Workshops/Presentations
Changing Keys: Speech and Voice Feminization for Transsexual Women
One of the greatest challenges for people undergoing male to female gender reassignment is developing a feminine voice. The Changing Keys program is generously sponsored by the Transgender Health Program of BC. It provides information and professional speech and voice training for transsexual women, in a group setting. The program is limited to 6 participants.
The program has 4 components:
- An individual speech and voice evaluation.
- A 7 week course of speech and voice therapy
- A home program of speech/voice therapy exercises
- A post-therapy re-evaluation of each participant’s speech and voice.
1. Initial Speech and Voice Evaluation
This is a complete evaluation of each participant’s speech and voice production habits. It includes an assessment of:
- average speaking pitch
- speaking pitch range and inflectional contours
- voice quality
- gender-related communication characteristics
By using diagnostic therapy techniques we also assess the person’s ability to make changes in habitual speech and voice production.
2. Speech, Voice and Communication Therapy
Therapy sessions are held once weekly for 2 hours, over a 7-week period. The program includes information, specific speech and voice training and discussion about gender differences in speech, voice and communication as a whole.
Information topics include:
- how speech and voice are produced
- differences between men’s and women’s voice production systems
- masculine/feminine characteristics of speech, voice and communication
- surgical options for elevating vocal pitch
Voice therapy includes:
- vocal “stretching exercises” to gain access the higher pitches of the voice
- finding a more feminine pitch range and becoming accustomed to the feel and sound of this voice
- using voice therapy techniques that make the higher voice easier to produce
- increasing/modifying vocal inflections in speech
- achieving a more feminine vocal quality, e.g., working with breathiness (desirable) and roughness (undesirable)
Discussion of gender issues in communication includes:
- speech style: directness, emotional content, etc.
- communication intent: exchanging information, establishing emotional connections, etc.
- non-speech vocalizations: laughing, listening noises
- body language during speaking and listening
- word choice: direct vs. indirect, etc.
- role playing and conversational practice will be used extensively to explore these issues
3. Changing Keys for Good: Carrying Changes into Everyday Life
The Changing Keys program is designed to support participants in transferring the new habits into the real world. We do this in a number of ways:
Daily warm-ups
There is a home program of speech and voice warm-ups to be done
daily
Homework
Using the new voice outside the classroom in real-life situations
gives the opportunity to try things out, while still enjoying the support
of the program
Self-directed exercise
Ongoing input from a daily self-directed exercise program is
very valuable in maintaining improvements once the course is completed
4. Individual Reassessments
At the end of the program, reassessments will be done to compare before and after recordings, measurements and subjective evaluations.
Registration information
Where
Three Bridges Community Health Centre
1292 Hornby St. Vancouver
When
Monday evenings, 5 - 7 PM, September 13 - November 15
Cost
There is a sliding scale from $0 to $100.00, dependant upon ability to pay.
To apply:
Application is open to transsexual women who can commit to coming to all sessions and to both the pre- and post- assessments. Daily practice between sessions is also required.
Applications are being accepted immediately. To get an application form, please contact:
Lukas Walther
Transgender Health Program Coordinator
Vancouver Coastal Health
Three Bridges Community Health Centre
#301 - 1290 Hornby Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1W2
604-734-1514 ext. 3
BC Toll Free: 1-866-999-1514 / Fax:
604-633-4241
Email: Lukas.Walther@vch.ca
www.vch.ca/transhealth