RESOURCES REGARDING TRANSGENDER SINGERS
I. General Resources about Trans Singers
GALA choruses has some great resources on their website. There is also helpful information on the Singers Health website.
Articles focused specifically on trans singers in choir:
Aguirre, R. (2018). Finding the trans voice: A review of the literature on accommodating transgender singers. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 8755123318772561. https://doi.org/10.1177/8755123318772561
Miller, J. R. (2016). Creating choirs that welcome transgender singers. Choral Journal, 57(4), 61–63.
Palkki, J. (2017). Inclusivity in action: Transgender students in the choral classroom. Choral Journal, 57(11), 20–34.
Blog Post: 7 Tips to Make Your Choir Inclusive of Gender Diversity
Sauerland, W. R. (2017). Legitimate voices: A multi-case study of trans and non-binary singers in the applied voice studio. PhD Dissertation. Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY.
II. Resources for Trans Singers who identify as Female-to-Male
Ryder Emerson chronicled his transition and voice change process on his YouTube channel. In this article the author, a trans guy, charts his own voice change. Here is a blog about one trans guy's vocal transition.
III. Resources for Trans Singers who identify as Male-to-Female
Here is a blog chronicling important issues for MTF singers.
IV. Selected Bibliography of Scholarly Articles on Voice/Singing Issues for trans people
Note: The first known Transgender Singing Voice Conference was held in 2017 at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, hosted by Danielle Steele. Visit their website here.
Azul, D. (2015). Transmasculine people’s vocal situations: a critical review of gender-related discourses and empirical data. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 50(1), 31–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12121
Azul, D. (2016). Gender-related aspects of transmasculine people’s vocal situations: insights from a qualitative content analysis of interview transcripts. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12239
Bartolome, S. J. (2016). Melanie’s story: A narrative account of a transgender music educator’s journey. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, (207-208), 25–47. https://doi.org/10.5406/bulcouresmusedu.207-208.0025
Byrne, L. A., Dacakis, G., & Douglas, J. M. (2003). Self-perceptions of pragmatic communication abilities in male-to-female transsexuals. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 5(1), 15–25.
Carew, L., Dacakis, G., & Oates, J. (2007). The effectiveness of oral resonance therapy on the perception of femininity of voice in male-to-female transsexuals. Journal of Voice, 21(5), 591–603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2006.05.005
Chaloner, J. (2000). The voice of the transsexual. In M. Freeman & M. Fawcus (Eds.), Voice Disorders and Their Management (3rd ed., pp. 245–267). London, UK: Whurr Publishers.
Constansis, A. (2008). The changing female-to-male (FTM) voice. Radical Musicology, 3. Retrieved from http://www.radical-musicology.org.uk/2008/Constansis.htm
Constansis, A. N. (2013). The female-to-male (ftm) singing voice and its interaction with queer theory: roles and interdependency. Transposition. Musique et Sciences Sociales, (3). https://doi.org/10.4000/transposition.353
Davies, S., Papp, V. G., & Antoni, C. (2015). Voice and communication change for gender nonconforming individuals: Giving voice to the person inside. International Journal of Transgenderism, 16(3), 117–159. https://doi.org/10.1080/15532739.2015.1075931
Gelfer, M. P. (1999). Voice treatment for the male-to-female transgendered client. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 8(3), 201–208.
Hershberger, I. G. (2005). The effects of singing exercises and melodic intonation therapy (MIT) on the male-to-female transgender voice (Master’s Thesis). University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC. Retrieved from http://libres.uncg.edu/edocs/etd/1063/umi-uncg-1063.pdf
Lipson, J. B. (2013). The lived experience of vocal expression for three transgender people. Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA. Retrieved from https://idea.library.drexel.edu/islandora/object/idea%3A5135/datastream/OBJ/view
Neumann, K., & Welzel, C. (2004). The importance of the voice in male-to-female transsexualism. Journal of Voice, 18(1), 153–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0892-1997(03)00084-5
Neumann, K., Welzel, C., Gonnermann, U., & Wolfradt, U. (2002). Satisfaction of MtF transsexuals with operative voice therapy: A Questionnaire-based preliminary study. International Journal of Transgenderism, 6(4).
Sims, L. (2017). Teaching Lucas: A Transgender Student’s Vocal Journey from Soprano to Tenor. Journal of Singing, 73(4).
Sims, L. (2017). Teaching Transgender Students. Journal of Singing, 73(3).
Steele, D. (2016). Vocal and social integration of transgender students into their preferred-gender ensemble: A qualitative study of two transgender students. Presented at the LGBTQ Studies & Music Education III, Champaign-Urbana, IL.
T’Sjoen, G., Moerman, M., Van Borsel, J., Feyen, E., Rubens, R., Monstrey, S., … De Cuypere, G. (2006). Impact of Voice in Transsexuals. International Journal of Transgenderism, 9(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1300/J485v09n01_01
I. General Resources about Trans Singers
GALA choruses has some great resources on their website. There is also helpful information on the Singers Health website.
