FAQ about Transgender Vocal Transition through
Testosterone Therapy ("T")
As a voice teacher who specializes in working with singers on testosterone, I have noticed that many individuals approach me with the same set of common questions. Below, I have compiled a list of FAQ and my answers, and will continue to add to this list over time!
Please note that many of these questions are also answered in my handout, Singing on Testosterone - A Handout for Vocal Transition. A PDF file of this document appears directly below this text and is free to download. You are welcome to share it with anyone who you think may benefit from reading more about these topics:
Please note that many of these questions are also answered in my handout, Singing on Testosterone - A Handout for Vocal Transition. A PDF file of this document appears directly below this text and is free to download. You are welcome to share it with anyone who you think may benefit from reading more about these topics:
| Singing on Testosterone - A Handout for Vocal Transition |
Frequently Asked Questions (answers below)
Question: Will testosterone negatively affect my voice?
Answer: During transition, several temporary vocal symptoms typically emerge, including a generalized inflammation of the larynx. This can cause a multitude of vocal issues for singers. The inflammation is caused by the body’s process of adjusting to new hormone levels. Once the body is adjusted to the new levels (usually within 18 months or less), these temporary symptoms go away on their own. You do not have to do anything to “resolve” or “fix” the vocal issues that specifically arise during transition.
If you stop taking testosterone (for instance, if you’ve met your transition goals and you do not require further testosterone use), that will also cause your transition-related vocal symptoms to go away. Your body will eventually find a new balance of hormone levels, and vocal functioning will improve as a result.
When transition ends -- whether you have a completely masculinizing transition, or a partially masculinizing transition through short-term use of testosterone -- your transition-related symptoms will go away. Those symptoms include: voice cracking, register coordination issues, instability and clumsiness with the voice, breathiness, hoarseness, difficulty producing certain notes, difficulty with projection, limited range, no stamina/frequent vocal fatigue, no access to head voice/falsetto, a "hole" in the range, and more. People do not typically have transition symptoms that last forever (although some symptoms eventually require voice training to correct). Transition symptoms only appear during the limited time of vocal transition, with the most severe of these symptoms usually going away within 18 months.
Singers can experience lingering vocal problems after transition is complete, often due to misunderstandings about how to use their new vocal instrument, and/or from new “bad habits” they picked up during transition (details below). These individuals usually benefit from voice training and/or vocal practices that help them completely relax their voices and orient to their new instrument. Often, this will include learning new singing technique to support successful functioning of their new voice.
Singers who transition often face the same kinds of vocal difficulties. It’s important to know that these specific vocal challenges are actually quite common after transition, and that many individuals overcome these issues over time through voice training. Resiliency improves when singers have patience, curiosity, and the humility to exist in a state of “not having it all figured out yet” in the process of retraining their voice after transition.
Question: Will a "low dose" option be better for my voice?
Answer: “Low dose” testosterone is an option that can be gentler on the body and therefore gentler on the voice. In general, vocal functioning may be temporarily compromised by any abrupt changes in hormone levels, so some theorize that taking a low dose is less disruptive because the hormonal changes occur more gradually.
Transition through low dose testosterone still leads to complete masculinization, with the same eventual outcome as a transition on a full dose. (Note: Voice teachers are not medical professionals and cannot dispense medical advice. If you want to learn more about low dose options, including specific dosages and methods of ingestion, please consult a medical provider.)
Question: What if my goal is to partially masculinize (instead of completing "masculinization") through testosterone?
Answer: Partial masculinization is possible through short-term use of testosterone (perhaps 10 months or less, depending on the individual's transition goals, and depending on how quickly their voice changes from testosterone).
Voice change follows a linear sequence. It’s a journey from point A to point B which is different for everyone, but is still a predictable process. If you start testosterone but then stop after 8 or 10 months (or less), then you will arrive at a destination somewhere between point A and point B, partially “masculinizing” but not fully completing “masculinization” through transition with T. (If you then resume testosterone later, your transition will pick back up where it left off, and you’ll arrive at point B eventually.)
