gender affirming voicework

gender affirming voicework (gav) is a music therapy method that Maevon Gumble, MMT, MT-BC, LPC began developing back in 2017 and which Braedyn Inmon, MT-BC and k schachner, MT-BC joined in developing in 2020. They currently train other music therapists in how to facilitate this method. gav is a method which aims to address gender-based vocal needs on a holistic level through the use of music and the voice. The understanding of this work has been generated from Maevon, Braedyn, and k as trans and nonbinary music therapists who've brought together personal experiences and literature from the fields of speech-language pathology, vocal pedagogy, and music therapy.

My Training

I joined the first cohort for gender affirming voicework training at the start of 2023, and have completed Levels I and II. I am currently in Level III. I have developed a foundational understanding of not only this method but also my own individual voice, gender, and embodiment. I have also practiced the facilitation of gender affirming voicework alongside peers and now am engaging in clinical work. Individual and peer supervision helps to ensure you are receiving services that best meets your needs. My supervisor is Maevon Gumble, MMT, MT-BC, LPC.

Structure of Sessions

Together we'll work toward accessing and embodying a more affirming singing and/or speaking voice. This might involve:

  • working with your physical voice to change vocal habits

  • exploring your emotional connection with your voice, body, and/or gender

  • considering the contexts in which you use your voice and how that impacts both your physical voice and your emotional experiences

  • all of the above

What this work looks like is really dependent upon you and what you're looking for. We'll use the continuum of space between speech and song as our tools for exploring sound, with the aim being to meet you where you're at and support you in connecting in with the resources that already exist within your voice. The only important things that you need for this work is a willingness to use music as a tool and a willingness to be collaborative in how we work.

The Work

This work surrounds directly working with the impacts of the gender binary on your experience of your voice and gender by supporting you in listening deeply to your own experience of yourself. I will support you in identifying your own voice and gender-related goals so that you might speak, sing, move, and live in the most affirming and authentic way you can.

Additionally, this work obviously has important implications for those in trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive communities, but this work is for people of all genders because we all have some kind of relationship with gender, cishetnormativity, and our voice. No matter how you identify or where you are in your journey -- this work is for you!