Articles focused specifically on trans singers in choir:
Aguirre, R. (2018). Finding the trans voice: A review of the literature on accommodating transgender singers. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 8755123318772561. https://doi.org/10.1177/8755123318772561
Miller, J. R. (2016). Creating choirs that welcome transgender singers. Choral Journal, 57(4), 61–63.
Palkki, J. (2017). Inclusivity in action: Transgender students in the choral classroom. Choral Journal, 57(11), 20–34.
Blog Post: 7 Tips to Make Your Choir Inclusive of Gender Diversity
Sauerland, W. R. (2017). Legitimate voices: A multi-case study of trans and non-binary singers in the applied voice studio. PhD Dissertation. Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY.
II. Resources for Trans Singers who identify as Female-to-Male
Ryder Emerson chronicled his transition and voice change process on his YouTube channel. In this article the author, a trans guy, charts his own voice change. Here is a blog about one trans guy's vocal transition.
III. Resources for Trans Singers who identify as Male-to-Female
Here is a blog chronicling important issues for MTF singers.
IV. Selected Bibliography of Scholarly Articles on Voice/Singing Issues for trans people
Note: The first known Transgender Singing Voice Conference was held in 2017 at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, hosted by Danielle Steele. Visit their website here.
Azul, D. (2015). Transmasculine people’s vocal situations: a critical review of gender-related discourses and empirical data. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 50(1), 31–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12121
Azul, D. (2016). Gender-related aspects of transmasculine people’s vocal situations: insights from a qualitative content analysis of interview transcripts. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12239
Bartolome, S. J. (2016). Melanie’s story: A narrative account of a transgender music educator’s journey. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, (207-208), 25–47. https://doi.org/10.5406/bulcouresmusedu.207-208.0025
Byrne, L. A., Dacakis, G., & Douglas, J. M. (2003). Self-perceptions of pragmatic communication abilities in male-to-female transsexuals. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 5(1), 15–25.
Carew, L., Dacakis, G., & Oates, J. (2007). The effectiveness of oral resonance therapy on the perception of femininity of voice in male-to-female transsexuals. Journal of Voice, 21(5), 591–603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2006.05.005
Chaloner, J. (2000). The voice of the transsexual. In M. Freeman & M. Fawcus (Eds.), Voice Disorders and Their Management (3rd ed., pp. 245–267). London, UK: Whurr Publishers.
Constansis, A. (2008). The changing female-to-male (FTM) voice. Radical Musicology, 3. Retrieved from http://www.radical-musicology.org.uk/2008/Constansis.htm
Constansis, A. N. (2013). The female-to-male (ftm) singing voice and its interaction with queer theory: roles and interdependency. Transposition. Musique et Sciences Sociales, (3). https://doi.org/10.4000/transposition.353
Davies, S., Papp, V. G., & Antoni, C. (2015). Voice and communication change for gender nonconforming individuals: Giving voice to the person inside. International Journal of Transgenderism, 16(3), 117–159. https://doi.org/10.1080/15532739.2015.1075931
Gelfer, M. P. (1999). Voice treatment for the male-to-female transgendered client. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 8(3), 201–208.
Hershberger, I. G. (2005). The effects of singing exercises and melodic intonation therapy (MIT) on the male-to-female transgender voice (Master’s Thesis). University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC. Retrieved from http://libres.uncg.edu/edocs/etd/1063/umi-uncg-1063.pdf
Lipson, J. B. (2013). The lived experience of vocal expression for three transgender people. Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA. Retrieved from https://idea.library.drexel.edu/islandora/object/idea%3A5135/datastream/OBJ/view
Neumann, K., & Welzel, C. (2004). The importance of the voice in male-to-female transsexualism. Journal of Voice, 18(1), 153–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0892-1997(03)00084-5
Neumann, K., Welzel, C., Gonnermann, U., & Wolfradt, U. (2002). Satisfaction of MtF transsexuals with operative voice therapy: A Questionnaire-based preliminary study. International Journal of Transgenderism, 6(4).
Sims, L. (2017). Teaching Lucas: A Transgender Student’s Vocal Journey from Soprano to Tenor. Journal of Singing, 73(4).
Sims, L. (2017). Teaching Transgender Students. Journal of Singing, 73(3).
Steele, D. (2016). Vocal and social integration of transgender students into their preferred-gender ensemble: A qualitative study of two transgender students. Presented at the LGBTQ Studies & Music Education III, Champaign-Urbana, IL.
T’Sjoen, G., Moerman, M., Van Borsel, J., Feyen, E., Rubens, R., Monstrey, S., … De Cuypere, G. (2006). Impact of Voice in Transsexuals. International Journal of Transgenderism, 9(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1300/J485v09n01_01
