In U.S., brass players are mostly guys, there are some good mix of guys and girls in woodwind sections, and there are no guys in most bands or ensembles who plays flute; maybe one or two
very rarely. On the other hand, traditionally in Korean traditional instrumental ensembles, every single member was all guys. Now days, there are some girls here and there, but it used to be that no girl can join the ensemble. Also, I have seen more guys play flute in Korea- both western style flute and Korean style flute- than the girls. This to me seemed like the cultural/gender favoring on over the other.
In Korea, about 40 years ago, the gender issue in instruments were pretty severe. Only girls were allowed to play piano, and guys were not allowed to play or even touch the piano. It was a girls thing and if a guy played it, it was not a guy-ish thing to do. My dad used to tell me that he really wanted to play the piano when he was little, but he had to only watch his sisters play because he was a guy and was not allowed to play piano. Eventually this thought disappeared and he took a little bit of piano lessons when he was in college. During the time when he was taking piano lessons, it really meant a lot to him.
I think every place in the world there are some sort of gender problem with the kind of instrument that you want to play, but rather than thinking that it is because this is meant to be only played by woman or by man, it would be better for people to think that one is more favored in one gender than the other. Dividing instruments in between genders is like starting a fight of women/men's right all over again!!
It's a very interesting idea to say that music and/or instruments can be favored more in one gender than another. That's definitely a different way of looking at it. However, as you pointed out with your Korean piano example, sometimes it is forced upon us. When I was getting ready to go to college, I would have loved to march in the Ohio State University marching band, but at the time, it was all male and they wouldn't even considered a female for the band. Times have changed, and I really wanted to get out of town anyway, but that was a factor in deciding where I went to college. Life happens!
답글삭제I agree that most brass players are guys. I wrote about this exact same thing in my blog. You should check it out.
답글삭제I like the way you said certain instruments are favored by certain genders. This is a very good way of putting it. People don't typically think a male will play brass better than a female but it is just more common for males to play brass. However,sometimes I really think people judge your playing ability before you even begin playing if you are standing with an instrument in your hand that is usually for the opposite gender. Human nature I guess but it is good to prove people wrong.
답글삭제Salutations Christina!
답글삭제Perhaps some instruments are perfered by one gender over the other, but this does not seem to excuse the barriers cultures around the world set up between genders and instruments. Maby it really is a bias if the same effect is mirrored in another culture. Music is music. It can't really be confined.
Play whatever makes your heart happy!
Amy
It is unfortunate that these barriers are put up. I think the fact that some of these stereotypes are different in other cultures proves that they are pretty silly! Kathleen, way to break down barriers! If we all could pick our loves without these influences, I wonder how different the world would be.
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