To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
From: "michael.chesebro"
Subject: The female speaking voice
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

I am suspicious of many of these criteria and methods used to determine the optimal pitch
for a woman (or male for that matter) use. I would instead inquire:
1. Are you having pain or fatigue from your current habitual speech patterns?
2. Do you communicate well?
3. Do you compete with environmental noise?
4. What do you expect to gain from changing your speaking pitch?
5. Do you deliberately alter your pitch (or not alter) because of a difficulty?
6. How much of your speech is really on a given pitch?
7. How do your family members speak? What do you think of their vocal production?
8. What is the state of your health/energy in general terms?

If a patient likes her/his voice, feels comfortable, and has experienced no difficulties I
would not address this problem at all. If there is a problem, then I would address the
causes for the difficulty. The pitch abnormality may actually just be a symptom of a larger
pathology.
Michael E. Chesebro, M.A.,C.C.C., S.L.P.
Voice & Fax: 714/596-3344