Voice Training

[Sophora]

It is becoming more obvious that my voice is becoming a liability to be being taken as female all the time(more specifically over the phone). What resources are out there to get a more feminine voice?

[Traci Elizabeth]

The best resource available to you is to talk in your "best" female voice 24/7. Each week it will get better. I promise. It takes awhile for your vocal cords to get accustomed to a higher pitch.

[Sophora]

how do I find my "best" female voice? I thought I found last year however I seem to have lost it(through not using it).

[JohnH]

I am a contrarian. Here are my two cents worth:

I am going to stick with my cross between Johnny Cash and Joe Friday as far as PITCH OF my speaking voice is concerned. I could easily imitate a genetic female since I am a singer and have good control of my voice. But that is not my thing.

However you can go to Youtube and look up CandiFla where as a M2F individual she gives excellent lessons to achieve a feminine voice. Her (his) root speaking voice is a bass-baritone but she teaches how to achieve a feminine voice.

John

[Badtranny]

I am going to stick with my cross between Johnny Cash and Joe Friday as far as my speaking voice is concerned.

Well, my voice isn't great, but it's not bad and I still, and maybe will always get mis-gendered over the phone. I couldn't imagine transitioning with a deep voice and making no effort to fix it.

[LeannL]

Sophora,
The phone is the toughest test since it isn't about tone or pitch as much as it is about how you say things meaning the inflections, the pauses, the words you choose. So until your speech patterns are those of a woman, practicing sounding like a woman in pitch won't cut it.

Leann

[CharleneT]

A very good thing is to find a speech therapist who understands how to train someone to speak in the voice of gender opposite their own. Many can do this. It can be expensive though. IF there is a university near you, with a speech therapy program, you can often go in for work with the grad students at greatly reduced prices. Speaking as a woman is as much about how and what you say, as it is about pitch. In fact, pitch may be the least important part. Find women you know with a low pitched voice, and listen carefully to how they sound.

[Inna]

Exercises of the vocal cords, go to you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJKXJIL8DQY videos are in several parts, revealing different sets of exercises, featuring my dear friend Marion.

[Ashlie Marie]

Charlene you brought up a good point. Speech therapy is the best and I know 4 of the 6 biggest insurance co's cover it as a "cure" for social anxiety, or social stress disorder. I do have to say I did all my work on the phones though throughout the years but I am a call center rep so I have bee mistaken as a female long before I even knew I was one :-)

[TeresaL]

The last three gals have it covered. Do an online search, and you will find several good resources. Some sites sell DVDs as well. Speech therapy is supposedly successful and preferred over surgery. If you've been in the military, the VA hospitals now have transgender care available, and one of the benefits is speech therapy.

[sierra_g]

Day 2 of voice training was today. I didn't try to shatter any glass, I am just working on making it feel more natural to speak out of my mouth instead of out of my throat and raising my voice at the end of every sentence. When I went to the store today, I didn't get a weird look when I opened my mouth, so I must've done something right :)
Until I get this part down, I am not going to work on much else. Pitch will come, but I am more concerned over the secret language gg's have. Here are some tips I've noticed from just people watching, and my personal experiences. If you are telling someone you are going to do it, put it as a question. Same goes for if you need something done. Make sure you are asking for help, instead of asking someone to do something. Women smile when they talk. Women make eye contact and use their hands to speak. Women will point their feet at the person they are speaking with.
Unless you are a deep tone, don't worry about tone, instead worry about all that stuff. Watch videos on youtube. You can watch transwomen and crossdressers, but watch female bloggers.

The way to get good at drawing is tracing. The way to get good at talking like a woman is mimicking and repeating. It really does work! I've seen and heard the results.

[Sophora]

The last three gals have it covered. Do an online search, and you will find several good resources. Some sites sell DVDs as well. Speech therapy is supposedly successful and preferred over surgery. If you've been in the military, the VA hospitals now have transgender care available, and one of the benefits is speech therapy.

Is this true? If so, I can go that route. I just to find out where I have to go/do for that. guess I need to find my case worker and set that up.

[JohannaSophia]

The Transgender Surgery Program at the old Eastmoreland Hospital in Portland, OR used a social worker with drama and voice training skills to work with their patients pre and post op (I met her socially once.) I am sure the currant centers have well organized programs for voice and body language training, two areas critical to satisfaction as a woman.

[LisaMallon]

I'm waiting for an appointment to Latrobe University's voice training program. I'll let you know how it goes when I get a place.

[JohnH]

Well, my voice isn't great, but it's not bad and I still, and maybe will always get mis-gendered over the phone. I couldn't imagine transitioning with a deep voice and making no effort to fix it.

