Voice = Frustration

[Hannah]

So I've been seeing a speech therapist for the last month or so (2 appointments), and to be honest I have no clue where the hell she is taking me with it. All I've been told so far is to raise my pitch, and add breathiness (from diaphragm breathing) to my voice. She analyzed my (male) voice and my fundamental frequency is around 130 Hz, and said I should try to get it up to around 170. I asked her about why I should be practicing at 170 because it seems kind of low, and she never really addressed my question, just told me to practice words and phrases while keeping my larynx up (as to not drop in pitch). It's pretty important to have a voice that matches my appearance (understatement, lol), because I don't know too many 21 year old GGs who talk that low.

I think I might just search around the forums here for past questions on this issue. It's nice to have feedback on my voice from a speech therapist, but I can't say it's worth $250 an hour.

Rambling aside, how did you girls train your voices? Any tips on things I should and shouldn't do?

Thanks.

EDIT: Does anyone know what Kathe Perez charges?

[Bridal Wish]

some advice a MTF lady gave me: Its better to use your own voice with a smile on your face than try and fake it terribly.

[angelfaced]

look for videos online and PRACTICE. one thing i did and still do is turn the captions on while your watching movies and tv and try to match your voice with girls on tv. it wont sound right at first but you have to practice. Ive been doing this for a long time and its working for me.

[lauren3]

some advice a MTF lady gave me: Its better to use your own voice with a smile on your face than try and fake it terribly.

That's not very good advice.  I don't want to talk like a man all my life..

[Jen61]

So I've been seeing a speech therapist for the last month or so (2 appointments), and to be honest I have no clue where the hell she is taking me with it. All I've been told so far is to raise my pitch, and add breathiness (from diaphragm breathing) to my voice. She analyzed my (male) voice and my fundamental frequency is around 130 Hz, and said I should try to get it up to around 170. I asked her about why I should be practicing at 170 because it seems kind of low, and she never really addressed my question, just told me to practice words and phrases while keeping my larynx up (as to not drop in pitch). It's pretty important to have a voice that matches my appearance (understatement, lol), because I don't know too many 21 year old GGs who talk that low.

I think I might just search around the forums here for past questions on this issue. It's nice to have feedback on my voice from a speech therapist, but I can't say it's worth $250 an hour.

Rambling aside, how did you girls train your voices? Any tips on things I should and shouldn't do?

Thanks.

EDIT: Does anyone know what Kathe Perez charges?

i bought some of those video, watched videos on yutube, visit with a therapist, and nothing. My problem -and perhaps yours as well- is that I cannot hear the changes unless I am talking like Mickey mouse.

I am a visual learner, so I am going to buy me an oscilloscope so as to "see' my voice. If that fails then I will explore the surgical option.

[angelfaced]

i actually have a friend that has changed her name and is still using her male voice ( also does things in boy mode). doesnt even sound like shes trying. She certainly doesnt pass so im not sure if that has anything to do with it, but please dont just settle or give up. your voice is there but you have to work on it. oh and just to add to this, there is no magic cure. dont think that by paying a ton of money or getting surgery is gonna help you sound better as a girl. the voice surgery just does not work, ive done a ton of research on it cuz i used to HATE my voice. the truth is the only way to fix your voice is to practice. for a while you might sound like minnie mouse but speaking like that strengthens your voice and eventually it will get higher without you even trying. just make sure you do it in private.

[Bridal Wish]

That's not very good advice.  I don't want to talk like a man all my life..

then dont fake it! Learn a real female voice, i guess it is bad advice if you dont know the whole reason it was said... but essentially its if your going to use a voice make it sound real... not a fake over high pitch "Hey gurl~" voice

[envie]

It is more important how you speak than how high in pitch can you get. The infliction, accents, breath and timber is what everyone can work on.
There are GG with very low voice. i.e. Lily Marlene, Grace Jones and many more. However their voice is coming from different part of the larynx than from males who may speak in the same pitch. I myself went on to do self study on Bel Canto or contour tenor or sopranists singing style. It is funner to sing yourself into the new voice than just do dry exercise. Dry exercise is important too but the singing part got me more motivated to do them.

[A]

I'll suggest this thread with a good amount of advice, including mine.
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,101700.0.html

[Hannah]

i actually have a friend that has changed her name and is still using her male voice ( also does things in boy mode). doesnt even sound like shes trying. She certainly doesnt pass so im not sure if that has anything to do with it, but please dont just settle or give up. your voice is there but you have to work on it. oh and just to add to this, there is no magic cure. dont think that by paying a ton of money or getting surgery is gonna help you sound better as a girl. the voice surgery just does not work, ive done a ton of research on it cuz i used to HATE my voice. the truth is the only way to fix your voice is to practice. for a while you might sound like minnie mouse but speaking like that strengthens your voice and eventually it will get higher without you even trying. just make sure you do it in private.

My situation is similar to your friend's. I was supposed to get a referral to a speech therapist like 8 months ago, but never heard back, so my voice kind of got delayed. I never get called a guy anymore but I still talk like one.

I guess my biggest fear is doing something wrong and damaging my vocal cords or practicing something just to have to undue the changes later, but I can't really afford to wait anymore, lol.

[kcmystery]

Sing, sing, sing! I honestly only ever practiced when listening to my iPod or in the car. Everyone tells me I have a great voice too.

I don't know how old you are but I owe my voice to Katy perry, she & him, Nicki Minaj, and a little justin bieber to start with.

Good luck!

[angelfaced]

It is more important how you speak than how high in pitch can you get. The infliction, accents, breath and timber is what everyone can work on.
There are GG with very low voice. i.e. Lily Marlene, Grace Jones and many more. However their voice is coming from different part of the larynx than from males who may speak in the same pitch. I myself went on to do self study on Bel Canto or contour tenor or sopranists singing style. It is funner to sing yourself into the new voice than just do dry exercise. Dry exercise is important too but the singing part got me more motivated to do them.

yes i totally agree with everything you just said. women dont have overly squeaky voices as they are more whispery ( unless your in high school which might be ok). however raising your pitch will help set the foundation to having a perfect female voice. its all important but i think raising your pitch is a necessary evil in continuing. a key thing to really sounding female is being able to raise and lower pitch at will, as most women will do this while speaking. once gaain, its all about PRACTICE

[MsDazzler]

This is ironic in light of my other recent thread about being deaf. lol