Most of my attempts result in a strained voice or a sore throat. Or both.
Now, with a new job, I wish I had my Meg voice
down pat! If I can't start a new job with a totally new look, next best
would be to start a new job with a new voice.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Voice
I've tried on a few occasions to change the pitch of my voice, to sound more femme.
I know there's more to girl voice than pitch, but that's definitely the place to start. I've watched videos, I've purchased courses, but I can't seem to get
it. I think I need to do some one-on-one with a voice coach, but I
haven't ~ probably because I'm convinced I just
can't do it.
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So do we understand that you've found a new job/contract? If so, congratulations. If not, keep working on that voice -- think, and try to channel Lauren Bacall. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMeg -
ReplyDeleteI have found only Kathe Perez's voice training program to be useful, as she is a speech therapist. Melanie's course can damage the throat. When in doubt, use a voice therapist specializing in transgender voice.
M
I have the honour of counting Kathe among my readers. Now I'm not sure if I tried her course. I may have to. And SOON.... And I'll write the course up, of course!
DeleteMeg -
DeleteWhat is the emphasis on "And SOON" mean? Is there something special that you'd like to share?
Over here, someone mentioned a job that I could fill, if the salary wasn't so low - and she'd hire me en-femme without batting an eyelash. I'd certainly a job that would pay me enough to keep my eyelashes in mascara.....
M
M
Only soon because it's something I should have done three years ago, when I was first on my own. Or ten years ago, when I first started going out!
DeleteMeg -
ReplyDeleteYou can download her 3 CDs (I think she charged $100 or so for the set), and they are quite helpful. You will want to buy a musician's pitch tuner (forgot the exact name for it), as you'd be training your voice to hit a pitch 1/2 Octave above your normal male voice. And then, the real work begins - something which I've been lax about.... getting your phrasing to sound more feminine.
m
as a former music teacher i can tell you i started with a "falsetto" voice softly at first (don't strain the mussel). i took the approach that people will listen more closely that way. since the voice is a mussel you don't want to strain it. gradually it will get stronger and you will be able to use it longer but you must built up some endurance like any other mussel. it will eventually "lock in" just above your normal male voice. also in the beginning you want to sort of breath in through your belly button and push the air back out as if you are breathing back out though the belly button. this is the approach i have used as a trumpet player to support the sound. you will also find that you will need to flatten out your tounge and open your mouth like you have just swallowed something that was to hot like when you say "ahhhh" while "supporting the sound " via that belly button. it is actually easier to do than to describe.. remember don't strain the mussel all in one day it must be done gradually. and remember many gg's do have a lower tamber to their voice.hope this helps.
ReplyDeleteMuch of your voice depends on what you have to start with. You can use some of the inflection tricks like ending sentences on a high note, and practicing singing to higher music helps. If your voice sounds like Joe Cocker or Rod Stewart to start with, not much you can do, but if you can sing along with Chicago or Journey, you can sing along (and practice femme inflection) with Carly Simon or Sheryl Crow, for instance. Just don't blow out your voice. My voice is shot from working in call centers, and I can't count on sounding reliably femme the way I used to.
ReplyDeleteI have been happy with Katherine Perez' CDs as well. If you have a smart phone, there are plenty of good pitch pipe apps out there. Using these CDs, I've developed a reasonable female voice.
ReplyDelete