Singing on Testosterone Info Session: For Educators

Join transgender voice teachers Eli Conley and Peter Fullerton to learn about the effects of testosterone therapy on the singing voice! Together, Eli and Peter have over 25 years’ combined experience working with trans singers. At this training you’ll learn about the stages of voice change that occur during the first few years of testosterone therapy, some common challenges for singers going through this vocal transition, and learn exercises and strategies for supporting for supporting them during and after their voice drop. We will compare transgender transition with testosterone to the voice change that happens during cisgender male puberty (hint: they are very similar!), and look at several case studies featuring singers re-learning how to use their instrument in their new lower range. There will also be dedicated time for questions from attendees.

This info session is for singing teachers, choral directors, speech-language pathologists, trans voice coaches, and other voice educators who work with singers. We welcome practitioners who are currently working with transgender, nonbinary, and/or intersex singers who take testosterone, as well as folks who would like to be prepared for when they do.

Know a trans, nonbinary, and/or intersex singer who would like to learn more about this topic? Let them know about the Singing On Testosterone Info Session For Singers happening live April 13, 2025, and also available as a video on demand.

About The Presenters

Eli Conley (he/him) is a singer-songwriter and voice teacher based on Nisenan, Miwok, and Maidu land (Sacramento, CA). As a gay trans man, he has a deep commitment to working within diverse queer and transgender communities to build collective power, creativity, and resilience through music. Eli has 15 years' experience teaching transgender singers, and is a certified teacher of Somatic Voicework - The LoVetri Method™ who continues to study to deepen his approach to contemporary vocal pedagogy. He offers online singing and songwriting classes for LGBTQIA+ folks and allies, as well as private voice lessons and songwriting coaching. www.eliconley.com

Peter Fullerton (he/him) is a transmasculine singer, voice teacher, and accompanist located in Portland, OR. After 8 years of voice training as a classical soprano, he began testosterone in 2009, and subsequently spent many additional years retraining as a musical theater tenor. Now, he offers voice lessons and vocal coaching (in person and over Zoom) to singers and speakers of all levels, from professional performers to karaoke lovers to anyone who wants to learn to sing. He is a specialist in transgender voice training, with a niche interest in testosterone's effect on the voice, and offers transition consulting services for vocalists. www.peterfullerton.com

Logistics

Can't make it live?
No problem! All registered participants will gain access to a video recording of the session.

New to working with trans, nonbinary, and intersex folks?
We're glad you're here! Please note that this is not a transgender 101 training for voice educators. So before attending this session, we highly encourage you to read Advocates for Trans Equality's Trans 101 Resources, and Eli Conley's essay Creating Gender Liberatory Singing Spaces. You can find more in-depth resources for music educators at Blurring the Binary: Teaching Transgender Students in the Music Classroom.

Accessibility
Disabled and neurodivergent educators are very welcome here! This online info session will take place on Zoom, and auto-captions will be enabled. Participants can be on or off camera, and all opportunities for participation will be optional. Please let us know about your specific access needs when you register.​


Cost (Sliding Scale):

At Cost: $100
This is the true cost of the workshop, and the minimum rate we need most people to pay in order to cover our costs and pay ourselves a living wage. Consider paying this amount if doing so would be an investment, but not create hardship for you. For example, please choose this rate if you are regularly able to meet your basic needs (food, housing, healthcare, transportation, childcare) and have some expendable income, you can travel every few years without burden, and you have some debt but are able to pay it regularly.

Higher Rate: $125
This is a pay-it-forward rate. It's an opportunity to not only take this workshop, but also support trans voice educators in accessing it. Consider paying this amount if you are comfortably able to meet your basic needs (food, housing, healthcare, transportation, childcare), own the home your live in or rent a higher end property, have access to financial savings and/or investments, have paid or pay for private education, have reliable work or do not need to work to meet your needs, have inherited wealth, and/or can afford to travel every year.

Lower Rate (For Trans-Identifying Teachers): $75
This is a discounted rate for teachers who identify as transgender, nonbinary, and/or intersex.