Voice Change in Pop Culture

The chapter discusses the way popular understanding and misunderstanding of voice change is largely perpetuated by mainstream media. Portrayals of voice change distributed via music, television, and movies have contributed to a simulacrum of adolescent voice change, a situated reality not based in fact but accepted in pop culture. The generally embraced perception of voice change is that it is a time of humiliation, anxiety, turmoil, and dread. Voice change is not always pleasant, but students and music educators perceive and approach the experience with such angst and trepidation well before it begins that is rarely given the opportunity to be something positive or exciting. The chapter examines and distills episodes of The Brady Bunch, The Wonder Years, and The Goldbergs, popular television series that spanned a period of more than 40 years, each with an episode focused on the adolescent changing voice.

Anatomy and Physiology

The chapter describes how an understanding of the way the voice operates can empower both female and male adolescent singers as well as the teachers assisting them through the voice change process. It unpacks basic vocal anatomy and physiology, and then overlays physiological transformations that occur in the larynx during female and male voice change. A special section addresses the impact of hormones on the adolescent voice (especially for females) and promotes awareness of premenstrual vocal syndrome. The chapter encourages music educators to frequently discuss and reference vocal anatomy and physiology with adolescent singers in order to demystify vocal challenges and dispel myths and misunderstandings about how the voice and body function.

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.

Exploring Eminent Perspectives

To better understand the larger scope of voice classification systems and other foundational ideas in choral music education, the chapter explores some of the most eminent works in the profession by Emil Behnke and Lennox Browne, Duncan McKenzie, Irvin Cooper and Karl O. Kuersteiner, Richard Luchsinger and Godfrey E. Arnold, Frederick J. Swanson, John Cooksey, and Lynne Gackle. Such examination shows how cornerstone ideas have been fostered and how varying perspectives influenced the creation of new frameworks for working with changing voices. Also revealed is the deep dedication to certain beliefs about adolescent voices over the years. The chapter challenges choral educators to consider voice classification systems more as guidelines for helping teachers assist singers through voice change than as steadfast stages through which all voices pass. The systems are best utilized as supporting tools to help guide the process of voice change rather than label adolescent singers’ changing voices.

Introduction

The book describes voice change as a whole-body experience for adolescents, both female and male, which, while not always easy, should not scare music teachers away from working with adolescent singers. Many aspects of adolescent voice change are addressed throughout this book, but there may be exceptions to what is discussed. Everyone has an endocrine system that contains glands to produce hormones, but this system is sometimes influenced or disrupted by biological makeup, environmental conditions, or malnourishment; in addition, some people are diagnosed with atypical chromosomal structures. As a result, it is acknowledged that not every person on the planet does, in fact, experience a voice change. The focus of Thinking Outside the Voice Box remains on adolescent females and males who are engaged in the singing process and experiencing symptoms and expectations of a “typical” adolescent voice change.

Strength from Within

The chapter describes how young singers, female and male, can be helped as they traverse times of great vocal challenge. If psychological and emotional needs are not met, it is likely that adolescents will not endure vocal difficulties and will stop singing. Until coordination of the vocal mechanism returns, students must be provided with something to keep them going, to keep them from quitting singing. This chapter focuses on ideas of resolve that are essential to the navigation of voice change; perseverance is explored under the designations of grit, vulnerability, and relentlessness. An additional section considers perseverance in practice and provides strategies for music students and educators to utilize during voice change challenges and beyond.

The Adolescent

The chapter considers adolescent development holistically, with voice change as one aspect of adolescence. Scrutiny, both self-imposed and societal, surrounds adolescents. Physical growth affects coordination and confidence, as students experience rapid and sporadic growth of all their body parts. Hormones play an essential part in adolescent development into adulthood, but they can create complications for students that are unknown to others. The adolescent brain rewires itself significantly in preparation for adulthood; all experiences are internalized in the brain and affect rewiring. Hearing development is not related only to mechanisms in the ear but is largely connected to the brain. Adolescence is also a time of experiencing new, complex emotions, and interpretation and embodiment of these emotions can be an intricate process.