Resources for Trans Singers
Singing on Testosterone
An Info Session for Transmasculine, Nonbinary &/Or Intersex Folks Who Sing
Exciting News: This popular online info session attended by 400+ people in over a dozen countries is now available on demand!
Join trans voice teachers Eli Conley and Peter Fullerton to learn about the effects of testosterone on the singing voice. You'll hear about the various stages of vocal transition, some common challenges with singing on T, and tips for how to address them. The recording also includes a thoughtful Q&A with participants. When you purchase the video you will also gain access to a detailed article on the typical stages of vocal transition, and all the slides used in the info session so you can refer back to them at any time.
This info session is intended for transmasculine, intersex, and/or non-binary folks who take, have taken, or are considering taking testosterone. It will be helpful for serious singers, shower singers, and folks who would like to learn to sing with a changed or changing voice.
An Info Session for Transmasculine, Nonbinary &/Or Intersex Folks Who Sing
Exciting News: This popular online info session attended by 400+ people in over a dozen countries is now available on demand!
Join trans voice teachers Eli Conley and Peter Fullerton to learn about the effects of testosterone on the singing voice. You'll hear about the various stages of vocal transition, some common challenges with singing on T, and tips for how to address them. The recording also includes a thoughtful Q&A with participants. When you purchase the video you will also gain access to a detailed article on the typical stages of vocal transition, and all the slides used in the info session so you can refer back to them at any time.
This info session is intended for transmasculine, intersex, and/or non-binary folks who take, have taken, or are considering taking testosterone. It will be helpful for serious singers, shower singers, and folks who would like to learn to sing with a changed or changing voice.
Vocal Exercises for Singers on Testosterone
(Re)learning how to sing on testosterone is a bit like learning how to play the cello after years of experience on the violin -- many of the skills you have will carry over, but it takes time to learn how to coordinate your muscles in a new way to play this lower instrument. Vocal exercises can be a really helpful tool on this journey. As you sing the scales and other musical patterns in these recordings, you will have a chance to get to know your voice in depth. With regular repetition, you can build more strength, ease, and flexibility in your voice, helping you sing with comfort and confidence!
The exercises are available as downloadable videos and audio files in four vocal ranges:
Bass, Baritone, Tenor, and Countertenor/Alto
(Re)learning how to sing on testosterone is a bit like learning how to play the cello after years of experience on the violin -- many of the skills you have will carry over, but it takes time to learn how to coordinate your muscles in a new way to play this lower instrument. Vocal exercises can be a really helpful tool on this journey. As you sing the scales and other musical patterns in these recordings, you will have a chance to get to know your voice in depth. With regular repetition, you can build more strength, ease, and flexibility in your voice, helping you sing with comfort and confidence!
The exercises are available as downloadable videos and audio files in four vocal ranges:
Bass, Baritone, Tenor, and Countertenor/Alto
Singing on T (Online)
A 5-Week Class for Trans, Nonbinary, &/or Intersex Folks on Testosterone
Tuesdays, November 12th - December 10th, 2024
6 - 8 pm Pacific / 9 - 11 pm Eastern
Online on Zoom
This class will next be offered in Summer 2025. Join the email list to be notified when registration opens up.
Join longtime trans voice teacher and singer-songwriter Eli Conley for a five-week class that will help you understand how testosterone affects your voice, debunk some common myths about singing and T, and address the joys and challenges of singing with a changed or changing voice. Along the way Eli will share exercises to help you find more ease and freedom in your singing, and create space to build community with folks on a similar journey. Each participant will get one-on-one coaching from Eli, and leave with tools to continue training their voice going forward. Whether you've just started hormones, taken them for decades, or been on and off over time, you are welcome here! Folks with all levels of singing experience (or lack thereof) are welcome to participate.
A 5-Week Class for Trans, Nonbinary, &/or Intersex Folks on Testosterone
Tuesdays, November 12th - December 10th, 2024
6 - 8 pm Pacific / 9 - 11 pm Eastern
Online on Zoom
This class will next be offered in Summer 2025. Join the email list to be notified when registration opens up.
Join longtime trans voice teacher and singer-songwriter Eli Conley for a five-week class that will help you understand how testosterone affects your voice, debunk some common myths about singing and T, and address the joys and challenges of singing with a changed or changing voice. Along the way Eli will share exercises to help you find more ease and freedom in your singing, and create space to build community with folks on a similar journey. Each participant will get one-on-one coaching from Eli, and leave with tools to continue training their voice going forward. Whether you've just started hormones, taken them for decades, or been on and off over time, you are welcome here! Folks with all levels of singing experience (or lack thereof) are welcome to participate.
