Music and Gender

Frankly, this blog topic is pretty challenging for me. I haven’t really experienced many male vs. female situations in the music world. It’s admirable for guys in my country to be both athletic and musically inclined, but I guess it‘s pretty much the same here. As a matter of fact, most boys and girls who are born in well-off families know how to play at least one instrument, typically piano. Nonetheless, most of the drummers and guitarists I know are predominantly male. Throughout the 4 years at my high school, I don‘t remember seeing any females showing off their mad skills on the drums or guitars. Males, on the other hand, were countless. This also somewhat applies to modern music. One of the types of music I listen to is Metal, and it’s especially uncommon for a girl to do the lead vocals which is basically screaming. The Agonist is the only band I know that has a girl as their lead vocalist (there’s more I’m sure but rare is my point). There is also Flyleaf, but the vocalist mainly sings. It’s also the same for J-rock bands like the Gazette and Dir en Grey.

The Gazette

Is it just me or the way they look is far from what we perceive as manly? I kind of find that interestingly twisted..
　
Even before entering Converse, I had always believed in women’s ability to play the same instruments as men, but Converse is really where the action takes place. I met female percussionists, guitarists, and trumpeters, and they’re all pretty great players! It’s not that I haven’t seen them before, but the it’s more exciting when they’re all gathering in one place....Sometimes I feel like I’m part of a talent agency for women. Now that I’ve got my fair share of bias. Male can too excel at “women’s” instruments. I remember a classmate of mine in high school who was exceptionally talented at the piano, and, indeed, he was a dude! Honestly, I can proudly say that he was the one who inspired me to play the piano. My first choice of instrument was not the piano, but rather the guitar--ironic eh? Other instruments that are created for females are flute, violin, clarinet....Well, I beg to differ! Here are actually my favorite candidates from America’s Got Talent:

After seeing that, I got the urge to master the violin, and so I began to take lessons a few months ago. I have to say, it is not as easy as they make it out to be.