GVC - Curriculum

What We Teach

We teach a unique curriculum designed by Katherine Isaacson, M.S., CCC-SLP. Her training curriculum for gender diverse voice transition is based on the well-researched vocal relaxation strategies of Water Resistance Therapy (WRT), Straw Phonation, Confidential Voice Therapy, and the Stanley Method. Our training curriculum pairs these techniques with connected speech production in a way that allows gender diverse voices to experience and gain control of resonance placement along the vocal tract via sensation from "the inside out". When implemented correctly, this training curriculum is highly effective and safe for transgender voice transition, including rehabilitative and restorative effects on the vocal tract, true vocal fold tissues, aryepiglottic folds, false vocal fold tissues, surrounding laryngeal cartilages, and the laryngeal mechanism overall.

Water Resistance Therapy (WRT)

WRT is a type of Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercise (SOVTE). Research on WRT has suggested the presence of a massage-like effect on the vocal folds and vocal tract tissues, and changes in aerodynamic measures, electroglottographic (EGG) contact quotient (CQ), and vocal tract configuration. These effects help contribute to better laryngeal and vocal economy. Additionally, these effects provide restorative and rehabilitative aspects for clients with vocal quality issues related to various diagnoses such as acute and chronic laryngitis, reflux disease, laryngeal erythema, laryngeal edema, laryngeal scleroderma, etc.

Stanley Method

Like Straw Phonation and WRT, the Stanley Method is a technique that emphasizes control of voice and breathing muscles. Clients use panting to engage the breath, moving it up or down, and to manipulate the tongue to isolate different parts of the vocal tract and better engage the false vocal folds and aryepiglottic folds that surround the true vocal folds, in order to produce different sounds during connected speech.

Confidential Voice

Confidential Voice is a speech therapy technique that involves speaking in a soft, breathy voice to reduce strain on the vocal folds. Clients learn to speak in a breathy voice with slightly abducted vocal folds, while engaging the false vocal folds. For fem voice clients, this reduces the force of the vocal folds colliding with each other, while moving the breath forward toward the soft palate and lips to teach forward resonance.

Straw Phonation

Straw Phonation is a type of Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercise (SOVTE). Straw Phonation, like WRT, allows the voice to explore different sounds safely by allowing the client to move sound and breath through the straw. Air pressure resistance is created through the straw, which flows back through the vocal tract, and holds the vocal folds partially open, causing less impact, collision, and stress on the vocal folds, and increasing safety and ease.

Learned Vocal Behaviors

Conversational voices are socialized and developed based on the perceived gender identity of the speaker, and the dialects and inflections of the speaker's conversational partners. If a speaker was unable to identify authentically when young, they missed out on the opportunity to develop resonance placement and control that supports their desired voice. GVC teachers to the concept that anyone can do anything with their voice via a learned set of behaviors that create an automated process.

*GVSLP's voice transition training curriculum is the intellectual design and property of Katherine Isaacson, M.S., CCC-SLP.
GVSLP's voice transition training curriculum is copyrighted and not to be replicated without written permission.*

Testimonials

"I love doing all the voices. I love confusing people."
-Fem/Masc/Gender Neutral Voice Client, 1 year w/straw phonation

"I used my fem voice on a date last week. I've never been able to talk that long or that well."
-Fem Voice Client self-trained + 3 months WRT

"Honestly, everyone [at GVC] is a wonderful person and definitely knows their stuff!"
-Fem Voice Client of 6 months

"I had to stop hearing my fem voice as performative to move forward."
-Fem Voice Client, 6 months voice training

"My fem voice is so natural and good now, I use it at work, and no one knows I'm trans."
-Graduated Fem Voice Client of 1 year WRT training

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