Making the choice between singing and getting rid of dysphoria

[laike]

Basically, I’m hoping to begin the transition from female to male, and while my family isn’t extremely supportive of it, I believe I can convince them. The issue is, I’m having a hard time with making decisions - specifically, the decision I’m going to discuss now.

I’m new to this forum, so if I do anything against the rules, I apologize, I’m trying to adapt.

Anyways, basically I’m trying to decide on whether to go on testosterone or not, and while I would LOVE to get rid of voice dysphoria, a bit of body dysphoria, and some hair dysphoria, I am struggling to decide on whether I should or not. Let me explain.

I’ve been singing since pre-school, and I’ve been in a choir for eight years. Over the years, I’d like to think I’ve gotten fairly decent at it.

One thing I’m really worried about is how testosterone will affect my singing voice. I really do want to have a lower voice - but not a lower singing voice, and taking testosterone would kind of screw than plan up.

I’m wondering if there is a way I could take hormones without it changing my voice, and simply learn to talk lower, but I’m not sure this is possible, and I’d love advice on it.

[tracy_j]

Hi Laike, Welcome to the forum

 

I am not qualified in any way at all in this so it is just an opinion. I think it is mainly the physics of vocal cords and cavaties in the vocal tract which determine voice. The way in which men and women use these tracts tend to differ. This is why a mtf person can learn to speak in a more feminine voice, even when the physical aspects have not changed. I think you really need a professional opinion on this, although there will be people here who can give a more informed opinion than I. Don't forget that opera singers have training for their voice. Perhaps some degree of voice training would help you in preserving and perfecting your singing voice.

 

The way hormones work tends to vary a bit between individuals and I suspect, to some extent on the age of the individual. Here, I am saying in absolute terms as for the difference in a specific item (ie singing voice). Here again, others will be able to give you a better idea from their experience. Your doctor should also be able to give you some advice on this, although a qualified speech therapist working in a gender clinic would be the ideal person to speak to. I am not sure of the situation over there. Here there are clinics where there are such specialists.

 

Tracy

[Cyndee]

Hi, when taking hormones we don't get to pick and choose which specific aspects of the human body change. It's almost a given that if taking T and you were female assigned at birth, your voice will change over time. My impression here is that your break point between falsetto voice and the normal speaking voice will be modified after some time on T. You may be able to maintain your upper registers however with continued use and practice during the hormone treatment and still be able to contribute in your choir. I would consult with a medical professional however.

 

Good luck with your family there.

 

Cyndi -

[Jani]

Greetings Laike.  Good question!  As noted we don't get to select the attributes that change under HRT but as Cyndi suggests, you may be able to maintain your current range with practice.  There are lots of male singers that sing in a higher register.

 

I hope your family sees through to support you.

 

Jani

[VickySGV]

I am one of the Founding Members of the Trans Chorus Of Los Angeles and our F2M members (18 0f 38 members)  are all over the ranges from Alto to Bass.  A couple in the higher ranges have socially transitioned, but for their own reasons are not on T and are happy with their lives.  Others over the three years we have been together have taken pride in "going DOWN THE RANKS and reworking their voices while maintaining quality in their deepening ranges.  We have some numbers where they are star soloists in all of the sections.

 

There in Seattle you have both a Gay men's and a Lesbian women's chorus which are top notch groups, and both are open and accepting of Trans people who know how to work with our voices.  I met some of them two years ago and keep in touch with them from time to time.  The link below is to one of TCLA's pages

 

https://www.facebook.com/pg/TransChorusLA/about/?ref=page_internal

[Tetris]

What are you currently classified as? What I would say in my unprofessional opinion which you should definitely talk to a doctor about before attempting is if you do go on T, you can have a deeper speaking voice, then train yourself to sing higher, and extend your vocal range the same way I do in reverse. I'm training myself to sing lower and I already can hit a non-falsetto A2 but I can still speak around C4-C5 when I try (it's usually closer to C3-G3). I assume you can do this in reverse. Teach yourself to sing *higher* and then train yourself to just speak in a lower voice. I don't since I just want both as low as possible (but I have a 3 octave range that's out of AFAB/cisfemale ranges) but I'm sure it's something you can consider.

[Werzle]

The only thing I think I can contribute that no one else has said that in the interim between your pre-T voice and your on-T voice, you may experience that fun time in every pubescent male's life when your voice breaks. It goes away once your new voice settles in but for a time you may have trouble singing at all. So be prepared for that eventuality should you decide to go the T route. Good luck!

[GothicLucas]

Your voice will change on T. There is no avoiding it.  Werzle is right; you will also experience an awkward time similar to male puberty, when your voice cracks and is generally unreliable, and you may lose your ability to sing for a short time. If you continue to practice without pushing your voice too hard, you should be able to adjust your technique to your new voice and sing again. 

 

I'm also a singer and have asked around for advice as well as done some research on cis choir boys who go through puberty. The trans guys made it sound like doomsday, because a bunch of them said they couldn't sing anymore, but men in general can be taught to sing despite their voices changing...

 

Personally, I have chosen not to take T until I've achieved all my current musical goals, and in a few years I'll just do it and deal with the changes. If I can't sing anymore, at least I achieved some goals. This is a very recent change of heart...I thought I could just get away with never starting T, but I really need to at least try to see if it improves my dysphoria.

 

If you look at the men in your family, you'll get a sense for how deep your voice can get. Trans men who develop much deeper voices seem more likely to have trouble singing again. 

[Bad]

Hey Laike, I am pre-T myself and I have similar feelings as you! I think a lot of people have given the advice you need to know, so all I'd add is to just keep an open mind about it. Good luck.