CarnivalOfVenice

As a female trumpeter, I can't help but notice that most of the major players (excuse the pun) in the trumpet world are male, or at least those I've heard of. Even my private teacher is male. In my school, I've always been surrounded by female trumpets (just luck, I guess), but I'm noticing fewer girls joining the line. Is there a physical advantage to being male in the trumpet world--larger ribcage? more endurance?

Open to any thoughts, socio-analytical or otherwise. :)

ecarroll

CoV,

I can't imagine any physical reason for one gender to be more physically suited to one particular instrument over another and there are many female role models to follow within the trumpet/cornet community. Google Alison Balsom, Ingrid Jensen, Laurie Frink, Barbara Butler, and Susan Slaughter, to name a few.

I'm more curious to know why so many women have been drawn to the flute over the years? (expecting a 200 post can of worms)

Best,
EC

CarnivalOfVenice

Well, I was drawn to flute originally but still can't manage to make a sound on it. I'm pretty sure, though, that it was the music and not the flute I loved. My mom, a low-level but lovable flute-player, got me interested in music not by force, but by example. As a young girl, I just wanted to be like my mom and be a musician, ergo the flute was how I saw both becoming reality.

Maybe, as children, we see what has been done and are afraid to attempt the undone. I, for one, started on the conch shell, so I don't quite fit into my sweeping generalization. :)

tpter1

'Tis a quandry. I have just the opposite, CoV. I have more girls in my band program overall than boys. Including the trumpets.

Every year (except this one), I've started at least one boy on flute. They never stick with it, though. Too much teasing on the playground, I suspect.

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JetJaguar

Maybe it's best to ask young female musicians who don't play trumpet why they don't. Those are the people you want to know about. Just my 2 cents.

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RG111

Over the years some of my most talented students have been female. I don't see it as a problem. At the present time my most talented student is a sixth grader, and she outplays many high school kids.
Roy

wrbandel

I have 30 trumpet students, and 25 percent are female. And when I go to middle school concerts I think the percentage may be even a little higher.

Heck, my best student right now is a girl who just made the All-State orchestra (in Minnesota). And one of my other real good girl trumpeters has only been playing the trumpet less than two years. She switched from the flute.

Not sure why more aren't making it a career though.

Warren

rowuk

Please read this entire post before getting excited!

I am sure that women do not always get a fair shot when auditioning. Some employers have in the back of their minds: when she gets tenure - she will get pregnant. Our society still has a long way to go before the "p" word becomes a non-factor for an employer.

I remember a bout the Berlin Philharmonic had many years ago when Herbert von Karajan wanted Sabine Mayer to play clarinet. The orchestra didn't want any women - all sorts of stupid arguments came up like toilets, morale on the road, the "p" factor...... Herbert did not get his way back then.

There is no physical reason why women can't play as well as men and maybe even an advantage because of the emotional capacity.

Maybe the problem is too many Barbie dolls (you know - brain of plastic) when the girls are in their formative years??????????

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Solar Bell

Warren,

Do you really have 7.5 girl students???

The 3rd trumpet player in our swing band is a female, and marrid to Mike Williams of the Basie Band.

She can flat out play and is the first sub in the "Rat Pack" show in Detroit played by Mike Williams, Patrick Hession and Kenny Robinson.

-cw-

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