Voice Changing

[Metanoia]

I know HRT doesn't change MTF Trans* folk's voices like T does for FTM Trans* folks.

So, voice training and therapy are available for the MTF Trans* folks. And some questionable surgeries as well?

I explained this all to my wife, but she then said, "I don't want your voice to change." And it's true, I like my voice. I'm adapting and slowly going back to my younger tenor voice, but as the old joke goes,

When I sing tenor more leave...

So, my question to you ladies is; did you find changing, adapting your 'old' voice difficult or easy? Did you want to? What made it easy or hard?

[dex_paradox]

Voice training might change the pitch of your voice, but (in my experience/opinion) I think there is still a certain recognizable quality of it that remains the same, so it's not like she'd be losing that...

[Sophie Lou]

What works best for you? Does it cause you dysphoria?

If it is important to you than you should do it.

[Mariah]

It wasn't hard adapting it all, but singing to train my voice is why. I would say you keep trying tell you get something you like. I agree that a certain quality of how you sounded before can be present. If you need to you could always use your old voice at home when she is present as a compromise with the wife. The key is what works for you. Good luck and hugs
Mariah


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[iKate]

The surgeries are by no means "questionable." In fact some of the procedures are quite good. I am getting mine done in June. I cannot wait! It will give me freedom like I've never had before because my voice is one of the big things holding me back.

I tried training and while I could raise it, it still sounds male to many. That said, with my appearance it helps a lot, but I slip back sometimes then get the "sir" bomb which is annoying.

[Metanoia]

Thank you, I certainly meant no offense, iKate, from what I've read (which is probably outdated, as are many things regarding trans* issues) it sounded questionable due to the possibility of losing one's voice entirely, but the thought of a safe surgery that works... Sounds intriguing... I'll stick with the singing higher bit for now, but thanks for the feedback

[Jenna Marie]

One compromise I made with my wife actually was to keep my old voice at home; it didn't bother me much, and she'd already accepted so much change. Over the years I've gradually shifted more and more into my feminine voice even when alone or with her, but at least the change was slow and slight compared to the others. I still sometimes talk in a lower pitch, but I've lost the ability to make the male chest resonance... anyway, the point is that it *is* possible to switch back and forth, if you so choose.

I changed my voice in large part b/c it's one of the best ways of being convincingly female in public, but I admit it did also become increasingly dysphoric to use the old voice over the next few years. It took hundreds of hours of practice, but I didn't need a voice therapist or surgery; I recorded myself over and over and over again imitating female singers and speakers that I liked, trying to sound like them. I'm a pretty good mimic, so that method worked well for me.

[Jayne]

I'm hoping to get surgery for my voice in the future, I hope to reclaim the range I used to have whilst singing (or at least get close)

Whilst at the womens hostel last week I forgot I was in company & started singing along to "I want to break free" & several of the women were gobsmacked by the difference between my speaking & singing voice.
just wait until we have our screening of Mama Mia in 2 weeks & they hear me sing "I have a dream", I used to sing in my school choir & would have to sing solo pieces such as "in the bleak midwinter" & "silent night"

[katrinaw]

Ditto, I will seek voice surgery in the future too... Reason - Because with voice training alone, there is a risk of your voice cracking when under pressure (shouting, coughing, getting excited etc...) especially if you've had the same voice for so many years! (too many in my case).

Apart from that, in my case, I've been trying voice training but my voice goes croaky really quickly, if I speak quietly its certainly better. I'm using voice training app's, they're good, but the nuances of your voice are not taken into account, its right or wrong IMHO, I currently have no spare finances for F2F voice training with a professional currently, else I might be tempted to try. I think in my case that surgery is the fool proof way forward.

Its funny tho, when my voice fully broke and for a few years after I could still sing in Alto and occasionally soprano (for short periods only!)... but I let it go...

L Katy

[Metanoia]

Voice surgery sounds like the stuff of scifi or dreams... (Sci fi nerd here)... I've not really attributed my voice to my dysphoria, but there are subtle hints where I've noticed my laugh or my vocal mannerisms are more feminine...

I have a booming voice from being in choir, and I don't want to lose that, if only to raise the pitch a bit... Interesting stuff ladies...

I'm reminded of the movie, Crocodile Dundee, when the news reporter takes Mick Dundee to the party, and after learning how to check for a drag queen's male parts (literally down under) the night before, he meets a woman with a deep voice and inappropriately grabs her crotch to check for her male parts, to no avail...

... I'm slowly figuring out Hollywood's strange flirtation with queer issues in the 80s... The more I think back on old films I used to watch when I was younger... Interesting...

...Anyway, there are cis-women with deep voices... They stand out in a crowd anyway... Miss Patty from Gilmore Girls also comes to mind...

And it finally clicks for me. This all revolves back to dysphoria... This is beginning to make much more sense, ladies. Thank you. I can never say that enough.

[Emily E]

I've been looking at voice surgery and to be honest I think ill go that way but I'm concerned that a lot of the samples that are on the websites sound kind of weird... I mean they are ok but the voices are so high in pitch they sound sort of unbelievable (I've heard a couple women with voices that high but after a while I was trying to get away from them after a while as their voice was wearing on me) they also sounded labored like they were having a hard time talking (even after 6 months) but I'm probably being somewhat critical and the sound is being pumped out with considerable volume.  Regardless I am seriously looking at doing it as I cant even come close to a acceptable voice now.