While I was pondering what I want to do with the rest of my life after my bachelor’s degree in Music Ed, I have decided that I want to become a director of bands at a major college.
Then I got to thinking.
At all of the major college in KS, Ft. Hays, KSU, KU, Pitt St., WSU, Emporia St (I’m not including community or private colleges) have directors of bands and athletic band directors that are male. I was thinking back to a conversation that Langston was having about the major music schools (Eastman, Michigan etc) and all of the directors are male. Even in high school, I’ve seen that most marching band directors are dudes. It’s just coming across to me that in order to be successful in music that ISN’T performing, like marching band at high school level or college level, you have to be male. (and why are colorguard instructors mostly female?)
So, why are there not more women in these roles? I’ve had quite a few chick conductors, and they have all been badass.
Also, do you think that some instruments have “genders” attached to them? For example, “men can’t play flute, that’s for girls” or “girls who play tuba are manly” or something like that. Why is this? As an educator, is there anything I can do to make sure something like this doesn’t happen?
Just some food for thought.
