In the music ensembles that I have been to, I have noticed that the stringed and wind instruments are played by mostly women and percussion instruments are played by mostly men. I’ve never thought about why one gender leans more toward one instrument than another until now. I don't really know how a person goes about choosing their instrument as I don't play one myself but I feel a couple different things would influence your choice of instrument. Things such as media, or your favorite artist, or maybe you just randomly chose that instrument because you thought it was interesting. Most men in the US typically play percussion or brass instruments but why? Back in 1788, when the trumpet was first invented, it was widely played in the military. Drums were also used in the military. Thus, the trumpet and the drums were mostly played by men. It also mattered which instrument made you look more attractive. In the 19th century, it was said that brass instruments made men look more attractive and wind instruments such as the clarinet or the flute make a woman look more attractive or “ladylike.” More popular brass instrument players were also male such as Louis Armstrong who played the trumpet. This would give men more of a reason to want to play the trumpet because they have a male figure to look up to. Only 3% of brass players are women.
“The foundations for which instruments women and men should play were laid already in the Middle Ages,” says Lise Karin Meling. Making large bodily movements when playing string and wind instruments was not very ladylike. A sound that was too strong and too powerful was not for a woman's modest character. A too strong and powerful sound did not agree with a woman’s modest and mild character. Almost every piano composition written in the nineteenth century is written for women and girls. Sitting at the piano is a more graceful position. In earlier times the guitar was another instrument that was “graceful" for women. In 1783, German philologist and composer Carl Ludwig Junker wrote an essay explaining exactly which instruments were proper for women to play. Female musicians could keep their bodies in graceful, feminine poses while playing. Musically, the critics thought, the guitar was also a perfect instrument for women because it was made for “simple, unpretentious music, most of all in a subordinate role as an accompanying instrument.” Joan Jett has been widely recognized for being the lead woman in her band Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and the founder of The Runaways which is an all female band. She is a lead guitarist and known as the “Queen of Rock n Roll.”
.jpeg)
I never knew that the guitar was originally considered appropriate for women! That's so cool. Even now, the guitar seems to be much more common for men to play. I also love that you mentioned Joan Jett; I think she's such an inspiration for female musicians, as the rock scene back then was (and still is, in fairness) largely male-dominated.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your article and one thing that stood out to me was when you talked about how men usually play brass instruments and only 3% of women play brass. I also agree with your reasoning too because when you have someone to look up to it gives you much hope.
ReplyDelete