Music and Gender
To be completely transparent, growing up no one in my family played any instruments around me, so from a family view, I do not have any interesting stories about music and gender. My grandmother did have a piano in her house, but she nor anyone else ever played it. The times that I heard music were in church, radio, or on the television. However, I do remember a lot about how music and gender were viewed in the small Baptist church setting that I grew up in.
At my previous church that I attended when I was much younger, there was always the same woman who played the piano. No one....seriously no one, was allowed to play it but her. She was always at church playing for Sunday service, funerals, Christmas programs, and everything else in between. Sometimes we would have a small choir of about 5-10 people, and usually they would also be all female. There was not a band or even a guitar. So, growing up music to me mainly came from women or some outside source.
Later in life when my family and I moved churches to Praise, I was shocked. Not only was the church a lot bigger, but the music was performed by both males and females in every aspect, orchestra, choir, etc. However, there are a lot more women than men in both the choir and orchestra, but still, there's a good mix. Yet, their is still just women playing the piano most of the time...so that always catches my eye.
Going back to Dr. Mrs. Vaneman's post, much like her mother-in-law, I have not seen a female play the drums in a church setting. The only time I have seen a female play the drums was actually my best friends' older sister. My best friend, Faith, and I lived right beside each other. So naturally we were always at each other's house. Faith's family is very musically inclined. Every single one of them can either play an instrument, sing, or both. Her older sister was the one who played the drums....and she played them very very well. I remember being amazed watching her because I always thought that was a "boys thing to do." Then growing up, I always have said I would like to learn to play the drums, but I still have yet to learn. Which honestly makes me a little sad now thinking about it.
Maybe one day when I'm 50.....like the cool, awesome grandma in this video...Trust me, you need this video in your life! Her message at the end is awesome!
At my previous church that I attended when I was much younger, there was always the same woman who played the piano. No one....seriously no one, was allowed to play it but her. She was always at church playing for Sunday service, funerals, Christmas programs, and everything else in between. Sometimes we would have a small choir of about 5-10 people, and usually they would also be all female. There was not a band or even a guitar. So, growing up music to me mainly came from women or some outside source.
Later in life when my family and I moved churches to Praise, I was shocked. Not only was the church a lot bigger, but the music was performed by both males and females in every aspect, orchestra, choir, etc. However, there are a lot more women than men in both the choir and orchestra, but still, there's a good mix. Yet, their is still just women playing the piano most of the time...so that always catches my eye.
Going back to Dr. Mrs. Vaneman's post, much like her mother-in-law, I have not seen a female play the drums in a church setting. The only time I have seen a female play the drums was actually my best friends' older sister. My best friend, Faith, and I lived right beside each other. So naturally we were always at each other's house. Faith's family is very musically inclined. Every single one of them can either play an instrument, sing, or both. Her older sister was the one who played the drums....and she played them very very well. I remember being amazed watching her because I always thought that was a "boys thing to do." Then growing up, I always have said I would like to learn to play the drums, but I still have yet to learn. Which honestly makes me a little sad now thinking about it.
Maybe one day when I'm 50.....like the cool, awesome grandma in this video...Trust me, you need this video in your life! Her message at the end is awesome!
The video you have posted in your blog was very inspirational. Neither have I ever seen a women play drums but this video certainly does break great barriers of gender based music.
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting that the woman at your Church was the only one who played the piano. It is also great that you knew a female drummer. It is rare for women to be drummers, which is not right...but that's cool that your friend played the drums!
ReplyDeleteI have not seen many women play drums either. I remember in High School one of my close friends played the drums for us sometimes for choir concerts. All of the times before it had been boys.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED the video of the lady playing the drums! I love seeing women play the drums, my mom can play!
ReplyDeleteI like that you post a video of a women playing the drums. I never seen a female play drum before.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in a family that wasn't musically inclined, I completely understand. I also came from a small church, but we didn't have anyone who could play the piano so the whole congregation sang the songs. So I got the experience of a mixed gender setting quite early on. Sort of on the same line as you, I didn't really get an experience with female percussionists until I reached high school and I am still amazed with their ability to match the guys!
ReplyDelete-Katie Edge
Music is a great way of Praising the LORD and Glorifying His Name..... Beautiful photo of the larger church you attended later in life. There is still something more special to me about the traditional smaller church where I know everyone there on a more personal level (good or bad). With the ultimate goal being the future of a small church, it challenges us to be more tolerant of others views including the choice of music.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the video of her. I like the way she closes it too. Musicians are musicians regardless of gender, age, shape, size, or race, and music brings people together.
ReplyDeleteThat video was so inspirational. I think girls are just as capable as guys are! GIRL POWER! My church choir is also filled with both men and women but our pianist is..you guessed it, a girl. I really didnt notice this as much until you mentioned it but girls really do tend to gravitate towards the piano. Thank you for the video!
ReplyDeleteI want her to be my grandma. That godmother of drumming video was great! I like how these women are playing percussion.
ReplyDeleteHayley
I loved the video you posted! Most of the pianist I have met are female too! I've always been exposed to music through the church as well and I am so thankful for that.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that you note that piano players in church (in your experience) have been mostly women. They're mostly older women--older than me--and there was a real hierarchy of piano students back when they were younger. Lots of girls of that generation took piano lessons, and lots of them specifically learned to play music for church, and they're still doing that and teaching younger students. Boys that took piano lessons during that generation usually went on to positions that were further up the ladder--becoming professors or performers or lawyers that played the piano
ReplyDeleteThe church I grew up in there was actually a female drummer. It never really crossed my mind that usually the players are men, mainly because they would switch here and there.
ReplyDeleteTanjae H.
That's so strange that only one lady played the piano for your church. It got me thinking and I have never actually seen a pianist in any of the churches i have been to that were not female, at least not that I can remember...that's really strange.
ReplyDelete