As long as I'm not called an "it" (neuter gender) it does not matter if one addresses me as "Sir" or "Ma'am". I don't want to ruin my singing voice by talking at a typical feminine pitch. I can talk more in a feminine voice pattern however, and that part I am working on.

Added section: I have a very deep singing voice so that in a typical choral situation I have the deepest voice in the bass section.

John

[kimdl93]

I'm just beginning the process of learning to use a more feminine voice. I have a kinda mid range voice naturally, so its not a bit stretch to raise it just a couple of notes on the scale. I practice daily and record my voice for feedback. So far....meh. But I think with time and practice I'll get there.

[Beverley Sims]

I have used a soft voice for years and it passes? maybe.
With a group I try raising it an octave but they know me any way.

[Badtranny]

As long as I'm not called an "it" (neuter gender) it does not matter if one addresses me as "Sir" or "Ma'am". I don't want to ruin my singing voice by talking at a typical feminine pitch. I can talk more in a feminine voice pattern however, and that part I am working on.
John

Wow! You go girl.

I wonder what the TS elite think about that plan? Goodness, I pass a good 75% of the time and I'm taken seriously as a professional woman 100% of the time, yet I still get static from the community because of my gender politics. I can hardly wait to hear what they have to say about a TS woman who doesn't care to change her male voice. LOL

[Aprilrain]

I can hardly wait to hear what they have to say about a TS woman who doesn't care to change her male voice. LOL

In my experience this is the majority of women I have met!

[Stephanie-L]

Sophora,
As several others have posted, if you can find a voice therapist, they are more help then you can imagine. There is so much more to female voice than simply raising the pitch. A good voice therapist can help you with that. I started going to my local university clinic for speech and voice, one of the professors there had some experience with trans folk, and he set me up with two of his students. It has been great. Not only do they work on pitch (the easiest part), but inflection, word choice, volume, movement, gestures, eye contact, hundreds of things. It has been a lot of work, and I am not really where I want to be yet, but I have only been at it about 6 months. I expect to be at it for about another year or so, probably until I go full time at least. If you can't go to a voice specialist, then at least try some of the videos and dvds available on the net. Good luck to you.............Stephanie

[StephanieC]

Sophora, I attended a summer session (2 classes each week for 6 weeks) at a local university. They have a great LGBT program and offer voice therapy for transgenders. At least in my case, this included other gender attributes in addition to voice. The instructors are part of the university's speech department.

-stephani

[TeresaL]

Is this true? If so, I can go that route. I just to find out where I have to go/do for that. guess I need to find my case worker and set that up.

For starters, do an online search for the DIR 2011-024, or simply search for "Veterans administration transgender." You will get some basic information from those documents.

Case worker? I simply told my VA general Practicioner that I'm transgendered and interested in the transgender care program. It took a few weeks, then the phone rang, and I was asked when I could come in for an appointment.

Amongst other things, I was told by my clinic scheduler that voice training is part of the therapy. I was also told that if I don't have my preferred gender name, that they will help me with it. I'm staying with Teresa though, since that has been my name for almost twenty years. Your records from then on will reflect that name. That's going to be crazy. I'm there for checkups a lot.

Otherwise, I'm pretty sure it is routine therapy for the most part. If it's anything like my regular medical care there, it should be superb. The scheduling person also told me that the transgender patients really like the therapist. They also get together for support group meetings as well. It almost sounds like a community.

I'm still collecting information though, and will let you know as this journey unfolds (if ya wanna). Who knows? There may be enough Vets here who would like to know more.

[Stephenie S]

For starters, do an online search for the DIR 2011-024, or simply search for "Veterans administration transgender." You will get some basic information from those documents.

Case worker? I simply told my VA general Practicioner that I'm transgendered and interested in the transgender care program. It took a few weeks, then the phone rang, and I was asked when I could come in for an appointment.

Amongst other things, I was told by my clinic scheduler that voice training is part of the therapy. I was also told that if I don't have my preferred gender name, that they will help me with it. I'm staying with Teresa though, since that has been my name for almost twenty years. Your records from then on will reflect that name. That's going to be crazy. I'm there for checkups a lot.

Otherwise, I'm pretty sure it is routine therapy for the most part. If it's anything like my regular medical care there, it should be superb. The scheduling person also told me that the transgender patients really like the therapist. They also get together for support group meetings as well. It almost sounds like a community.

I'm still collecting information though, and will let you know as this journey unfolds (if ya wanna). Who knows? There may be enough Vets here who would like to know more.

Wow. This is impressive! Could it be that our government is finally doing SOMETHING right? Although President Obama has disappointed me in many ways, I think his leadership of our military has been outstanding. And under Ms Clinton, the State Department has made real progress in recognizing and providing for diversity in our community.

