A Season of Change: Female Voice during Midlife and the Menopausal Transition

A Season of Change: Female Voice during Midlife and the Menopausal Transition

Voice changes during the menopausal transition are frequently reported, but are under-studied in voice research and largely overlooked in pedagogical resources. For female singers of all genres, even subtle voice changes can be confusing and discouraging, and in some cases, may lead to career disruptions. To help with potential voice issues and the natural changes of midlife, female singers as well as their teachers and choral conductors need information about the underlying hormonal landscape of perimenopause, menopause and effects on voice. To compassionately and effectively work with women of this age, the larger context of midlife should be considered, and voice recalibration and balancing guidelines understood.

Part One  (ca. 25 minutes)

• Introduction
• History of menopause; bias in medicine and voice research
• Midlife versus old age in voice pedagogy
• Singing Through Change: interviews and book

Part Two (ca. 45 minutes)

• Overview of perimenopause and menopause
• Midlife: psycho-social-physiologic context
• Sex steroid (reproductive) hormones and voice; review of research
• Potential voice changes and the menopausal transition
• Related emotional responses
• Phases of voice changes in the menopausal transition
• Role of genre
• Role of midlife aging and lifestyle
• Hormone replacement therapy in 2021

Break (5 minutes)

Part Three (ca. 45 minutes)

• Awareness for teachers and choral directors
• Technique guidelines and shop talk
• Ongoing and upcoming research
• Closing
• Questions