CHAPTER 13 Changing Voices

HOW DOES THE VOICE CHANGE DURING

PUBERTY?
vLengthening of vocal tract
vIncrease in vocal fold length (female and male) and vocal fold thickness (males).
vLarynx, pharynx, mouth increase in size
vLung capacity increases
CHALLENGING ASPECTS OF VOICE CHANGE
vLoss of high notes
vReduced range
vDifficulty with pitch control and pitch matching
vBreathiness
vUncoordinated onset
vAbrupt register transitions or “breaks”

vAt age 18, female voices will have a greater degree of maturity that males voices
WHEN DO VOICES BEGIN CHANGING?
vResearch suggests as early as grade 3
vStatistics on p. 226 for grade 4-6
vJohn Cooksey’s Five Maturational Stages in boys pp. 227-228 – let’s read and
discuss!
vDiscuss Gackle’s proposed Four Stages of Development for Adolescent Females –
read and discuss
SUPPORTING SUCCESS
THROUGH VOICE CHANGES
vTake care assigning parts/choosing repertoire pp. 232-233
vTeach children technical concepts (alignment, breath control, register transitions,
articulation, etc.) in fun ways so they understand they grow in knowledge in healthy
singing
vBe flexible and patient while supporting students’ changing vocal needs
vAlways model healthy, clear singing – including with children
SUPPORTING TRANSGENDER SINGERS

v Avoid binary classifications

v Invite singers to share gender pronouns
v Assign student to appropriate vocal range
v Be aware that body-shaping garments, hormone replacement, and
surgeries can have an effect on singing