Klarinet Archive - Posting 000137.txt from 1999/02

From: "Diane Karius, Ph.D." <dikarius@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Women, Men and clarinets
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 01:18:06 -0500

Bill Hausmann wrote (after a snip):
> In this neck of the woods, at least, male clarinet players (at the school
> level) are, unfortunately, viewed with considerable suspicion as well.
> Male flute players might as well wear pink dresses to school, the artistry
> of Jean-Pierre Rampal and James Galway notwithstanding.
>

Its interesting to note that we are none too specific about how we
apply our biases: I grew up in the midwest as well - male clarinet
players were viewed with suspiscion, yet at the same time I was told
"You play like a man". Being the smarta** I was (and am,
presumeably) I slapped my face and apologized for not knowing there
was a second set of fingerings for the clarinet to be used by
girls... The person saying this (female incidentally - much to my
dismay) turned red and qualified this statement: "you play
too well". (for the record - this was 1982)
These biases (race, religion, gender, hand-preference, etc) are
going to persist at least on an individual basis, if not
institutional, as long as we fail to realize that individual
strengths/talents are far more important than the general physical
categories we divide others into... At least that's my feeble take
on the subject.

diane k.

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