Introduction to gender-affirming voice coaching
Tuesday 21st January 2025, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (London Time)
This introductory short course is aimed at those who work in voice coaching and/or therapy who wish to develop some basic knowledge and skills in working with trans and gender-diverse people to support voice and communication exploration. The course outline has been co-created with an expert by experience and it is anticipated that there will be a short contribution during the session. We will begin with the cultural context and how vocal coaches, voice teachers and voice and communication therapists can build a gender-affirming practice.
We will explore broader aspects of vocal identity and expression before considering:
- The vocal parameters within power, source and filter, for example pitch, resonance, vocal weight, including a brief look at apps and measuring pitch.
- The principles of gender-affirming voice exploration, for example motor learning, contrastive practice, hierarchy and feedback, play.
The course will offer a blend of theoretical discussion and practical demonstration and participation, encouraging participants to explore their own voices within the context of gender, identity and behaviour change.
Finally, we will broaden out again to explore transferring vocal behaviours into social interactions, and the challenge of sustaining change in more complex communication settings, such as the telephone and assertive skills. We will include the value of both individual and group work, and using improv and role-playing methodology.
We will look at some recommended resources including online sites.
Suggested course pre-reading:
Jackson Hearns L. 2018 One Weird Trick: A User's Guide to Transgender Voice. The Voice Lab Inc.
Mills M. & Pert S. 2024 Working with Trans Voice: A Guide to Support and Inspire New, Developing and Established Practitioners. Routledge.
Mills M. & Stoneham G. 2021. Voice and Communication Therapy for trans and Non-Binary People: Sharing the Clinical Space. Jessica Kingsley.
Mills M. & Stoneham G. 2017 The Voice Book for Trans & Non Binary People. Jessica Kingsley.
Gillie Stoneham
Gillie has many years experience as a lecturer and specialist practitioner in voice & communication and counselling skills. She began practicing in the field of gender affirming voice and communication in 2006 and established a voice service at the West of England Gender Identity Clinic in 2021 as Consultant SLT.
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
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1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
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This six-week course is an opportunity to learn about both Received Pronunciation and Standard Southern British English. Rather than a course in learning how to speak RP/SSBE (there are many brilliant available courses for this already), this course is about learning how to coach it.
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1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Thursday 12th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
(London Time)
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Stanislavski said, “our artistic emotions are, at first, as shy as wild animals and they hide in the depths of our souls.” Michael Chekhov said, our bodies should be like a “sensitive membrane, a kind of receiver and conveyor of the subtlest images, feelings, emotions and will impulses.” And Meisner said we should be “living truthfully under imaginary circumstances.” Join Louisa Morgan in this 2-part course as she explores a range of well-known acting practitioners to investigate what they believed (or believe) about emotion and how they approached it in their work. She'll compare their work to see where they align and where they diverge.
Tuesday 10th March 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)
Living truthfully in the present moment: An introduction to the Meisner Technique!
Abigail Sugden
Sanford Meisner believed that acting is living truthfully under imaginary circumstances. Rooted in behavioural aspects of acting practice, the Meisner Technique is often associated with encouraging actors to live truthfully in the present moment. Aimed at those working within the field of acting, this 2-hour session with Abigail Sugden will focus on the work of Sanford Meisner, introducing the core principles of his technique and discussing the possible benefits to performers.