Hello Transgender Ladies,
     I recently had GRS and BA back in June 20, 2017. On the July 11, 2017 I started with my voice therapist. The first thing she did was record my voice reading a paragraph as my natural voice then she told me to read it again with my feminine modified voice. She told me this was for later. Two months later we revisited that same same paragraph with natural speaking voice. We now had three samples for play back. My 1st voice sample done on the July 11, 2017 I was 111 hertz. My 2st voice feminine sample done July 11, 2017 was 150 hertz. My third on the September 13, 2017 last voice sample was 199 hertz.
     Here is my question what is the general success rate of voice therapy? I heard the higher pitch and a sort of neutral resonance on my last voice sample. My voice therapist was pretty positive but, I still have some misgivings about my voice. I still hear maleness in my voice. I think I am lacking confidence this will work!

If you look at the link, you will see the ranges where a voice is considered masculine or feminine. Normally if possible 220HZ is targeted but with the proper speech pattern a voice will sound feminine even if it's much lower. There is a point where the voice will be considered masculine no matter how feminine the speech pattern is. The reverse is also true. There are males with very high voices but because of their speech pattern, they still sound male though not strongly masculine. At 199HZ you are well into the feminine range and with the proper speech pattern, you should sound feminine.

Thank You Dena,
     When does it become apparent a person is in need of VFS? This voice thing is really scaring me because so much is riding on this! Can a trained voice maintain it's feminine qualities?

Voice surgery is a personal decision. Some people strain to maintain the feminine range and they use their voice enough that surgery is an acceptable tradeoff. In my case, my trained voice was 130HZ and and it topped out at about 180HZ. No matter how hard you try, 130HZ just ain't feminine. Many people do well with a trained voice and if you do so, I recommend against surgery. Surgery isn't fool proof and you have to weigh the cost of a failed surgery against what you might gain. We have seen surgical failures on this site and while the reason for the failure is still not completely clear, it can and has happened. On the other hand most surgeries are successful but you hate to be the one that wasn't.

You said that you started with your voice therapist on July 11, 2017, so it's been less than 3 months of voice training.  That's not enough time.  For most people it takes 8 months to a year to find their female voice and even longer than that to lock it into place so that it becomes natural without trying.

You're only at the beginning of your training.  Don't worry, just keep practicing. 

The thing that worries me the most is slipping back to my old voice.  I haven't seen a voice therapist yet,  I'm guessing that could help with the endurance.  With my current voice talking with my gender therapist, I find after about a half hour I start to slip.  Living mainly as male,  using a male voice most of the time probably isn't helpful.

Thanks for starting this thread Michelle.

Paige

Give it more time. I did self training for 9 months before I decided to go to a voice therapist. I then worked with her for another 8 months before I was happy with my voice. Even now I still have to be conscious of my voice when at work or I can slip back.

I have been going to voice therapy for almost the same amount of time. My goal is F3 or 175mh. I've been able to hit the target about 80% of the time i tend to drop towards the end of sentences. We are now practicing mannerisms and gestures. My therapist seems happy with my progress. From what I have heard voice surgery is a hit or miss proposition, and an expensive one at that.

This lady's video is excellent. Pitch is important, but it is really not even the most important thing to be focusing on.

   
  Thank you ladies for your awesome advice on feminine voice. It is easy to get dysphoria over the voice! I have two voice therapy sessions coming up with my voice therapist. I will share all of your information with her. It really pains me to be so cautious in public.

Hi,

I guess you might have seem this but this is one of the only videos i've seen that seems helpfull on the subject, especially since you can see the person talk with was seems a natural man voice and how she turns it into a perfectly believable female voice.

I have been seeing a voice pathologist since March. I have made real progress in resonance , intonation and pitch. I also work on articulation,  voice power, pronouncing the ends of words, speaking in shorter phrases and diaphragmatic breathing.

I need to concentrate to sound well. When I am in a meeting or conveying technical information I find myself dropping pitch then some other elements.

Try pratcing at drive up ordering windows and the phone for ultimate tests.

Do not get discouraged. It takes a year of practice. I focus my resonance out my nose area. It takes practice. Hum and place fingers on your nose. Feel the vibration then hum words then say words and feel the vibration. Do this in your car. I do mouth warm ups and pitch and resonance warm ups in my car going to and from Work.

No matter who you are as transgender woman it doesn't hurt to have trained professional to give you feedback. After my last session with my awesome voice instructor she said my voice sounded good. I looked at her crossed eyed then she said who has adddressed me with sir in public. I was a lost for words maybe I am too wrapped up in myself to see progress. Maybe I just don't like the hints male in my voice I do not know. Have any of you had that experience of surprise and then doubt?

Maintaining pitch at the end of words / sentences is my biggest problem now. I start out at F3 175htz perfectly but at the end I drift down to A2 110htz. I am hitting my target more than 80% of the time. What I really need help in is socializing. Having been embarrassed and feeling guilty, I disassociated myself from everyone. It is so hard to have an unplanned conversation. That is why I was successful as a trainer. Everything was researched, Every t crossed and i dotted. But on my own, I just might be the most boring person on earth.