Finally...a voice that feels like it's really mine!
The way you speak can empower and anchor you in your identity, and that it is at the center of our gender-affirming speech and communication programs. Our goal is to help alleviate voice dysphoria, but more importantly, we want to help you define and live in a state of vocal gender euphoria. We believe that our job is to honor your expertise in your own experience and help you feel at home with your own voice.
Like many women in transition, I struggled for some time to find my voice on my own. I thought I tried everything. But with my teacher at The Voice Lab, I'm delighted by the progress I've made and that I’m finally presenting as my authentic self in public. I'm so happy to have a voice that feels like it's truly mine.
--Mary B.
Start here: Fiercely Femme
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Already have some experience? Check out One Weird Trick: Live Student ClassOne Weird Trick Live is an 8-week online interactive group class for voice feminization based on One Weird Trick: A User’s Guide to Transgender Voice. In this supportive setting, you can put your new voice tools into practice, setting you up for confidence and ease as you use your techniques in daily life. (A copy of the book is provided with registration.)
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One-on-one lessons
Each person’s journey in gendered speech is unique. Regardless of where you start, having a weekly, one-on-one lesson can help you find more gender euphoria and safety. If you’ve already tried some methods on your own—including the One Weird Trick live class—and you want to know if you’re on the “right” track, work with one of our trained teachers to receive concrete and compassionate guidance. All of our current faculty are trained to provide gender-affirming speech lessons.
Our philosophy on "passing"
We recognize that in our current society, you as a trans/non-binary person carry the burden of comporting yourself in order to be treated with kindness and decency. It should not be yours to bear. We honor that moving fluidly in the world is a safety concern even in the smallest social interactions. We believe that our responsibility within voice work is threefold: to recognize the existence of gender stereotypes; to deconstruct harmful gender stereotypes and to give you tools to adapt in order to keep yourself safe; and to celebrate the beauty, complexity, and individuality of gender, especially as it relates to voice and communication.
I started taking lessons shortly before I began medically transitioning. I had heard horror stories of people losing their singing voice after starting hormone therapy, and was terrified I would never be able to sing again. Not only did I save my voice, I’m now singing with a wider range than ever before, and I'm confident and happy with how I sound. It is not hyperbole to say that The Voice Lab is life changing. Thank you!
--Asher B.
