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Adolescent Voice Change-Boys Frequently Asked Questions: All Notes © 2006 Jenevora Williams

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Ian Michael Taylor

The document discusses common questions boys have about their changing voices during puberty. It explains that the larynx grows significantly larger during puberty making the voice lower. Singing parts should change as the voice deepens to avoid strain and develop bad habits. The voice will continue changing for a couple years before settling in the mid-twenties.

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Adolescent Voice Change-Boys Frequently Asked Questions: All Notes © 2006 Jenevora Williams

Uploaded by

Ian Michael Taylor
54 views3 pages
The document discusses common questions boys have about their changing voices during puberty. It explains that the larynx grows significantly larger during puberty making the voice lower. Singing parts should change as the voice deepens to avoid strain and develop bad habits. The voice will continue changing for a couple years before settling in the mid-twenties.

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Frequently Asked Questions on the developing voice

Original Title

FAQ Developing Voice

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The document discusses common questions boys have about their changing voices during puberty. It explains that the larynx grows significantly larger during puberty making the voice lower. Singing parts should change as the voice deepens to avoid strain and develop bad habits. The voice will continue changing for a couple years before settling in the mid-twenties.

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© All Rights Reserved
Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
Download as pdf or txt
54 views3 pages

Adolescent Voice Change-Boys Frequently Asked Questions: All Notes © 2006 Jenevora Williams

Uploaded by

Ian Michael Taylor
The document discusses common questions boys have about their changing voices during puberty. It explains that the larynx grows significantly larger during puberty making the voice lower. Singing parts should change as the voice deepens to avoid strain and develop bad habits. The voice will continue changing for a couple years before settling in the mid-twenties.

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© All Rights Reserved
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All notes 2006 Jenevora Williams

Adolescent voice changeboys


Frequently asked questions

Q What happens when your voice breaks?

A Firstly- dont talk about breaking- theres no damage occurring. Your larynx is
growing bigger. In a boy, it grows by about 60%. A bigger larynx makes a
lower sound.


Q How will I know when it is happening?

A The process begins at the same time as other changes. If you have had a
sudden growth spurt, your larynx will be doing the same.


Q What age will I be?

A The average age for the start of voice change is 12. It can happen at any time
from 10 to 15.


Q Can it happen overnight?

A Nothing can grow that quickly! It normally takes about two years but if it is
happening gradually, you may not notice it for a while and then it could take
you by surprise.


Q Can I slow it down if I carry on singing treble?

A No. It can only be slowed down by severe malnutrition, artificial hormones, or
irreversible surgery; none of which are recommended! You can learn to use
other muscles in the larynx to adapt to the growth and to continue singing high
but this can be very damaging in the longer term. Dont do it - go with the
flow!


Q How will I know when to stop singing treble?

A There are lots of ways to tell: firstly, the pitch of your speaking voice will drop
by a couple of semitones. You can test this by counting backwards from 20 to
1, quite fast, and getting someone to listen for the approximate pitch at which
your voice settles. An average unchanged voice has a speaking pitch just
below middle C. A newly changing voice will be more likely to speak at Ab or
G.



All notes 2006 Jenevora Williams
Q What else may I notice?

A Your speaking voice may have got a bit husky, or your singing voice may
change - the top range may be weaker, the middle may be weaker and the top
stronger.


Q What happens next?

A Your voice will gradually drop in pitch. Your range may decrease overall. You
will move into alto, then tenor then bass. Be careful how long you spend in the
tenor section, tenor parts are written for adult tenors and the range may be too
great for a young voice. If in doubt, go into the lowest part that you can sing,
this is the safe option.


Q How should I know which part to sing as my voice changes?

A This chart was devised by John Cooksey, an American researcher who has
spent the last 30 years working on this subject. He is the world expert on this
subject.


Alto New Tenor New Baritone Settling voice

The pitch ranges show:

Extended singing range (unfilled note). This is the pitch range possible
with no observable sign of strain and without using falsetto.

Comfortable modal singing range (filled note).

Speech fundamental frequency (cross). This can be ascertained simply by
counting backwards from 20 and observing the pitch at which the voice
settles most comfortably. This is usually three to four semitones above the
lowest comfortable singing pitch.


Q I can still reach the notes, Im a good leader in my choir and I enjoy singing
treble. Why move now?

A Sometimes it is OK to carry on for a bit when your voice is changing.
However, if you can sing anything lower than F or E below middle C then you
really are well on the way to becoming a new baritone and you should stop
singing treble. It is possible that your treble voice is in fact falsetto singing
All notes 2006 Jenevora Williams
(like a male alto). It is not recommended to use these muscles while your
voice is in such a vulnerable state of change. Take the plunge, move part and
if you really are destined to become a counter-tenor, you can try it again when
your adult voice is more settled (17 or 18ish)


Q I suspect that my voice is changing but my choir conductor wants me to carry
on as a treble, what should I do?

A Talk to him/her. Show him/her this article. If you still arent listened to then
you have to make a decision yourself. Ultimately your voice is yours for life.
For your choir conductor, even with the best will in the world - you are a
disposable commodity. Be sensible, dont over-react, talk to other people and
then take responsibility for your own voice.


Q What is the worst that can happen if I do the wrong thing with my voice at this
stage?

A It is unlikely that you will develop a problem needing medical help. If you do,
this can normally be cured; time and rest will help. It is more likely that you
will develop bad habits from having to compensate. If you spend too long
singing higher than is comfortable, you may end up with unnecessary tension
in your voice; a problem that may take a good singing teacher years to sort out
in the future.


Q When will my voice be settled, or when will I know whether I will be a tenor
or a bass?

A The big changes should all be over in a couple of years, your voice will then
continue to settle until your mid-twenties. You will have a good idea of your
range by the time you leave school but you have to be open to the idea of
further change and development.

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