How effective is voice feminization therapy?? Once completed will I just sound like any other girl on the street?

Question

My main concerns are sounding like and looking like a woman/girl to everyone around me but I know some times it makes the trans woman sound more feminine however sometimes they still sound like men, just wondering how effective the voice feminization therapy from la trobe university is??

Answer 1

Hi rose-elliott,

Your question is especially relevant for me today as I attend the last of my voice feminization therapy sessions at the Eye and Ear Hospital in the city.

This is run by La Trobe Communications Clinic:

http://www.latrobe.edu.au/communication-clinic/contactus.html

 

I participated in a VFE (stemple) study last year, and this year voice feminization.

My experience has been positive. The most important thing to understand is that this takes time ... many months and realistically a few years. To sound female is more than just about pitch, it is also about emphasis, and structure.

I have no hesitation in recommending the La Trobe Communications Clinic.

It is best to make an enquiry ASAP as the waiting list can be months.

Chrisentiae

...

Further resources:

* I was made aware of the VFE by "Hayley" via the ZBGC noticeboard last year.

Read more here, just scroll down to my post:

http://gendercentre.com/funding-win-victorias-sex-gender-diverse-community-hailed-historic-step/

* I have an active topic on voice feminization here:

http://www.gendervie.com/showthread.php?tid=5

Answer 2

Today was the last session of my voice feminization therapy. Thank you to La Trobe University Communications Clinic, and the Eye and Ear Hospital.

Stemple VFE (Vocal Function Exercises), AFR (Altering the Focus of Resonance), and Aneteo 'Mean Pitch Value', are part of my program to feminize my voice.

As soon as I got home, I made this video, to share some of what I have learned.

* updated Saturday 21 July 2012. Obselete link removed.

Answer 3

I have just completed my assessment of my participation with the Voice Feminization Therapy.

I hope this may be useful to persons seeking to know what a participant experienced.

Chrisentiae

 

* updated Saturday 21 July 2012. Obselete link removed.

Answer 4

Everyone I know who has used the Latrobe voice clinic has found it helpful in feminising their voice. I also know some who haven't needed it and have done their own personal voice work.

In the years just prior to transition I did my own practice. I was successful at this and so never needed to attended Latrobe. As a busker (guitar and vocals) I used to practice altering my vocal style and, in private (lol!), began sounding more feminine and had fun imitating singers like Stevie Nicks, Madonna, and Karen Carpenter...and any female voice with a range similar to my own. Geraldine Doogue (ABC radio) is one of my favourite radio women...I could listen to her all day. :-)

This is naturally easier for those of us who can 'do voices' and can readily find where/how to focus our voice. I believe that it's we alone, whether by intuitively 'feeling' our way or by carefully practicing techniques such as Latrobe's, that can assure our own success.

Answer 5

Hi

You might want to look on Amazon for the cd kit

Survival Kit Voice Pack - Finding your female voice, voice spectogram & audio practice cd. I got my copy for under $30

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=finding+your+female+voice

Answer 6

I'm currently attending the La Trobe voice clinic. They're brilliant. I do my. Lice exercises in the car on the way to work. I laughed when I read Bree's example of singing Stevie Nicks and The Carpenters. I sing the same artists in the car after doing my voice exercises, and find my pitch lifts naturally. Compared to some of the more difficult processes in transitioning, voice training really gives you a sense of achieving something. It takes time, but singing 'female' lifts your mood when transitioning gets you down. I'm a singer, so it might be different for others. Christine