Importantly, if you stop the use of testosterone while your voice is still mid-transition, your transition-related vocal symptoms will completely go away. You will NOT be "stuck" in stage 3 or stage 4 of voice change. You will NOT be "stuck" with permanent vocal symptoms like voice cracking, difficulty with register transitions, vocal instability, etc. Your voice will settle into its new pitch range, transition symptoms will resolve, and you can proceed with orienting to your new instrument. You may wind up with a voice that does not fit neatly into a single voice "type" category, and/or a voice that resembles more than one voice "type." This can actually be advantageous for individuals who hope to transition to a non-binary or gender-ambiguous vocal instrument.
Question: How long will it take for my voice to change?
Answer: Voice change can take anywhere from 2-5 years to complete, with the most dramatic changes typically occurring within the first 12-18 months. The sequence of voice change is always essentially the same, but the length of time each stage takes may be shorter or longer for different individuals. This is due to individual differences in the body’s ability to absorb testosterone and genetic differences in what the body does with that testosterone.
Question: If I miss a few doses, or quit taking testosterone altogether, will my voice change back to my pre-transition voice?
Answer: No, voice changes through testosterone are irreversible. If you are inconsistent with your doses, you may experience some (extremely minor) fluctuations in the pitch or sound of your speaking voice as a side effect of changes in the hormone levels in your body. These fluctuations are caused by laryngeal inflammation that may come and go with hormone irregularities, and do not indicate that your voice change is reversing itself.
Question: How does vocal transition via testosterone therapy compare to cis male voice change in adolescence?
Answer: As a voice teacher for the transmasculine community with over 10+ years working with transitioning voices (serving 50+ singers on testosterone in one-on-one voice training sessions), and the parent to a 15-year-old boy (whose friends' voices have all changed dramatically in the past 3+ years), I believe that transmasculine voice change through testosterone therapy essentially “feels like” the teenage voice change that cis males experience! The biggest difference is in when the voice change occurs within the individual’s lifespan. Ultimately, the increased age at the time of transition suggests that transmasculine singers may have unique inner resources and emotional maturity for navigating the voice change process.
Here is an excerpt from a longer document I wrote, Singing on Testosterone - A Handout for Transitioning Singers (available for download above).
- Will testosterone negatively affect my voice?
- Will a "low dose" option be better for my voice?
- What if my goal is to partially masculinize (instead of completing "masculinization") through testosterone?
- How long will it take for my voice to change?
- If I miss a few doses, or quit taking testosterone altogether, will my voice change back to my pre-transition voice?
- How does vocal transition via testosterone therapy compare to cis male voice change in adolescence?
- How does a transmasculine voice compare to a cis male voice?
- What happens to my vocal cords and larynx if I am over 30 when I start testosterone?
- What will I experience during the process of voice change? What can I expect?
- How can I protect/maintain/preserve my singing voice through vocal transition?
- How can I recover/retrain my singing voice after vocal transition?
- What will my voice be like after transition?
- What if I still want the option to "sound feminine" after transition? What if I want to sound "agender" or "gender nonconforming" once vocal masculinization through testosterone is complete?
- I am a voice teacher/choir director/voice educator who works with transitioning singers. How can I learn more about testosterone therapy and its effects on the voice?
Question: Will testosterone negatively affect my voice?
Answer: During transition, several temporary vocal symptoms typically emerge, including a generalized inflammation of the larynx. This can cause a multitude of vocal issues for singers. The inflammation is caused by the body’s process of adjusting to new hormone levels. Once the body is adjusted to the new levels (usually within 18 months or less), these temporary symptoms go away on their own. You do not have to do anything to “resolve” or “fix” the vocal issues that specifically arise during transition.
If you stop taking testosterone (for instance, if you’ve met your transition goals and you do not require further testosterone use), that will also cause your transition-related vocal symptoms to go away. Your body will eventually find a new balance of hormone levels, and vocal functioning will improve as a result.
When transition ends -- whether you have a completely masculinizing transition, or a partially masculinizing transition through short-term use of testosterone -- your transition-related symptoms will go away. Those symptoms include: voice cracking, register coordination issues, instability and clumsiness with the voice, breathiness, hoarseness, difficulty producing certain notes, difficulty with projection, limited range, no stamina/frequent vocal fatigue, no access to head voice/falsetto, a "hole" in the range, and more. People do not typically have transition symptoms that last forever (although some symptoms eventually require voice training to correct). Transition symptoms only appear during the limited time of vocal transition, with the most severe of these symptoms usually going away within 18 months.
