PHOTO: MEGHAN TANSEY WHITTON
VOCALS
T. Thomason is a new kind of pop sensation. The U.K.-born, Nova Scotia-raised Toronto resident has impressed fans with his
emotional and highly energetic live performances throughout his 11-year music career at festivals like The Great Escape and
Pride Toronto. His recent single, “Loser Pt. II” featuring Ria Mae, is out now. www.t-thomason.com.
By T. Thomason
Tips for a Professional
Voice in Transition
In 2015, just before I turned 21, I started
testosterone hormone replacement
therapy (THRT). I’d heard consistently that
THRT would make singing professionally
impossible. For a long time, I was
convinced I’d have to choose between
my career (which I’d been developing since
2009) and who I was meant to be.
Thankfully, that was not the case.
(A quick disclaimer: I am not a doctor or a
vocal coach, and everyone’s voice/vocal goals
are different!)
1. Find Inspiration
I went looking for examples of singers who
were doing what I wanted to do and was lucky
enough to connect directly with one of my
favourite artists. Lucas Silveira – the first openly
trans man signed to a major label – said to me:
“Continuing to sing through THRT is possible.
For the best results, singing must be at the
centre of your transition.”
Vocal changes as a result of THRT are permanent
and irreversible. I had to ask myself: “Am
I prepared to base my medical and social life
around my voice?”
2. Connect with a Vocal Coach Before THRT
It was extremely helpful to begin working with
my coach, Ali Garrison of Swallow a Dragon
Voice Studio (recommended by Lucas) before
starting THRT. This gave Ali a sense of where I
was coming from.
Check out your local arts funding bodies
for professional development grants. Working
with a coach through vocal transition is time
sensitive and absolutely professional development!
I received the Chalmers Professional Development
Grant from the Ontario Arts Council.
Without their support, I would not have been
able to work with Ali during this crucial time.
3. Learn About the Vocal Effects of
Testosterone
A quick rundown of my rudimentary
understanding of what is happening to our
instrument through this process (do your own
research, talk to your doctor): When testosterone
is introduced to the body, the vocal cords
thicken and the cartilage of our larynx hardens.
A high dose can shock the body, resulting in the
abrupt thickening of the cords and hardening
of the larynx. This, as you can imagine, could
lead to stories we’ve all heard – constant vocal
cracking, loss of range, vocal entrapment, etc.,
all to varying degrees.
From my research, many folks start in the
0.5 ml weekly injection range, though there is
not really a standardized starting dose for testosterone
that I’m aware of.
Based on Lucas’ experience and approval
from my doctor, I began on 0.25 ml every 10
days, and increased the frequency of my shot
to once a week when I was comfortable with
my initial vocal changes (and had consulted
my doctor and Ali). I increased my dose incrementally
as I became comfortable, vocally. This
gave my body time to adjust and grow into a
different instrument.
Keep in mind, lower doses of T may slow
physical changes and result in being visibly
trans for a longer period of time.
4. Sing for an Hour Every. Single. Day.
More great advice from Lucas. No matter
what, sing. This is time sensitive. Don’t leave
it and return down the line to a totally new
instrument.
If I was sick, I didn’t sing, though I discovered
that the day after my shot in the early
months, it often felt like I was coming down
with something (stuffy nose, scratchy throat)
and it was important to gently sing or hum
through this.
Ali helped me create a vocal warm up regimen
that is gentle and consistent so that I can
always measure where my voice is that day as
I begin my hour. I still do this.
5. Learn About the Anatomy/Structure of
the Vocal Instrument
At our first lesson, Ali gave me a hand mirror, told
me to open wide, and look in at my mouth/back
of my throat. She said, “Look at all that space in
there; it’s like a cathedral! That structure is integral
to your sound, and won’t change with hormones.”
Ali taught me about resonators and how
unique they are to each individual (seems obvious,
but it blew my mind). This helped to reinforce
that many parts of the sound I was used to,
that I identified with, that felt like me, would not
change. I could count on the fact that pieces of
myself would come with me. This was extremely
comforting. It helped to ground me in my body,
in the reality of what was happening as opposed
to getting lost in the spiral of “what ifs.” I began
to trust and like my body more than ever before.
Ali taught me not to sing into the places
that felt like they were under construction,
and to focus on what was accessible. She
helped reassure me that I was not abandoning
parts of my voice; I was supporting them
by giving them the time they needed to grow,
checking in gently and regularly until they
were ready for me to slowly test-drive what
had developed.
It was incredibly hard to trust that leaving
these areas alone was the right thing.
By learning about my instrument, I came to
believe that my body will show up for me if I
let it. It was an amazingly empowering lesson.
You can do it! Happy singing! I can’t wait to
hear your new voice; the world needs it.
32 CANADIAN MUSICIAN