Article: Does voice have a gender? For trans singers, old categories are breaking down

[EvanC]

I thought people might enjoy this article which talks about the trans choir I recently joined, as well as other trans singers. It was on the front page of my paper this morning.

https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/music/does-voice-have-a-gender-for-trans-singers-old-categories-are-breaking-down

 

[Susan R]

Hello EvanC.  I know very little about singing I have to admit but there is a lot of interesting info in the article I never knew...like this quote below.

 

“I’d gone from a range of 3½ octaves to one, although a very pretty one,” he said. “All the things I knew how to do with my voice, all the tricks, the way I formed vowels for resonance – none of that works the same way it used to.”

 

i knew that FtM individuals had voice changes (much deeper) unlike MtF's after a period of time with HRT but I had no idea you could actually lose range amoung other things. Congrats on getting some positive press and acknowledgement. Also, thank you for sharing it with us.  I always enjoy learning new things like this.

 

Susan R?

 

[VickySGV]

Greetings to your chorus from the Trans Chorus Of Los Angeles  @EvanC .  TCLA has been publicly performing for 4 years now.  I am one of the Founding Members from back in 2015 when we first began rehearsing together.  Between September and December last year we had 30 public shows, so you folks need to get ready for some time in the lights here soon.   Until last fall, we had been T1 T2 Bar, Bass but are now getting some Alto's to sing near our single Soprano.  We do group by voice sections on stage and in rehearsal, but whether the Bass is a Binary Trans Female (we have three) or the T1 has a beard and bald head, we don't group by presentation and our audiences love it that way, and when we have accompanied some "name artists" (long list --) they have been proud to have us do it that way.  About every 4 months we give people the chance to audition in either higher or lower voice parts and some take pride in moving from one end to the other as they can do it.  Our sections have their separate rehearsals and members help coach or accompany each other in moving around or finding their best voices.  I hope you folks can get that type of thing going. Who knows, maybe the groups can meet each other for a jam session in the next year. 

[EvanC]

Hi @VickySGV. I knew there was someone who I'd seen mention being in a choir here, but I couldn't remember who. Your choir sounds really busy! The one up here is run through a community music center who's mission is to make music accessible to everyone regardless of financial ability. The Trans choir is free to everyone and no prior singing experience is necessary. Singers are sorted into parts that are either labeled 1-4 or Roots, Trunks, Branches, and Leaves. You are encouraged to sing the part you are comfortable with, whether that's due to your voice, or what's most comfortable for your identity. There are a lot of non-binary people in the group and we have a good spread of what would traditionally be considered Bass right through Sopranos.

 

And hi @Susan R.  I also worry about being able to still sing if I go on hormones and my voice drops. For now I sing the top part since there are very few of us. But you don't need many that high to be heard. It's nice to know that if I do start hormones, I'll be in a group that can help me keep singing, even with a new voice.

[VickySGV]

32 minutes ago, EvanC said:

I also worry about being able to still sing if I go on hormones and my voice drops

 

As our guy's voices drop, they find that the same skills run across the board for all ranges, it is simply that you have to go back and learn the other part and its lyrics and practice, practice, practice!! 

 

Trans Chorus of Los Angeles is a younger sibling group to Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, and to Vox Femina which is a Lesbian (and friends) women's chorus that GMCLA also helped get going.  We sing with both groups from time to time.