Singers can experience lingering vocal problems after transition is complete, often due to misunderstandings about how to use their new vocal instrument, and/or from new “bad habits” they picked up during transition (details below). These individuals usually benefit from voice training and/or vocal practices that help them completely relax their voices and orient to their new instrument. Often, this will include learning new singing technique to support successful functioning of their new voice.
Singers who transition often face the same kinds of vocal difficulties. It’s important to know that these specific vocal challenges are actually quite common after transition, and that many individuals overcome these issues over time through voice training. Resiliency improves when singers have patience, curiosity, and the humility to exist in a state of “not having it all figured out yet” in the process of retraining their voice after transition.
Question: Will a "low dose" option be better for my voice?
Answer: “Low dose” testosterone is an option that can be gentler on the body and therefore gentler on the voice. In general, vocal functioning may be temporarily compromised by any abrupt changes in hormone levels, so some theorize that taking a low dose is less disruptive because the hormonal changes occur more gradually.
Transition through low dose testosterone still leads to complete masculinization, with the same eventual outcome as a transition on a full dose. (Note: Voice teachers are not medical professionals and cannot dispense medical advice. If you want to learn more about low dose options, including specific dosages and methods of ingestion, please consult a medical provider.)
Question: What if my goal is to partially masculinize (instead of completing "masculinization") through testosterone?
Answer: Partial masculinization is possible through short-term use of testosterone (perhaps 10 months or less, depending on the individual's transition goals, and depending on how quickly their voice changes from testosterone).
Voice change follows a linear sequence. It’s a journey from point A to point B which is different for everyone, but is still a predictable process. If you start testosterone but then stop after 8 or 10 months (or less), then you will arrive at a destination somewhere between point A and point B, partially “masculinizing” but not fully completing “masculinization” through transition with T. (If you then resume testosterone later, your transition will pick back up where it left off, and you’ll arrive at point B eventually.)
Importantly, if you stop the use of testosterone while your voice is still mid-transition, your transition-related vocal symptoms will completely go away. You will NOT be "stuck" in stage 3 or stage 4 of voice change. You will NOT be "stuck" with permanent vocal symptoms like voice cracking, difficulty with register transitions, vocal instability, etc. Your voice will settle into its new pitch range, transition symptoms will resolve, and you can proceed with orienting to your new instrument. You may wind up with a voice that does not fit neatly into a single voice "type" category, and/or a voice that resembles more than one voice "type." This can actually be advantageous for individuals who hope to transition to a non-binary or gender-ambiguous vocal instrument.
Question: How long will it take for my voice to change?
Answer: Voice change can take anywhere from 2-5 years to complete, with the most dramatic changes typically occurring within the first 12-18 months. The sequence of voice change is always essentially the same, but the length of time each stage takes may be shorter or longer for different individuals. This is due to individual differences in the body’s ability to absorb testosterone and genetic differences in what the body does with that testosterone.
Question: If I miss a few doses, or quit taking testosterone altogether, will my voice change back to my pre-transition voice?
Answer: No, voice changes through testosterone are irreversible. If you are inconsistent with your doses, you may experience some (extremely minor) fluctuations in the pitch or sound of your speaking voice as a side effect of changes in the hormone levels in your body. These fluctuations are caused by laryngeal inflammation that may come and go with hormone irregularities, and do not indicate that your voice change is reversing itself.
Question: How does vocal transition via testosterone therapy compare to cis male voice change in adolescence?
Answer: As a voice teacher for the transmasculine community with over 10+ years working with transitioning voices (serving 50+ singers on testosterone in one-on-one voice training sessions), and the parent to a 15-year-old boy (whose friends' voices have all changed dramatically in the past 3+ years), I believe that transmasculine voice change through testosterone therapy essentially “feels like” the teenage voice change that cis males experience! The biggest difference is in when the voice change occurs within the individual’s lifespan. Ultimately, the increased age at the time of transition suggests that transmasculine singers may have unique inner resources and emotional maturity for navigating the voice change process.
Here is an excerpt from a longer document I wrote, Singing on Testosterone - A Handout for Transitioning Singers (available for download above).
Question: How does a transmasculine voice compare to a cis male voice?
Answer: After masculinization through testosterone is complete, transmasculine voices typically resemble cis male voices and typically function like cisgender tenors, baritones, and basses. Post-transition, some transgender voices do have a distinctly transmasculine sound (see chart above), but this unique tone color is merely an aesthetic feature and not a difference in functioning.
