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There has to be a way to coach this person

mrsconn23mrsconn23 member
Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
in Wedding Woes

Dear Prudence,
I am a teacher at a small community college. I strongly suspect that one of my new students this semester is a trans woman. My problem is that I'm a voice teacher. If I’m right, her larynx has been affected by testosterone, and is functionally male. Even if she’s taking female hormones, the voice changes that puberty brings are permanent. For example, she will be reaching her high notes in falsetto, which requires slightly different technique from that used by a cis woman singing in head voice. But even using the word "falsetto" to describe her high notes seems insulting to me, with its implication that she's using a "false" voice. I can't think of a good way to initiate a conversation about this, but avoiding the issue may compromise how much I can help her sing better. Can I go to my supervisor for advice without violating her privacy? And, dear God, what if I'm wrong?

—Finding Her Voice

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Re: There has to be a way to coach this person

  • VarunaTTVarunaTT member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
    Wow.  

    I think I would just teach both techniques, w/out using any gender based language for it, and see which one the student and/or teacher think works better/sounds better.  And FFS, DON'T go to a supervisor and possibly out someone.
    �
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  • NOLABridesmaidNOLABridesmaid member
    Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers

    Mrs. Conn, you should say the same thing that you would say to a female that had a deep voice?

    Hope this helps.

     

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  • dharmabunnydharmabunny member
    Ninth Anniversary 500 Love Its 1000 Comments First Answer
    Doesn't this teacher do individual lessons?

    Like V said, no supervisor, no gendered "male voice", "female voice" stuff, just teach all methods and see if the students can settle into their best method on their own.

    If there's no individual lessons/coaching, if the singing method is a problem just hold an office visit to troubleshoot a solution. Ultimately, it's all about singing effectively and bringing out the best in a voice without wrecking havoc on vocal cords.

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  • mrsconn23mrsconn23 member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
    blueeyes90 said:
    NOLABridesmaid said:

    Mrs. Conn, you should say the same thing that you would say to a female that had a deep voice?

    Hope this helps.

     

    You know this isn't Mrs. Conn with the question, right? 
    OMG...Dying. 

    @Auntflo, it's like Christmas and birthday in one shot. 

    Blueeyes, it's a running joke among us regulars because advice column postings often get mistaken for the OP's problems.  I was actually banned for a time because I posted a Dear Prudie, someone was upset/offended ,it was reported, and the mods banned me. 

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  • pinkshorts27pinkshorts27 member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its First Anniversary First Answer
    Oh, I didn't know that everyone was in on the joke, my bad. I have seen references to it and I have seen actual people not understand that you weren't posting the question so I guess I assumed Nola was one of those.... haha my bad.

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