In just a few days, I will be retiring the very first trans voice course I ever released. As I prepare to say goodbye to this chapter of my work, I wanted to take a moment to share the story of how this course came to be—a story that intertwines personal transformation, passion, and the pursuit of something that, at the time, I didn't even know existed.

From Singer to Gender-Affirming Voice Teacher

Hi, I’m Renée, a gender-affirming voice teacher. But my journey to this role wasn’t straightforward. I began my career in the arts as a singer, songwriter, and singing teacher. My focus was purely on music, and from around 2008 to 2010, I began teaching singing to others. By 2012, my teaching had become my main source of income, with private singing lessons taking place in the comfort of my home.

A fun little detail from those days: I used to live with a trumpet player who also taught private lessons. Our students would gather in our living room, creating a unique, communal space—a little waiting room for cool people, if you will.

Stepping into My Identity and Transforming My Practice

As the years went by, my life and identity underwent significant changes. I embraced my identity as a trans person and came to terms with being disabled. These personal revelations led me to refocus my singing teaching practice to cater to communities that, like me, often found themselves marginalized or overlooked.

However, I also knew that these communities didn't always have the financial resources to afford traditional singing lessons. To address this, I created the Right to Sing Award, a scholarship program that allowed me to offer free voice lessons to those in need. This initiative was deeply fulfilling, but it was only the beginning of a much larger journey.

The Birth of Trans Vocal Exploration

While promoting the Right to Sing Award, I was approached by a trans youth organization in Montreal. They asked if I would be interested in teaching an in-person workshop on exploring trans voices. At the time, I had never even heard of trans voice training, but the idea intrigued me. It combined three of my greatest passions: working with trans people, nerding out about the voice, and tackling complex pedagogical challenges.

And so, Trans Vocal Exploration was born. I taught this workshop many times, both in-person and online. Each session brought new insights and helped refine my approach. Eventually, I decided to pre-record the material and transform it into an online course, capturing everything I had learned from my live teaching experiences.

The End of an Era

That course launched in September 2021. Now, three years later, it’s time for it to retire. This decision is bittersweet, but it’s also a moment to reflect on how far I’ve come and how much this journey has shaped me and my teaching practice.

If you’ve been thinking about getting this course, now is the time. It will be available until September 1st, and you can use the code THANKYOU at checkout to receive 40% off.

So, that’s the story—the lore, if you will—behind my first trans voice course. Thank you for being part of this journey, whether you’ve been with me from the beginning or are just now discovering my work. Your support means the world to me, and I hope that, in some small way, this course has made a difference.