Voice training resources

[Audrey]

I have been having a terrible time trying to feminize my voice.  My worst fear is getting that high nasal sounding voice and sounding ridiculous.  My voice is not that deep but still has that "resonance"  has anyone had any luck with any voice training cd's.  I think I pass fairly well that is until I open my mouth.  maybe I'll pretend to be deaf and use sign language.

please help

Audrey

[shanetastic]

I haven't had any CDs yet, although I was thinking of buying one.  My voice is slowly getting there, although it seems like it's going to take eternity to get anything decent sounding.  I just use like online resources and just get a basic idea and just try to work with that and take it different places until I sort of find my own way of doing it.

[Annie Social]

I've only recently begun using them, but I'm impressed with the Exceptional Voice http://www.exceptionalvoice.com/transgender.html cds; the first primarily focuses on pitch, while the second goes more into resonance, what the producers call "feminine ring", and other aspects.

[Audrey]

I just ordered both cds and hope they will get here soon.  I have tried changing my voice but cant quite get it.  hopefully a little instruction and direction will help.

[shanetastic]

let me know how you enjoy the CDs.  I'm probably going to invest in them sometime to see if they can help my voice with those rough parts where I just don't understand what I can do to change it.

[Cortana]

I actually have not had experience with any kind of CD's or tutors and really to tell the truth I didn't need them. I actually was able to, considerably, feminize my voice by just listening to it and making adjustments as needed. I pass with on a day-to-day basis and sometimes I do sound a little nasel but it's not something that is terribly horrible. It's could just mean you have mucus in the back of your throat or you have or a getting a cold.

So my suggestion to you is to get a GOOD microphone and practice... all day if need be. Find your favorite female singer listen to her over and over again and listen to your mother's or sister's voices (that is if you have that oppourtunity.) Also make sure when you talk that your voice really gets into the words your saying, for example if you say the word "Yeah" go from a higher pitch to a lower pitch (not too low though as you don't want to sound masculine) while saying the word.

Anyway I hope that this helps you and gives you some more material to work with in terms of feminizing your voice.

Oh yeah also anther thing (actually another two things) one, ask someone close to you how your voice sounds... all the time if need be and two I recommend highly to visit www.TSVoice.com.

Good luck and best wishes,
Krista

[tinkerbell]

Have you been here?:

http://www.genderlife.com/shop/transsexual-voice-feminization-video/ts-voice.htm

You can download the voicebook & spectrogram for free.

tink

[KarenLyn]

...
It would be nice if there was an audio chat here so that we could meet, practice and critique.

...

Renate

You can always call and chat. I'm free most weekends and don't have a problem with giving out my cell number.
For anyone who's shy about calling but is interested, you can email me your number and I'll make the call.
Oh, and I'm in the pacific time zone.

Karen Lyn
425-478-5848
karenlyn30@yahoo.com

Posted on: January 06, 2008, 05:15:03 PMTink, I tried your link and it wouldn't load. Do you have to log on to the Genderlife site first?

Karen Lyn

[Audrey]

Thanx for the offer Karen I just might take you up on that offer.   oh and if i remember correctly you lived in Great Falls.  Yeah me too, talk about a constant bad hair day.     I was still presenting as male at that time.  The only thing I miss about it is Howard's Pizza.  YUM  Plus I used to work there and can cook a mean pepperoni, sausage, and jalepeno pizza.    i called it the afterburner.

Audrey

[shanetastic]

Krista is correct that you really don't need anything, however, having some resources and other people's samples are really helpful. I listened to Melanie Ann Phillips' CD a few times, but as she said, and as every one else will say, it just takes PRACTICE.

never give up. u can do it. if they can, WE can.

Candi

Thanks for doing that Candi,

That blows me away at the difference, you did an awesome job on your voice  

[Jolene4ever]

Candi-that's fantastic-if i can get to 1/10 of yours I'll be so happy. Back to the tape recorder. Jolene

[bethzerosix]

wow candi.... very inspirational.  thank you for that video.

[Suzy]

Have you been here?:
http://www.genderlife.com/shop/transsexual-voice-feminization-video/ts-voice.htm
You can download the voicebook & spectrogram for free.
tink

That's the program I got.  It has some really helpful things in it, though we will see if I am making progress.  One thing I like about it is the practice CD that lets you do the exercises in the car or on the go.

Candi,
That's a truly amazing video.  Thanks so very much for sharing it.