My hypothesis is: although the cis male voice and the transmasculine voice have physiological differences due to a different process and timeline of maturation, this does not result in a difference in vocal functioning, nor in permanent vocal symptoms after transition. In my experience, any vocal issues that remain after transition can subsequently be corrected through voice training.
Question: What happens to my larynx and vocal cords if I am over 30 when I start testosterone?
Answer: For adults who start testosterone after the age of 30, the larynx is unlikely to grow larger (laryngeal growth stops by the time adults reach their early 20s, and the laryngeal cartilages begin to harden as we age). If the larynx is not growing larger during transition, the vocal cords will not grow longer (as they would during cis male adolescent voice change). However, the vocal cords will still grow thicker in adults who transition over 30, causing pitch range to drop.
An adult who transitions after 30 will always have a larynx that is physically smaller than a cisgender male larynx. This may or may not affect the tone quality ("timbre") of your voice, but will not have any negative affect whatsoever on your experiences of singing post-transition.
Think about it this way: saxophones come in multiple shapes and sizes, but they are all saxophones (and all sound like saxophones). Different types of saxophones do have different tone colors due to their different shapes and sizes.
Your vocal tone is influenced by both your larynx but (primarily) by your vocal tract. Your vocal tract may also be a different shape or size than a cis male voice of the same instrument type. This uniquely shaped vocal tract may create a distinctly "transmasculine" sound in your voice, but will not negatively impact vocal functioning. For lower voice types, this "transmasculine" sound may be overshadowed by the deep low tones of a bass voiced instrument. Higher voice types, especially tenors, do tend to sound more distinctly "transmasculine" (which is true with my tenor voice).
Question: What will I experience during the process of voice change? What can I expect?
Answer: Researcher John M. Cooksey spent decades studying cisgender male voice change in adolescent singers. The information below draws directly from his work, as published in the book Working with Adolescent Voices (2005). This book may be useful as a resource for anyone who wishes to pursue a deeper understanding of voice change (and, at the time of this writing, it is extremely affordable, costing only $10 USD). It contains the exact information every transitioning singer needs: tips for protecting the voice as it changes, and voice training exercises for developing the new voice as it emerges.
Below, I have summarized and paraphrased Cooksey’s model of the 5 stages of voice change, while expounding slightly on some of his ideas on topics that seem particularly significant for the transitioning vocalist. My observations “in the field” observing transitioning singers affirm my belief that voice change via testosterone therapy follows these same 5 stages that Cooksey observed and cataloged. The information below includes identifying features of each phase of voice change, with all of their various inconveniences.
You can also read about the process of voice change through my slideshow presentation, The 5 Stages of Transgender Voice Change Through Testosterone ("T")!
Stage 1: The onset of voice change
- Voice may feel “off” or tender (similar to having a very light cold)
- Singing range decreases
- Possible loss of high range in particular
- High notes may feel tighter and/or breathy
- Voice loses some richness of tone
- For some, Stage 1 may last a relatively long time (6 months or more)
Stage 2: Voice begins to drop
- New low notes begin to emerge. This process is widely variable:
- For some, there is an abrupt complete drop in range, seemingly overnight
- For some, there are multiple phases of range dropping, commonly by thirds(ish) in each sequential drop
- For some, it takes a long time for this step to even begin. This can be normal for some individuals, but if it feels like you’ve been waiting for a long time and nothing’s changed, consider talking to your doctor about getting your T levels checked!
- High notes become unstable
- Sometimes high notes unexpectedly break off into head voice/falsetto
- Singer may lose coordination between registers, causing voice cracking; increased difficulty with register transitions
- Vocal tone may be thicker, darker in color, and less resonant (this may indicate inflammation in the vocal instrument, which often gets even worse in Stage 3)
- Projection may become more challenging (i.e. “It’s harder for people to hear me in noisy, crowded places”)
Stage 3: Chaos ensues
- Voice changes may start to appear more dramatic
- Vocal stamina may be extremely limited, with voice fatiguing after even short periods of singing
- Difficulties with agility in all parts of the range
- Vocal tone may become huskier, hoarse, or breathier
- Inability to produce a clear tone causes many singers to “push” or try to force the sound out. Pushing or forcing the tone may cause minor short-term damage to the voice, and additionally may cause the singer to develop bad habits that may be hard to unlearn later
- Head voice/falsetto may disappear completely, with the notes just above the break being especially hard to access
- The most comfortable part of the range may be extremely limited (maybe only a half an octave is truly comfortable – this is not unusual)
- Singer may feel distress and/or anxiety due to instability and unpredictability of vocal production (“When I open my mouth to speak/sing, I have no idea what is going to come out!”)
