There are many reasons you might want to work on your trans voice training without letting anyone know. Maybe you’re not out as trans to your family or roommates yet and aren’t ready to have that conversation. Maybe you’re testing the waters, exploring your voice as a way to dip your toes into your gender journey, unsure if you’re trans or just gender non-conforming. Or maybe you just value your privacy and don’t want anyone involved in this personal process. Every one of these reasons is completely valid.

If privacy concerns are holding you back from starting your trans voice journey, you’re not alone. This is an issue I hear about all the time from my students, and today I want to share four concrete strategies to help you practice while keeping things private—even if you live with people who don’t respect boundaries. These strategies include:

1. The quiet parts of voice practice

2. Unconventional practice places

3. Online courses

4. And my personal favorite: lying!

Let’s explore these in more detail. Keep scrolling to read this post, or watch the video below.

Quiet Practice

Contrary to popular belief, not all voice work is loud or attention-grabbing. In fact, many foundational exercises are either quiet or completely silent. Here are a few you can try:

• Stretch Your Body: Stretching builds body awareness and reduces tension, which can make subsequent vocal exercises easier by relieving tension around your larynx.

• Massage Your Face, Shoulders, and Neck: Another effective way to relax your muscles and prepare for voice practice.

• Breathing Exercises: Techniques like lip trills are nearly silent and excellent for developing consistent air pressure.

• Yawning: Simple but effective! Yawning relaxes your larynx and helps you gain control over its height, an important factor in controlling resonance.

Beyond warming up, there are also silent exercises to develop specific muscles. For example:

• Larynx Pull-Ups: A quiet exercise that builds the muscles for raising your larynx, crucial for feminizing your voice.

• Tube Breathing: A technique to help lower your larynx, beneficial for voice masculinization.

You can also supplement your practice with non-vocal activities, such as reading about trans voice training to familiarize yourself with terminology, listening to voices and noting your preferences, or journaling to tackle emotional hurdles.

If you’d like a short daily warm-up program to get started, I’ve linked a free follow-along voice warm-up right here—go check it out!

Unconventional Practice Places

If you want to make some noise but can’t do so at home, try these alternative locations:

• In Your Car: Park in a quiet area and practice to your heart’s content.

• In Nature: Find a secluded spot in a park or rural area. Bonus: bring a dog for a walk—people will think you’re chatting with your pet.

• While "On the Phone": Walk around with an earbud in and pretend you’re on a call. This works great in busy areas where talking aloud won’t attract attention.

• At a Community Space: Libraries, community centres, or LGBT organizations often have private rooms you can book. You could even ask a trusted teacher if there’s an empty classroom or office you can use.

Online Courses

When you’re ready for a structured approach to trans voice training but lack a secure space for regular lessons, online courses can be a game-changer. They provide the flexibility to learn on your own schedule and in private.

For example, I offer courses like Mindful Voice Feminization, Masculinize Your Voice Without Testosterone, and Mix & Match: Designing Your Nonbinary Voice. These courses come with an app allowing you to access materials anywhere—whether hiking, washing dishes, or commuting. Students have told me they love being able to discreetly integrate their lessons into their day.

You can find details on my courses at the end of this post.

The Power of Lying

And now, my favourite suggestion: lying! Sometimes, the simplest way to maintain privacy is to tell a little white lie about why you’re practicing your voice. Here are some ideas:

• You’re learning to sing.

• You’re working on public speaking.

• You’re in a play.

• You’re helping a friend with voice acting for an animation project.

• You’re practicing character voices for Dungeons & Dragons.

To most people, trans voice practice will sound indistinguishable from these activities, so use these excuses guilt-free if it helps keep your transition private.

Final Thoughts

Changing your voice requires speaking eventually, but you'll find opportunities to use it once you feel more control over it. I hope these strategies inspire you to take that first step toward your trans voice training journey while prioritizing your privacy and safety. Starting is scary, but whether you take that step now or later, the fear will be the same—so why not start today?

If you found this helpful, check out my free follow-along voice warm-up and my online courses. And if you’re watching the accompanying video, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe. I’d love to hear how these tips worked for you!