I am wondering if it would be possible to keep singing when I start voice terapy. 

I am a singer and I had/have serious plans for a career in theatre. In early teens I wanted to sing really well, but usually sooner or later I ended up singing falsetto and it sounded very unpleasant. My mind couldn't realise why I was unable to sing soprano like my idols. Over years I pulished my voice around natural baritone and now the teachers are much happier. It took a lot of effort back then, but lately I have been thinking that if ever want to pass well, I must abandon it all to sound female. I am really confused what to do, because singing and acting have been my dreams for many years. 

 

Quote from: Emily Ivy on May 07, 2007, 03:04:00 PM
I am wondering if it would be possible to keep singing when I start voice terapy. 

I am a singer and I had/have serious plans for a career in theatre. In early teens I wanted to sing really well, but usually sooner or later I ended up singing falsetto and it sounded very unpleasant. My mind couldn't realise why I was unable to sing soprano like my idols. Over years I pulished my voice around natural baritone and now the teachers are much happier. It took a lot of effort back then, but lately I have been thinking that if ever want to pass well, I must abandon it all to sound female. I am really confused what to do, because singing and acting have been my dreams for many years. 

 

If you are a natural baritone, it will be very very hard. 
I understand the conflict.  Training your voice to sing like a female (even at my range, Countertenor (alto), it is hard, there are little elements that I have to learn with my voice even though the natural range is fine) is even more difficult than talking like one.  It can be done, but there are physical limitations.  I am not sure how possible it is if baritone is your natural range. 

Yeah, voice is a bit of a sore spot with me.  My speaking voice is wonderful, but my singing voice has a much narrower range than a typical female with it still actually sounding female.  I actually do occasionally go down to the local lesbian club and sing karaoke and as far as I know, they don't know I'm TS, but even if they do, they don't act like it, so I don't really care.

Just so you know, I started singing bass (lower than baritone) in junior high and high school.  I also could sing baritone and tenor.  When I went to actually have vocal singing lessons (as male) the teacher said I was actually a natural tenor.  Now as female, I can sing alto, but certainly not soprano.  I don't think I could have been a professional singer either as male nor female, but I do feel a little sad at being able to only sing a limited number of songs due to many of them going into a soprano range.  For the most part, singing is similar to singing with a male voice (assuming you are singing correctly in a head voice and I WAS taught to do this in my vocal lessons), but you just make it sound breathier.  However, I wouldn't recommend it until you can get a good speaking voice down and give your vocal cords time to strengthen in the female range (perhaps a year).

Voice therapy is really good since you can correct anything you may not be doing completely correct right away as well as get some instant feedback.  I know when I had a month of vocal therapy, my voice improved dramatically, but now that I've been using it constantly for almost a year it has improved by leaps and bounds.  Singing in a female voice IS quite different than speaking in it and singing also is much harsher on your vocal cords.  I can't sing high notes for too long or my voice starts to get hoarse.  I'm finally getting to a point where I don't have to really think much about how I'm speaking and still sounding female.

Quote from: Melissa on May 07, 2007, 04:54:21 PM
Yeah, voice is a bit of a sore spot with me.  My speaking voice is wonderful, but my singing voice has a much narrower range than a typical female with it still actually sounding female.  I actually do occasionally go down to the local lesbian club and sing karaoke and as far as I know, they don't know I'm TS, but even if they do, they don't act like it, so I don't really care.

Just so you know, I started singing bass (lower than baritone) in junior high and high school.  I also could sing baritone and tenor.  When I went to actually have vocal singing lessons (as male) the teacher said I was actually a natural tenor.  Now as female, I can sing alto, but certainly not soprano.  I don't think I could have been a professional singer either as male nor female, but I do feel a little sad at being able to only sing a limited number of songs due to many of them going into a soprano range.  For the most part, singing is similar to singing with a male voice (assuming you are singing correctly in a head voice and I WAS taught to do this in my vocal lessons), but you just make it sound breathier.  However, I wouldn't recommend it until you can get a good speaking voice down and give your vocal cords time to strengthen in the female range (perhaps a year).

Voice therapy is really good since you can correct anything you may not be doing completely correct right away as well as get some instant feedback.  I know when I had a month of vocal therapy, my voice improved dramatically, but now that I've been using it constantly for almost a year it has improved by leaps and bounds.  Singing in a female voice IS quite different than speaking in it and singing also is much harsher on your vocal cords.  I can't sing high notes for too long or my voice starts to get hoarse.  I'm finally getting to a point where I don't have to really think much about how I'm speaking and still sounding female.

Being a bit mono-tonal is not bad (as long as its a good one).  Slow-core artists generally sing in a limited vocal range.  Beautiful stuff, though not much range.  There are alot of females that sing in very limited ranges (notoriously Nico from the velvet underground). 

I have been singing in multiple voices for awhile.  The easiest voice to sing in is this androgynous breathy ghostly voice.  This one does not have much range, but is very effective, creepy and beautiful.  It is also my natural range, and it took YEARS to develop.  I also have one that I will not be able to use, that sounds like the mountain goats, this one is kind of uncomfortable to sing in because it is actually out of my range (too low I think).  I also have a voice that sounds like a 12 year old boy, I found out with a little work, it is pretty girlish.  I have a few more, but they are a bit too boyish, despite being higher, there are just harmonic qualities that women just don't have. 