Other Resources I've Created:
Gentle Vocal Exercises for Singers on Testosterone is a free, non-range specific video that will help you learn self-massage techniques, breathing exercises, and the benefit of singing long tones, yawn sighs, sirens, and semi-occluded vocal tract exercises including singing through a straw and making cup bubbles. It also includes a brief description of vocal transition and the effects of testosterone on the singing voice.
My Writing:
- Transmasculine People, Testosterone, and Singing: Some Advice
- Creating Gender Liberatory Singing Spaces: A Transgender Voice Teacher's Recommendations for Working With Transgender Singers
Gentle Vocal Exercises for Singers on Testosterone is a free, non-range specific video that will help you learn self-massage techniques, breathing exercises, and the benefit of singing long tones, yawn sighs, sirens, and semi-occluded vocal tract exercises including singing through a straw and making cup bubbles. It also includes a brief description of vocal transition and the effects of testosterone on the singing voice.
My Writing:
- Transmasculine People, Testosterone, and Singing: Some Advice
- Creating Gender Liberatory Singing Spaces: A Transgender Voice Teacher's Recommendations for Working With Transgender Singers
Singing-Related Interviews With Me:
- NPR's All Things Considered: Singer-songwriter teaches trans people how to sing again as their voices change
- CapRadio: Local musician Eli Conley helps trans singers find their voice after going on testosterone
- Rainbow Rodeo: Eli Conley Discusses Singing on T
- Canadian Broadcasting Company Weekend Morning Show (Manitoba): Singing on Testosterone
- Gender Stories Podcast: Searching For What's True with Eli Conley
- Shut Up Songwriters Podcast
- "Sweet Hormony" - VoiceBox Podcast
Classes & Workshops:
- I offer online classes for queer and trans folks and allies, including a 5-week class called Singing on T.
- Intro to Transmasc Voice Masterclasses with trans voice teacher Stephen Davidson of the London Trans Choir
- Vocal Freedom Foundations and Explorations: Community Singing Lessons Centering Trans and Queer Voices with trans voice teacher Orion Johnstone
Other Resources for Singers:
- Singing on Testosterone: A Handout for Vocal Transition by Peter Fullerton
- The 5 Stages of Transgender Voice Change From Testosterone: Slideshow by Peter Fullerton
- Frequently Asked Questions About Transgender Vocal Transition With Testosterone Therapy by Peter Fullerton
- Trans Voice Academy has free videos about shifting your speaking voice as a trans person, and also a video about singing.
- Testosterone and the Trans Male Singing Voice Page on Transguys.com
- Key of T - Research Study, Performance, and Presentation by genderqueer singer and voice teacher Ari Agha and their voice teacher Laura Hynes
- Singing While Female: A narrative study on gender, identity & experience of female voice in cis, transmasculine & non-binary singers by trans voice teacher Felix A Graham
- Resources and Videos from the April 2018 Transgender Voices Festival
(I was scheduled to give a masterclass focused on working with trans masculine singers, but a blizzard ended the festival a day early!)
- One Weird Trick: A User's Guide to Transgender Voice: A book by Liz Jackson Hearns
- Recently Changed Voices and the Missing Octave: This blog post by voice teacher Brian Lee was written about the voices of cisgender boys during puberty, but I find it has relevance to trans masculine folks as well.
- Why Take Low Dose Testosterone? - Blog post by Micah
Resources for Voice Teachers & Speech-Language Pathogists:
- Intro to Transmasc Voice Masterclasses with trans voice teacher Stephen Davidson of the London Trans Choir are open to voice teachers and SLPs
In addition to the resources listed above, here are some resources specifically for teachers & SLPs:
- Online Gender-Affirming Speech and Singing Trainings for Voice Teachers and SLPs by the Voice Lab
- Learn to Teach Trans Speaking Voice Alteration with Trans Voice Teacher Renee Yoxon
- Trans Voice Initiative - Training, Community, and Advocacy by and for Gender Diverse Speech-Language Pathologists
- Working With the Gender Diverse Professional Voice User (video) by Heather Gross
- Nurturing the Voice: Techniques and Exercises that Guide the Voice through a Healthy Transition (powerpoint from the 2018 Transgender Voices Festival) by Lisa Butcher and Anita Kozan
- Welcoming Transgender Singers: Resource List from Chorus America compiled by Ari Agha
- Demystifying trans*+ voice education: The Transgender Singing Voice Conference (journal article)
- Trans voice teacher Peter Fullerton offers consultations for teachers wanting to better support their trans and nonbinary students, especially singers taking testosterone
- Trans voice teacher Kris Koenigin also offers consultations for teachers wanting to better support their trans and nonbinary students, especially singers taking testosterone
- Queering Vocal Pedagogy: A Handbook for Teaching Trans and Genderqueer Singers and Fostering Gender-Affirming Spaces Book by William Sauerland
- The Singing Teacher's Guide to Transgender Voices Book by Liz Jackson Hearns and Brian Kremer