Most people understand that adolescent boys go through a period of voice change. Much has been written about helping young men and their singing teachers navigate the journey from childhood voice to adult voice (for example, MT Singing Pop with KS2 and 3, March 2023; ‘Vocal Clinic: Breaking Good’, April 2014; and Breaking the Silence, June 2024). What is less well-known is that adolescent girls also experience voice change.
In recent years there has a been a move towards describing teenage voice changes in more inclusive language. The phrase ‘voice breaking’ is now recognised as an unhelpful and negative way to describe a normal developmental process. The term ‘testosterone-related voice change’ is now more frequently applied to this time of transition. This is a useful phrase, as it not only removes the negative associations with voices ‘breaking’ but it more fully encompasses vocal changes experienced by male, female and non-binary people.
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