- Fortunately, this is the shortest stage of voice change, typically 1-3 months or less. Low dose transition may decrease the likelihood of severe vocal symptoms during this stage
- NOTE: If you quit taking testosterone during Stage 3, you will not remain "stuck" in this stage. All of your transition-related vocal symtpoms will go away: hoarseness will go away, range and agility will return, falsetto/head voice will return, and vocal production will become clearer, more comfortable, and more predictable. The new vocal instrument should regain all normal functioning within its new range, but may not be easily categorizable within our existing vocal fach system (and may in fact resemble multiple voice types).
Stage 4: Stability within a new normal
- The most dramatic vocal changes have concluded by the end of Stage 3
- Voice becomes more stable
- Range is more expanded (as compared to Stage 3)
- Voice quality is clearer but may still sound light and/or thin
- Agility remains compromised and voice may feel clumsy
- Falsetto/head voice may (or may not) come back during this stage
- Some singers develop a spot in their range (right around or above middle C) where no sound can be produced at all — this is not unusual
- The voice feels less powerful than it did before testosterone; some singers may continue to have an urge to push or force the sound to compensate or project
- Stage 4 is also one of the shorter stages
Stage 5: Emerging new voice
- Range, flexibility, and vocal functioning gradually increase
- Voice develops more consistency and is finally less unpredictable
- Head voice/falsetto becomes clearer and more focused
- Lower parts of the range may feel more comfortable
- In fact, in this stage, lower parts of the range may be the MOST comfortable range for sustained singing
- Some of the high range may still be tentative or unstable in Stage 5 but often continues to improve and develop after transition is complete
- Vocal cords have finished growing thicker by this stage
- Vocal tract may still be shifting and/or expanding, causing a subtle darkening of the vocal tone (which may cause further “masculinization” in the sound of the voice)
- Singer may need to adjust speaking voice to a slightly lower pitch range now that voice has fully dropped
- Tension may develop around the larynx if speaking voice has not properly adjusted, and/or if the singer has not figured out how to adjust their singing technique to their new voice
NOTE: Please be aware that "the 5 stages of voice change" describe a process which usually takes 2-5 years of consistant testosterone exposure. If you permanently stop taking testosterone before the 2-5 years are complete, all of your transition-related vocal symtpoms will go away (hoarseness will go away, range and agility will return, falsetto/head voice will return, and vocal production will become clearer, more comfortable, and more predictable). Your voice will settle into its new pitch range, and you can proceed with orienting to your new instrument. You may wind up with a voice that does not fit neatly into a single voice "type" category, and/or a voice that resembles more than one voice "type." This can actually be advantageous for individuals who hope to transition to a non-binary, agender, or gender-ambiguous vocal instrument.
Question: How can I protect/maintain/preserve my singing voice through vocal transition?
Answer: Many singers ask this question, but the truth is that most of the vocal symptoms you experience during transition will resolve on their own, without interventions. Indeed, a relaxed “wait and see” attitude may help more than taking concrete actions. With that in mind, here is more specific advice for each phase of voice change:
Voice training advice for Stages 1 & 2
- Don’t panic, be patient, and trust in the process.
