Speech therapy

[TeresaL]

So many posts ask how to change their voices to sound pleasantly female. Most recommendations are website tutorials, YouTube lessons, recording your voice, frequency plots, plenty of practice, and other hints and tips on how to focus the voice to get into the next octave via gargling principle, "Polley wants a cracker" or wicked witch of the west. Then bring it back to a normal range. All this is fine, but we don't know when we hit the mark without role playing or coaching with some kind of courteous feedback.

Would it be practical, prudent, or even a sane venture to practice and work on our voice image in some place or thread on this forum? Just sayin, that if we can project a good solid female voice it should help bolster our self confidence when speaking in public and increase our chance of passing and be accepted.

Some women here have been so kind to post a video clip with them speaking, and I've benefitted from that approach. I dunno if this is the place or time for it. Just thinking out loud and rambling so far. I may wish I hadn't brought it up later, oh my.

[ChelseaErtel]

Teresa: I like your suggestion. I mostly just talk when I'm driving and working from home. I do record myself as well. I asked my HR manager (her husband is TS) about voice training and she was so sweet and said, "I don't want to offend you, but you already sound feminine." I have been talking in a slightly higher pitch, more musical and just try to sound feminine all of the time. I no longer care what anyone may think.

And you shouldn't wish you hadn't brought it up, it's an excellent idea.

[Saffron]

Skype could be a good idea, you can try to chat with another forum member.

I've been using the voice chat while playing on my xbox, that's another fun way of practising. On ps3 there's even a voice modulator as I remember.

[Jana]

I've also been practicing and recording myself, but without feedback, it's hard to determine whether I've gotten to where I need to be.

[S. Lisa Smith]

I'm a crossdresser. I found a voice teacher who would work with me and I'm pleased with the results. I'd love to participate in whatever you do here.

[suzy1]

I don’t want to be negative here but I have yet to hear a man doing a female voice that’s convincing.

Is it possible?

I listened to a C.D. girl once try to sound feminine on YouTube and it was obvious that she had convinced herself that she sounded convincing but she didn’t.:eek:

And some talk in a sort of whiny whisper? It just doesn’t work.:strugglin

[Jana]

I don’t want to be negative here but I have yet to hear a man doing a female voice that’s convincing.

Is it possible?



Yes, it is possible. Despite of what people say, no surgeries or hormones are needed. Just a good ear, a good coach, and TONS (and I mean TONS) of practice.

[Stephanie-L]

As I have posted on similar threads in the past, there is really no substitute for a good professional speech therapist. I go to my local University which has a speech and language therapy program, and attend clinic there weekly. The upside is that it is inexpensive, the students working with me are enthusiastic and accepting. The downside is that I have to start with a new set of therapists/students every semester, and I have to deal with the waiting room full of parents bringing their kids for therapy. I have not had any problem, but it does require me to project a bit more confidence than I really feel, LOL. The therapists not only work with me on my voice but on the non-verbal aspects of communication, which is very helpful. I have been lucky in that the professor who chooses the students I work with has a lot of experience working with the trans community, so he is able to choose students who are a good fit. And yes, it does require LOTS of practice. Most of the girls who have transitioned say that it doesn't really "click" until you go full time and don't switch back and forth. From what I have seen so far, I would agree.
There is also a Yahoo group for TS speech that allows you to post voice samples for peer evaluation, plus they have an online chat session, I think monthly, where members talk about and evaluate voice work. The group is called voicets and the link should be http://groups.yahoo.com/group/voicets/
Anyway, only 17 weeks more that I have to present male at all, so we shall see how my voice does...............Stephanie

[Saffron]

I don’t want to be negative here but I have yet to hear a man doing a female voice that’s convincing.

Is it possible?

I listened to a C.D. girl once try to sound feminine on YouTube and it was obvious that she had convinced herself that she sounded convincing but she didn’t.:eek:

And some talk in a sort of whiny whisper? It just doesn’t work.:strugglin


Take a look at the teacher and the student once she starts doing it like the teacher says:
http://www.genderlife.com/products-page/voicetutor

[TeresaL]

I'm out and about all the time, and conversing with mostly females. Not one of the many has hesitated to give me any doubt about my presentation in preferred gender. So a few months ago, shopping in Sallies for wig products I outed myself because of questions about chemo from the SA. She was really sympathetic. I told her I'm not on chemo, and don't have cancer and that I'm TG MtF. Then I asked her if it was easy to tell, now that I told her. She said she could't tell, and touched my cheek asking how I hid my beard. She was so kind, even when I asked if she could tell by the sound of my voice, she said she couldn't. Maybe I should just take that as confirmation and quit doubting. It's just puzzling to be around so many people and without being read. I'm in the Midwest too.


But the main reason for me posting this isn't to brag about passing, but to obtain more information. More than information though is feedback and critique. I'm doubtful that it could be done successfully on this particular forum. The main reason is that we are to kind to be negative.

[StephanieC]

Then I asked her if it was easy to tell, now that I told her. She said she could't tell, and touched my cheek asking how I hid my beard. She was so kind, even when I asked if she could tell by the sound of my voice, she said she couldn't. Maybe I should just take that as confirmation and quit doubting. It's just puzzling to be around so many people and without being read. I'm in the Midwest too.


But the main reason for me posting this isn't to brag about passing, but to obtain more information. More than information though is feedback and critique. I'm doubtful that it could be done successfully on this particular forum. The main reason is that we are to kind to be negative.

I think we tend to be more critical. Record your voice and play it back. If you want a more objective approach, there are products on the internet (and apps for phones) that can show you the pitch. (There are also more sophisticated products that also indicate resonance and variability.)

But I agree, I think using a college speech therapist or similar is the most helpful. At least locally, these sessions are relatively inexpensive.