Here, we'll explore some of the potential physical considerations to be aware of when working with a transgender singer.
First and foremost, a teacher must always ask consent before ever touching a student for any reason—breathing, posture, rhythm, etc. That caution should be given extra care when working with a trans singer, as the body is often a vulnerable space and if the individual is early in their transition, it can feel very uncomfortable and feel like the wrong body. Put yourself in their shoes, and imagine having a physical body that does not match or coincide with the gender you feel inside that body and wish to express.
Posture is one of the first things that might be altered by a trans individual due to discomfort in their own body. For trans men, chest binders are common and constrict the torso to reduce the appearance of breasts. A slouched, shoulders hunched, casual posture might also be preferred and even habitual by the student to pass as more masculine to be perceived as male. Chest binders can be loosened for singing, and open, trusting communication is important with a trans student who chooses to wear this garment. A teacher should never ask a student to remove a garment—you may discuss and work through the challenges a chest binder can cause to breathing, but it is up to the student to decide how to handle the chest binder while singing. Some may feel comfortable taking it off for a lesson, others may be ok with just loosening it, and others may feel most comfortable leaving it on. Jackson Hearns, in The Singing Teacher’s Guide to Transgender Voices, writes how she purchased and tried a chest binder to better understand how it affects the breath—she found it very constricting and it made some of her registers nearly impossible to sing. Breath technique will need adjustments if a student wears a chest binder, and your support of their choices and their body is more important than what you consider to be the best way to breathe. In their body, the most comfortable breath might be with a chest binder.
Similarly, waist trainers can be used usually by trans women to achieve a more hourglass figure. Waist trainers, corsets, and even chest binders are not new to the performing world, and many singers have performed with these garments for centuries in various performance styles. Teachers should work with students to achieve the best breath possible for their circumstances, constrictive garments or not. Trans men may also sometimes opt for a mastectomy, often called “top surgery,” or breast implants for trans women as part of their transition. Top surgery can eliminate the need for a chest binder, but not every trans man may be interested in this type of procedure. A teacher should never decide for a student to pursue a surgical operation, but knowledge as an educator of options available could greatly help a transitioning trans student.
As you know, the voice is an intimate instrument to teach, and we as voice teachers might be the first safe space for a trans student to have these conversations. Above all, your unwavering support, affirmation, and knowledge are most important.
Learn More
"Underwear for trans people: the torture of binding, tucking and packing is over." by Angelina Chapin on The Guardian.
"There Are New Options in Trans Underwear." by Nicole Pajer in The New York Times.
"The Politician’s Theo Germaine Stars In TomboyX’s Trans Pride Collection." by Eliza Huber on Refinery29.