Vocal Health in Trans Voice Work

Image ID: Two adults stretch to the side with one arm above their head and the other on their hip.

In the intersection of music therapy and trans voice work, is the mental and physical health of each client’s voice. There are simple steps to taking care of your voice that begin before and continue on while working on shifting your voice to fit your gender expression better.

One of the simplest steps to taking care of your voice is hydration. Vocal sound are created with the vocal cords, breath and body alignment. How hydrated you are affects the lubrication on their vocal cords. Dehydration and colds can create a harsher sound or even damage the vocal cords by creating too much friction and calluses over time. This becomes slightly tricky as hormone replacement therapy and several medications often have dehydration as a side effect. A common goal for the amount of water to drink is half your body weight in ounces. It's often recommended that an individual adjusts to drinking more water gradually. Another way to help if your vocal cords feel dry is through hot steam. This can be accomplished by placing your face above hot water and putting a towel over your head to breath in steam.

Your entire body is your instrument so if part of your body is tense it can effect your voice. Stretching your body and trying to help it be as relaxed as possible will help with singing. Often times checking your body a few times throughout the day and seeing if there is a part of your body that needs stretching can be helpful.

While using your voice if there is any strain in your body will be vital as you explore different ways of using your voice. If there is strain-chances are it’s hurting your voice. Often times a professional is helpful in helping you learn to access different areas without straining. You can begin learning to use your voice in a healthy way by noticing how your voice and body feel. The voice is a delicate muscle and it will take time to build into an expression that fits your gender.

Music therapy is often a way to build tools to use your voice in a healthy way. In this space you can build skills to reach your goals. Music therapy also creates an environment to help you process and hold different emotions that will likely come up through the process of voice work.