Hello everyone!

I was on TikTok Live the other day, and Nicole asked a great question about reducing nasality in her voice feminization practice. If you’ve ever felt like you’re voice is more nasal than you'd like, this guide is for you.

Nicole’s Concern

Nicole mentioned she tried vocal training last year but got exhausted and struggled to stop speaking through her nose. Nasality is a common issue in voice feminization, and it’s something we can address effectively.

Understanding Nasality

When working on brightening or raising the pitch of your voice—a typical goal in feminization practices—you might unintentionally lower your soft palate. Think of your soft palate as the soft part at the back of the roof of your mouth. If it drops when you raise your larynx, it creates a small space for air to escape through your mouth and a larger one for air to flow through your nose, leading to a nasal sound.

Visualizing the Soft Palate

Your soft palate is the soft part at the back of your mouth’s roof. To feel it, open your mouth wide and take a big, surprised gasp. Feel that little lift? That’s your soft palate rising.

Fixing Nasality

Here’s a simple technique: while doing your larynx-raising exercises, make sure you're breathing through your mouth only by holding your nose. It might sound straightforward, but it’s effective. Let’s break it down:

1. Perform Your Exercise: Whether it’s the whisper scream or another exercise that brightens your resonance.
2. Close Your Nose: Gently pinch your nostrils shut.
3. Breathe Through Your Mouth: This forces you to use your mouth for airflow, preventing nasal escape.

Try this out: do a whisper scream to achieve that bright resonance. Once you’ve got it, close your nose and keep breathing through your mouth. Then repeat your original exercise without holding your nose and try and maintain that raised soft palate. Notice the difference? The sound should be less nasal and more clear and bright.

Practice Consistently

Reducing nasality takes practice, so keep at it and adjust your technique as needed.

Join Me Live

If you have more questions about trans voice training, join me every Monday around 12:15 - 12:30 PM Eastern on TikTok Live. We’ll address your voice concerns together.

Remember, your voice is a powerful tool. It’s not just about achieving a particular sound; it’s about expressing your true self. Keep experimenting, practicing, and most importantly, using your voice. It’s a significant act of self-affirmation.

Sending lots of love and support your way,

Renée ✨