S

[amielts]

Voice is an essential part of passing, but it's probably the most difficult.
Be patient -it may take quite some time (months to years) to get it right.

[KTevolved]

I always just sing the highest i can for like 15 minuites the gradually bring my voice down.

[Nicole Erin]

Well first - there are videos on youtube like that kandiFLA or something.
Problem is having to wade thru a bunch of ramble before getting to the relevant stuff.

With voice training, at first it feels REALLY silly. Getting over that is the biggest hurdle. Even when you do train it to be a woman voice, you may still not like it but then who likes their own voice?

Without going to detail - the main thing you need to do for a woman voice is learn to slightly restrict the lower part of your throat/voice as you speak. To learn that - do things like gargle or talk in falsetto and REALLY concentrate on the feel of the throat muscles. Once you can do that, just practice fine-tuning your pitch and resonance etc. It is not as hard as some think it is. But you have to try.

[AudreyTN]

It is becoming more obvious that my voice is becoming a liability to be being taken as female all the time(more specifically over the phone). What resources are out there to get a more feminine voice?

you might like this Sophora. It's something a friend gave to me. It's called Find your Female Voice. it's all in .mp3 format, and there's a text file of the tracks listed in order. if you click the link, it will take you to the download page just click the green download button and a box will appear asking you where you want to save it to.

https://rapidshare.com/files/1585493308/FindingurFemalevoice.zip



For starters, do an online search for the DIR 2011-024, or simply search for "Veterans administration transgender." You will get some basic information from those documents.

Case worker? I simply told my VA general Practicioner that I'm transgendered and interested in the transgender care program. It took a few weeks, then the phone rang, and I was asked when I could come in for an appointment.

Amongst other things, I was told by my clinic scheduler that voice training is part of the therapy. I was also told that if I don't have my preferred gender name, that they will help me with it. I'm staying with Teresa though, since that has been my name for almost twenty years. Your records from then on will reflect that name. That's going to be crazy. I'm there for checkups a lot.

Otherwise, I'm pretty sure it is routine therapy for the most part. If it's anything like my regular medical care there, it should be superb. The scheduling person also told me that the transgender patients really like the therapist. They also get together for support group meetings as well. It almost sounds like a community.

I'm still collecting information though, and will let you know as this journey unfolds (if ya wanna). Who knows? There may be enough Vets here who would like to know more.

that's outstanding! I didn't know if they did that or not, but I'll have to make an inquiry when I go for my annual physical on the 28th. thanks for the info!

[Andie Elisabeth]

you might like this Sophora. It's something a friend gave to me. It's called Find your Female Voice. it's all in .mp3 format, and there's a text file of the tracks listed in order. if you click the link, it will take you to the download page just click the green download button and a box will appear asking you where you want to save it to.

https://rapidshare.com/files/1585493308/FindingurFemalevoice.zip

Here's the video she's talking about in intro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO41CpUW7IM&list=UU1NUlpGxudou4qYKuf1eFgA&index=6&feature=plcp

[melissaK]

Nice thread girls. :-)

Hugs,
Lissa

[TeresaL]

Ya might practice with another transgender person and role play until you get it down pat. Or, call up stores and ask them questions about their store hours or information about items you would like to purchase, using your female voice. If they address you as "ma'am" then you are home free. Then try your feminine voice out at the drive thru's. If you are in drab, they might get a kick out of it when you show up to the window.

[Stephanie-L]

Ya might practice with another transgender person and role play until you get it down pat. Or, call up stores and ask them questions about their store hours or information about items you would like to purchase, using your female voice. If they address you as "ma'am" then you are home free. Then try your feminine voice out at the drive thru's. If you are in drab, they might get a kick out of it when you show up to the window.

The calling up stores is something my voice therapist had me try, and it is surprisingly hard. Since there are no other gender cues on the phone, your voice has to be very good, and even natal females sometimes get misread. It is something along the lines of a final exam, if you can pass on the phone, your voice can pass in public any time. Definately use your voice whenever you can, especially out in public, the more you practise, the easier and better it gets.........Stephanie

[Nicole Erin]

The calling up stores is something my voice therapist had me try, and it is surprisingly hard. Since there are no other gender cues on the phone, your voice has to be very good, and even natal females sometimes get misread.

Would you say that what makes it hard is the silly feeling you get at first when practicing? That was my biggest problem.
Plus even if your voice is not perfect (but "good"), people are not listening to your voice and trying ti figure out if it is male or female. Not like when we are "out" and maybe giving mixed signals. Once you have it down a bit and are willing to try in the real world, that is when your practice kicks into overdrive and you can perfect it as much as your voice CAN be (which is probably better than you think)

[Beverley Sims]

I try and sing along with a favorite female singer one that I can keep in key with.
This helps me use my mouth less than my throat to make "noises".