Kristi

[rava]

I just have to comment on the great u tube video Candi posted. When you see the contrast between the two voices, it really hits home. I sang and played music for a living all my life, so it has been a huge challenge to resume my career as a woman. I've worked a few gigs and seem to be accepted, but I do keep the between song chatter to a minimum. Anyhow, that was nice of that girl two share her before and after voices. Takes guts.

[seldom]

Am I the only one who found voice very easy to grasp. 

I can't believe to this day people struggle so much with this. 

[KarenLyn]

Everyone is different. What is easy for you can be next to impossible for someone else. There are so many variables to consider. Genetics to start with, age, smoker/non-smoker, did they strain their voice in the past, injuries, disease, emotions/attitude and I'm sure there are more and they all play a part. I didn't have a problem retraining my voice but I would never assume it should be just as easy for someone else.

Karen Lyn

[Hypatia]

I went to the Speech Clinic at George Washington University in DC and got good results. How good?

Did you ever have something funny happen while talking on a cell phone, you hear an echo repeating your voice with about a second's delay? A couple times this happened and I asked the person I was talking to if they were having another conversation on their end, because I could hear this woman talking. They said no, no one was there. That woman was me.

[seldom]

I have issues with some of the GWU speech clinics ideas and methodologies. Many people progress very slowly or not at all.  Are never able to get a suitable "phone voice".

Some people are very successful, but most of the people I know with very good voices have one thing in common:they were all musicians.  Some were self taught, others learned through instruction.    They did not step into the clinic yet got better results then from what I heard from any speech therapist.  Which suggests to me that there are problems with the way many clinics are teaching voice.

There is other issues I have with the voice clinic from what I heard as well beyond just simple instruction.   

[Hypatia]

Some people are very successful, but most of the people I know with very good voices have one thing in common:they were all musicians.  Some were self taught, others learned through instruction.    They did not step into the clinic yet got better results then from what I heard from any speech therapist.  Which suggests to me that there are problems with the way many clinics are teaching voice.

There is other issues I have with the voice clinic from what I heard as well beyond just simple instruction.   

It's true I have always been a musician, I play many instruments and speak many languages, and when young noted the connection between musical talent and linguistic talent. Those areas of the brain are connected. There's a theory that human language originated as poetry/song: originally speech, poetry, and music were not differentiated.

So I'd had the potential to learn, but it had not been developed well until I studied at the clinic. I watched the graphs and noted the numbers as we went along. I definitely benefited from their instruction.

At GW I know the circumstances aren't always the greatest... like losing the key that unlocks their computers which are needed for diagnostics... but they have been very good to me. At my first session, they critiqued my appearance and listed all the ways in which they judged I was visibly and audibly identifiable as female. The beginning of my sessions with them corresponded with my transition at work, and they affirmed I really was ready for prime time. Do you know how validating it feels to have a team of women supporting you like that? There's nothing like it.

When I lost my job, they told me to keep coming free of charge. That was very humanly decent of them. They arranged for me to see a university hospital otolaryngologist to take care of any medical issues that may be affecting my voice production. By the end of the semester, they confirmed that I had made dramatic progress. They were always very pleasant-mannered and respectful with me. Always called me she. Bottom line, they got the job done, and were gracious to me. Hypatia says two thumbs up.

Posted on: January 09, 2008, 03:23:06 PMAbout phone voice: My voice training began just before I transitioned at work-- which, coincidentally or not, was also when I began being called "Ma'am" over the phone every time. Part of it is that transitioning has a great power to it. Power to transform.

[Keira]

If you talk with a head voice (which will push up your fondamental frequency and make your resonnance go up). The problem is, that if you don't also change your phrasing, it will also make your voice sound very nasal. Which is a dreaded symptom of many TS voices.

If you want to increase resonnance, talk while smiling, trying to push the tongue down and forward (touching the bottom teeth for example). Do one note and play with mouth opening and tongue position, record it, you'll see how it changes voice timbre. There is a lot more higher harmonics if you do what I just said.

My F0 = 240 currently, which is much higher than needed thankfully, which mucho higher harmonics.

One thing is fascinating when you know how to sing, your F1 (first resonnant frequency) can actually have much more energy than the direct note F0 (meaning, the resonnant frequency has more energy than the energy produced by the vocal cords from the initial sound!). That enables to sing very loudly without forcing the voice and produces a rich soprano timbre even with an alto note from the vocal cords.