- Remind yourself repeatedly that vocal symptoms are TEMPORARY and NORMAL during transition (and do not indicate an emergency or cause for alarm)
- Be prepared for instability, confusion while singing, and bizarre singing experiences
- Listen to body cues that tell you when a specific pitch is uncomfortable, and don’t force out notes that are harder to access
- Adapt to the temporary loss of range by restricting most of your singing to the specific range that feels comfortable on any given day
- Let high notes be unstable and resist the urge to “control” them through extra muscle engagement or tension
- Let low notes be quiet — don’t try to push for volume or projection
- Learn to be curious from week to week about your still-evolving voice, subtle changes to your range, and changes in register transitions
- Try to release yourself from any expectations of what you think your voice “should sound like” or how singing is “supposed to feel”
Voice training advice for Stages 3 & 4
- You may need to limit the amount of singing you do per day during Stage 3 of voice change. Listen to your body, and learn to recognize when you are at risk of over-singing and need to take a break
- If your voice sounds rough or hoarse, don’t push or force your voice to produce a note or to create a clearer tone (hoarse voices need rest)
- Try not to panic, spiral into catastrophizing, or judge yourself harshly during this time. You may truly feel like you’ve “ruined” your voice, but keep reminding yourself that your vocal symptoms are TEMPORARY and likely will improve soon (with the most severe symptoms often lasting less than 3 months)
- Stick to singing in whatever range feels comfortable, even if that’s less than an octave! You may need to transpose songs, octave-jump through a song to stay in your comfortable notes, and/or choose songs that have a very limited range
- Register transition exercises may help with register coordination issues, but don’t worry if you feel like you’re not getting results from these exercises – you may just need a little more time for your voice to keep stabilizing
Voice training advice for Stage 5 & beyond
- Work on relaxing your larynx and throat and cultivating a relaxed sound production in your speaking voice. This may require you to slightly lower the pitch range of your speaking voice to find greater ease and comfort in your new voice. Experiment and be curious about your most comfortable range for speaking
- Continue to develop healthy singing techniques in the most comfortable parts of your singing range, and use that as a basis for range expansion. (Do not try to push or force notes that are outside of your range — this is not a recommended strategy for gaining range)
- In Stage 5, you may find greatest ease while singing in your lower and middle voice
- Many singers continue to gain high notes in the year or two after transition is complete. It may help to retrain your breath support, since newly thickened vocal cords may require increased breath energy
- Register transition exercises, in frequent application, will accelerate regaining coordination between registers
- Agility exercises will help regain agility in Stage 5 and beyond
- After your voice has changed, it may be useful to identify your new voice type, particularly if you wish to pursue voice training which is specialized for your instrument
Question: How can I recover/retrain my singing voice after vocal transition?
Answer: Singers can experience lingering vocal problems after transition is complete, often due to misunderstandings about how to use their new vocal instrument, and/or from new “bad habits” they picked up during transition (see above for details). These individuals usually benefit from voice training and/or vocal practices that help them completely relax their voices and orient to their new instrument. Often, this will include learning new singing technique to support successful functioning of their new voice.
Singers who transition often face the same kinds of vocal difficulties. It’s important to know that these specific vocal challenges are actually quite common after transition, and that many individuals overcome these issues over time through voice training. Resiliency improves when singers have patience, curiosity, and the humility to exist in a state of “not having it all figured out yet” in the process of retraining their voice after transition.
After completing voice change through transition, you will likely benefit from voice training specifically designed for "male voices", and/or from teachers who deeply understand "male voices". For some transmasculine singers, this is especially crucial for understanding how to use their new vocal instrument. (This may even be true for non-binary individuals who masculinize through testosterone but do not identify as "male".) Anyone who has extensive training as a classical soprano or mezzo-soprano prior to vocal transition may need a complete overhaul of their singing technique once their voice drops into a “male” singing range. This was certainly true for me personally, and I benefited tremendously from studying vocal pedagogy for classical tenor voices. This included developing my “mixed voice” and incorporating breath support strategies for operatic high tenor singing.
Question: What will my voice be like after transition?
Answer: After masculinization through testosterone is complete, transmasculine voices typically resemble cis male voices and typically function like cisgender tenors, baritones, and basses. Post-transition, some transgender voices do have a distinctly transmasculine sound (as discussed above), but this unique tone color is merely an aesthetic feature and not a difference in functioning.
Newly emergent voices may feel a bit less powerful in the year or so immediately after transition (which is also frequently true for the newly changed cis male teen voice), but strength, power, and projection will return with time, and can be enhanced through voice training.
Many voice teachers fail to recognize the similarities between transmasculine voices and cis male voices, and consequently treat the transmasculine vocal instrument as if it were something extremely different, unusual, or confusing. This issue of seeing transmasculine voices as profoundly “different” seems to echo a larger cultural problem whereby some people cannot or will not recognize that trans men are men. Ultimately, trans male voices are MALE voices and should be trained as such — not only because trans people deserve affirmation, but also because transmasculine voices actually do function and behave entirely like cis male voices.
