Thinking Outside the Voice Box

Thinking Outside the Voice Box: Adolescent Voice Change in Music Education is different from other books on voice change in that it encourages new and holistic ways of thinking about the female and male adolescent changing voice. It gives choral music educators (or anyone interested in the changing voice) the opportunity to step away from typical considerations of voice change and explore the experience within the bigger picture of adolescence. Female and male adolescent voice change are addressed at length, but special efforts have been made to bring new attention to female voice change to boost considerations of females in choral music education. Holistic considerations encompass the importance of understanding physical development during adolescence, including the body, brain, and auditory system; vocal anatomy and physiology in general, as well as during male and female voice change; the impact of hormones on the adolescent voice, especially for female singers; ideas of resolve and perseverance that are essential to adolescent navigation of voice change; and exploration of portrayals of voice change that have contributed to a situated reality not based in fact, but accepted in pop culture. Choral educators are also given a larger scope of voice classification systems and other foundational ideas in choral music education through examination of some of the most eminent works in the profession. Emerging considerations of adolescent voice change beyond classification systems provide new food for thought about working with the adolescent changing voice.

Emerging Considerations

The chapter discusses emerging considerations of adolescent voice change beyond classification systems and provides new food for thought about working with the adolescent changing voice. A section of the chapter specifically addresses female singers, for while it is common to have more females than males in choral programs, enrollment numbers do not ensure that choral programs are meeting females’ musical, developmental, and personal needs. In addition, discussion of the documentary Riot Acts provides insight into voice change from the perspective of professional musicians who identify as transgender. The chapter ends with ideas for working with changing voices, especially with regard to approaching choral repertoire.

Choral Pedagogy and the Construction of Identity

The chapter speaks to the creation of an encouraging environment in which singing is considered a natural part of male identity. The chapter begins by problematizing the issue of boys’ identity, and addresses some of the concerns raised in the literature and recent research regarding a reluctance of males to sing in the choral setting. After a brief overview of the physiological aspects of changing voice, the chapter moves to discuss the practical considerations. The chapter reflects on practitioners and scholars that have had positive experiences of singing, and issues are systematically addressed with reference to repertoire, technical work, rehearsal strategy and other non-musical concerns. The chapter concludes with a manifesto for male singing across the lifespan which seeks to address the critical point at which boys often stop singing in choirs: the moment they begin to reconstruct their identity at adolescence.