communication sound and style that fit your inner sense of self, as well as your post-transition social role.
MtF voice feminization, of course, requires a significant focus
on pitch.
For FtM individuals, we move more quickly to the
subtler aspects of how you sound and talk.
Either way, it's a very individual process, because retraining the voice uses muscles and mental "software" systems that are usually unconscious. Some people find their new voice very easily; for others it can take a year or more.
It's best to start voice training relatively early in the transition process. Daily practice is also important, either on your own or within a safe community, just as if you were learning a new language or musical instrument.
The first time we meet, we discuss your goals and
expectations. I use short questionnaires and simple vocal tasks to check out how well your voice is working. Occasionally, I recommend getting your throat checked by a laryngologist, if I suspect that there are other voice problems, such as overuse injuries or some kind of inflammation. Usually, we start right away with throat or other communication exercises.
I use a very eclectic
"toolkit" of methods drawn from the worlds of artistic voice,speech
rehabilitation, and alternative healing—whatever seems to work best for
you. Your training process may include:
- Relaxation, stretching, and
strengthening of specific throat and voice muscles;
- Resonance re-shaping inside the throat;
- Discussions of anatomy, using models and illustrations, to clarify how the instrument works;
- Physical and breathing exercises that help integrate
voice production with personal expressiveness;
- Speech activities such as reading aloud, shouting, telephone-level conversation, and others specific to your job or social environment;
- Adjustments in inflection, word choice, and body
language (gesture) to coordinate with your new voice.
My goals are to make your learning process comfortable and efficient;
to shape a voice that feels authentic to you as well as physically
comfortable; and to maintain an atmosphere of safety and personal
respect.
In addition
to my years of experience in voice, I have been active in gender
equality,
human rights, and diversity issues since the 1970s. Through membership in WPATH (the leading association for professionals involved with transgender health), I stay up to date on medical, legal, social, and ethical issues in this field.
Please email me with any questions, or use the online
schedule system to set up a studio or Skype appointment at your convenience. | 
