In my seven years of being involved with music, I have noticed that there aren't very many gender divisions regarding who played what instrument. It seemed as though most students only wanted to play the instrument with which they had the most talent and produced the most enjoyable experience. I remembered hearing that there aren't very many female conductions in the world of classical music, and while that is true, it isn't the same within middle and high schools, as I had both male and female band directors all throughout my grade-school years and they were each equally as talented and knowledge as the next.
I was in marching band from 7th-12th grade and was the drum major my senior year and the only gender separation that I have noticed within my middle/high school marching band is that there weren't very many female students playing the bigger brass instruments. Not because they weren't able to, but because the instruments were simply too heavy for them to carry while marching smoothly AND playing a crisp sound. There were still boys playing the flute and clarinet and girls playing the baritone and bass drum in the marching band and my friend Anna Kate and I both took turns playing the drum set in our jazz band. Each of the students played the instrument that interested them and had no care in the world that it may have been "too masculine" or "too feminine. I find that music is music no matter who is playing it. The gender of the person holding the instrument doesn't change the sound that they are producing. the only thing that is different at Converse in comparison to what I have experienced at my previous schools is the singing. Not very many boys/men sing like the women here. That would be strange. Beautiful, but strange.
-NTP
You've had a really interesting experience, Natalia. I'll admit, most of the bands I know tend to be much more gender-fide----basically, the farther away a section is from the conductor the more male it is. Even though it was a generation ago, I still remember being the only girl in my jazz band in high school. Luckily, my boyfriend at the time was also in the jazz band, and he kept an eye out for the guys that wanted to make fun of me. I'm still grateful for that.
ReplyDeleteWith complete respect I have to disagree. I think that there are many gender division in regard to which instrument children are started on or what instrument they might pick to start learning.
ReplyDeleteHow often do you see a male flutist (excluding, of course, our own Dr. Mr. Vaneman.), how many times do you see a female trumpet or base player? Just not that often. Even if it is not consciously I do believe that our gender influences what a person plays.