Voice lessons Across the Gender Spectrum
Traditional and gender-affirming voice lessons for cis and trans people alike. Lessons from the comfort of your own home at a sliding scale fee.
AApproach Certified Voice Instructor
For the past seven years, I’ve been teaching virtual voice lessons as an AApproach Certified Voice Instructor. Eric Arceneaux, the creator of the AApproach Method and my own teacher for over a decade, received a degree in Vocal Music Performance from Xavier University and has been teaching voice lessons for more than two decades.
learn more about the aapproach method
Areas Of Expertise
Over the past five years, I’ve taught hundreds of students how to improve their speaking / singing voices and connect more intimately to their voice / instrument. I’ve found it particularly rewarding watching students discover how much more freely they can express themselves, whether through words or song, as they learn how to better inhabit their bodies.
-
Vocal Feminization -
Vocal Masculinzation -
Vocal Androgenization
-
Contemporary Singing -
Classical singing
“Jessica Austin is a phenomenal voice teacher. I came into it with some training already, but Jessica taught me facts and techniques I hadn’t encountered before and did a great job of explaining the “why” behind everything. I left each lesson a slightly better singer than when I began. Because of her, I now have a sense of how to work on my voice and feel more confident in my ability to tackle challenging material.”
― Evan (Trans Man) ―
“Jessica helped me to build comfort and confidence with my voice by giving me practical techniques that I’m able to apply to my daily life. Her lessons were collaborative; she checked in to make sure I was comfortable and that the techniques we were working on aligned with my goals. She is encouraging and thoughtful. I found it helpful that she explains the “why” behind the exercises (vocal anatomy, etc.). The lessons were very helpful to me and I strongly recommend Jessica.”
― Dylan (Trans Man) ―
“I have been singing for several years, but I have always struggled. I found that I could not
sing without tension in my jaw and throat, making it an uncomfortable experience. After two
teachers and little progress, I was frustrated and ready to give up singing. Fortunately, I heard
about Jessica through another vocal coach, so I contacted her and began voice lessons. After
studying with Jessica for over a year, I have tapped much more deeply into my voice. My tone,
stamina, and overall comfort in singing has drastically improved. Overall, my experience with
her has been informative, free from unnecessary complications, and very positive. I would
recommend Jessica to anyone who wishes to find freedom and power as well as ease and comfort
in their singing.”
Daniel (Cis Man)
I had been practicing voice feminization on my own for several months but I couldn’t speak comfortably for more than a few minutes at a time. Working with Jessica, I’ve learned to sustain my speaking voice long enough to carry on a conversation, and I’m not as reliant on changes in pitch to make my voice pass. Hearing my own voice change and grow has been beautiful, and learning about the underlying anatomy of speech is fascinating. Jessica is a wonderful teacher: always patient and encouraging, even when I’m completely lost. I highly recommend her to anyone who wants to feminize their speaking voice.
Julia (Trans Woman)
When I first met Jessica, I was embarrassed to sing in public. My voice never felt like my own – I could hear the sounds I wanted to sing, but was unable to bring them to life. As a songwriter, being unable to bring my music to life on my terms has always been a deterrent to my creativity. Thanks to Jessica, I was able to reconnect with my voice, understand its strengths and find ways to maximize its potential. Through a safe and judgment-free learning environment, I was able to build confidence in my skills, which in turn gave me the strength to reconnect with my creative musical goals. Within the first few months I have already noticed incredible changes in my singing voice, and things have been improving weekly since then. I strongly recommend Jessica to anyone who, like me, has had issues connecting with their voice.
Ferdinand (Cis Man)
Lessons with Jessica have rekindled the joy of singing for me. She is a very encouraging and skilled teacher. She helped me build the confidence to audition for musical theater shows. I’ve since had roles in two musicals! This year, I felt comfortable starting hormone therapy during the musical season because I knew Jessica could provide exercises and guidance to keep my voice safe while practicing and performing. I leave each lesson with concrete things to work on and in general feel more comfortable with my singing and speaking voice. I recommend her lessons for anyone looking to feel more content and connected to their voice and to anyone looking to gain the skills and confidence to shine in performances.
Rae (Nonbinary Person)
Frequently Asked Questions
I charge a sliding scale fee from $60 to $90, depending on what’s affordable for you.
I expect students to submit payment 24 hours in advance of their scheduled lesson.
What forms of payment do you accept?
I accept payment via Venmo (@thetransjessicaaustin), Cashapp ($transjessicaaustin), and PayPal (@transjessicaaustin94).
What’s your cancelation policy?
I require 24 hours notice to cancel or reschedule a lesson without charging a fee. With less than 24 hours notice, I will require you to submit payment (in full) for the missed session.
Where are you located? Do you offer in-person lessons?
I live in Washington, D.C., which is in the Eastern Time Zone, and teach lessons via Zoom and Skype. I don’t offer in-person lessons at this time.
Your online calendar doesn’t show any times that work for me.
If you can’t find a time in my online calendar that works for you, send me a text or an email (contact info below), and I may be able to work you into my calendar outside of my regular hours.