For singers of transmasculine experience who do not identify as male, comparing their instruments to "male" voice types may be unhelpful and/or more complicated and nuanced. I have known some singers to self-identify with a hybrid voice type which crosses traditional gender lines, such as tenor-alto, bari-alto, soprano/tenor, etc. In the world of classical music, transmasculine countertenors may choose to re-train as sopranos, mezzo-sopranos, or contraltos.
Question: What if I still want the option to "sound feminine" after transition? What if I want to sound "agender" or "gender nonconforming" once vocal masculinization through testosterone is complete?
Answer: Some transmasculine people, especially people who are non-binary, agender, gender fluid, genderqueer, and/or gender nonconforming, prefer to retain “feminine,” "agender," or "gender nonconforming" singing and speaking habits after transition. Fortunately, there are many wonderful voice training resources available for voice feminization, voice masculinization, and/or the development of agender and gender nonconforming voice techniques. With training, it may even be possible for an individual to cultivate a range of gendered vocal sounds, any of which they can apply at will depending on the setting and/or circumstance.
This can be accomplished through techniques which manipulate and reshape the vocal tract to produce more "masculine," “feminine,” or "agender" sounds. I recommend Trans Voice Academy and The Voice Lab in Chicago as two great starting places for further inquiries on this topic. You can also find resources via the London Trans Choir, led by Stephen Davidson. For voice feminization in particular, please visit Zheanna Erose on YouTube. I am also available to offer gender-affirming voice training services (please contact me via email at [email protected] for scheduling).
Question: I am a voice teacher/choir director/voice educator who works with transitioning singers. How can I learn more about testosterone therapy and its effects on the voice?
Answer: Please consult my resource list which has TONS of recommendations for books, articles, blog posts, and more helpful information! There are also many professional development opportunities, including classes and trainings, for voice educators seeking to learn more on these topics. Please visit The Voice Lab in Chicago for those types of services, which may be offered virtually. If you belong to a local NATS chapter or professional affiliation group, inquire whether they are offering professional development services specifically to help educate teachers about transgender voice change through testosterone therapy. Many voice conferences also include workshops or trainings on topics pertaining to transgender voice training more broadly.
Additionally, I am available to meet with voice educators in one-on-one consultations over Zoom. I typically charge my full teaching fee for this service, but sliding scale options may be available upon request. Please contact me at [email protected] to ask questions or discuss scheduling!
Many voice teachers and choir directors feel anxious about the issue of transmasculine voice training, often because they deeply care about their students and want to show them support while also delivering high quality voice training services. My best advice is to keep educating yourself about best practices for working with diverse communities; be sensitive to your students who may experience disproportionate societal oppression due to their mere existence; and do your best to create an inviting and affirming environment in your studio, classroom, office, and/or rehearsal space.
I advise all voice educators to keep in mind that there is a vast body of research that explores vocal pedagogy for cisgender male voice change in adolescence. All of this vocal pedagogy can and should be applied to the practices of teaching transmasculine singers on testsosterone therapy ("T").
Disclaimer: Voice teachers are not medical providers and cannot give you medical advice because we do not have the necessary training or credentials. If you have any questions about testosterone dosage, methods of ingestion, side effects, long-term impact on the body, or appropriate next steps for your medical transition, please direct those questions to a trusted medical provider. Voice teachers can help you understand testosterone’s effects on the voice but do not have specialized insight into other ways that testosterone impacts the body. If you do not trust your primary health care provider to give you accurate, appropriate, or knowledge-based treatment, please seek out another practitioner who can assist with your transition and ensuing care.
Transgender Pulse is an online resource directory that can help you find a trans-affirming medical provider, speech and language pathologist, mental health therapist, or other health care specialist.
The National Center for Transgender Equality has compiled some helpful resources for anyone who wishes to learn more about transgender and non-binary people, our needs, and/or our life experiences. This information may be helpful to you or to anyone in your life who would benefit from more education on these topics.
Transgender Pulse is an online resource directory that can help you find a trans-affirming medical provider, speech and language pathologist, mental health therapist, or other health care specialist.
The National Center for Transgender Equality has compiled some helpful resources for anyone who wishes to learn more about transgender and non-binary people, our needs, and/or our life experiences. This information may be helpful to you or to anyone in your life who would benefit from more education on these topics.