Thanks for your replies! 

Looks like there is a lot of work to be done, but in the end I will be able to sing still  I can sing up to alto now and I hope to remain good at least in this range. Of course the teachers say that I do my best in baritone, but as long as I sound fine in alto I can do with it. Singing has been a big part of my daily life for years, so I was anxious if I have to sacrifice it.   

So overall, voice therapy M2F is effective, even if you don't think you have a chance?? I don't have a problem with the actual voice, there's just no volume and it sometimes cracks, so I'm a bit worried.

Phoenyx

If the tone is there, the volume will come with time and practice.

It depends on what you expect to do with it.  If you are baritone, that's where your voice is. Singing in another range, unless you do falsetto will destroy your vocal chords.

If you are doing backups, you can bridge between your baritone voice and falsetto if you sing lightly and use a mic.

I remember seeing an episode of Mash where a budding pianist lost his right hand in combat. He thought his life was ruined for his entire life had been devoted to playing the piano.  Well, the fact is that our lives change.  Everything is in a constant state of flux. Yes, you may lose the opportunity to perform by singing in public.  BUT... there are many facets to music and performing.  You can play an instrument, you can do vocal backups, you can write, you can arrange, ... the list is endless. 

I had the same problem by the way.  I performed professionaly for many years before  I transitioned.  I haven't sung since.  But that has not squelched my abilities in music. I still perform by playing instruments.  Right now, my instrument of choice is the cello.  I enjoy it very much.... the cello's voice is now my own.  It expresses how I feel. It is part of me.  I have directed choirs, arranged music for rock bands... all kinds of stuff.

Chin up and all of that.

Cindi

Thanks Cindi, you have a nice ability of seeing things from the bright side 

Considering the fact that in my country it is very hard to sing for living,  and this has been taking too much of my free time, there would be some pros too. Afterall, I still have poetry writing, drawing and few other interests which were overshadowed by singing. Oh, and I have wanted to improve my skills with piano for years, maybe it's the right time now

My own problem is not so much pitch or resonnance, I've got the basics right but it sounds a bit pitchy even though my voice is not strained. I'm trying to round the sound so to speak to make my transitions up and down smoother. Right now, it sounds labored when I change notes (probably because my vocal cords are too tight, relaxing them is hard because I've got a partial vocal cord paralysis (from an illness years ago) that forces be to pump more wind through my vocal cords to sustain a note than I would want to).

I'm trying right now to sing Dido's song "Here with me" in its natural pitch (the same she's singing it in) which is quite high and some parts kind of whispered, with the chorus is belted but still velvety (if that makes sense). I just have to make my transitions smoother or I will have to abandon this song.

In general, I feel that's my rough way I sing song that makes them sound like a high pitched eunuch instead of a female. That's what I'm working on. Learning to charm the songs, put a velvet glove on my metal vocal cords :-).

I sucks a bit to not be able to sing anymore in my lower register without it sounding very very strange to onlookers (I sometimes do Karaoke, don''t tell anyone, that's my real secret hehe).

I love to sing so much its not even funny :-); its a annoyance to all that know me.

I don't get all that falsetto and baritone stuff Cindi...sorry, but that doesn't help.

Phoenyx

Quote from: Keira on May 16, 2007, 07:08:25 PM

I'm trying right now to sing Dido's song "Here with me" in its natural pitch (the same she's singing it in) which is quite high and some parts kind of whispered, with the chorus is belted but still velvety (if that makes sense). I just have to make my transitions smoother or I will have to abandon this song.

I love to sing so much its not even funny :-); its a annoyance to all that know me.

I'm struggling with "Closer" by The Corrs at present. I can just about reach the pitch of Andrea's voice, but it probably sounds dreadful to others. I've just ordered a desktop tape recorder so I can hear the results. I'm expecting funny looks from the neighbours any time now!!
Louise

Quote from: Emily Ivy on May 07, 2007, 03:04:00 PM
I am wondering if it would be possible to keep singing when I start voice terapy. 

I am a singer and I had/have serious plans for a career in theatre. In early teens I wanted to sing really well, but usually sooner or later I ended up singing falsetto and it sounded very unpleasant. My mind couldn't realise why I was unable to sing soprano like my idols. Over years I pulished my voice around natural baritone and now the teachers are much happier. It took a lot of effort back then, but lately I have been thinking that if ever want to pass well, I must abandon it all to sound female. I am really confused what to do, because singing and acting have been my dreams for many years. 

 

If your voice is one pitch it isn't going to change through voice therapy. You may be able to change the pesentation but not the pitch. The only way to change someone's voice is through an operation to change the pitch which isn't always successful. However, I did hear a story about an Opera singer who had this surgery and is now a female opera singer with a much higher range.

I sang in rock bands and I think it helps but I have a very high voice and my vocals sound female anyway. If you are a singer it is an advantage as you know how to control your breathing, presentation and the exprssion in your voice.