Re: First time commentingtaz_39November 4 2024, 16:48:35 UTC
Hi! :D
I think I've seen you "like" a few times, or maybe am imagining it :p
That's awfully kind of you, much thanks!
Everyone has different circumstances, hardships that they can't really help. A kid born in a family of musicians, or in a city like NY or LA with lots of opportunities to experience music and culture, is going to have a massive advantage. While others who come from absolutely nothing and out of nowhere make things happen for themselves, and end up at just the same level as those kids who had the advantages. It's really fascinating to think about!
99% of the time I never even think about being a woman in relation to playing...I'm just "doing what I do" haha. But there are areas where as a woman you HAVE to remember that you are an outlier, so that you can tread carefully and not lose opportunities. Or so that you can understand why something happens in your life (i.e. "Why wasn't I offered that touring gig even though they loved my audition? Ah...because there's an even number of band members and they need another male, otherwise they'd have to pay extra to bring me along because I'm a woman." And yes this is a real scenario where I lost a gig for this actual reason.)
I haven't thought about it much except in passing, but for some reason this week I kind of pulled back mentally and had an introspective look at my career up to this point. And looking "behind me" like that, I saw all of the obstacles that had been there, that in the moment I had been too busy tackling to stop and think about how bizarre it is that I have to take lower-pitched breaths so the audition panel won't know I'm a woman, or how ridiculous it is that I should have to ask for wardrobe to modify my costume to actually fit my body so I don't look frumpy in the men's costume they've given me. As I said, when I truly stop to think about it, the list goes on and on.
Looking back at all these big and small instances, now that they're behind me and I can review how many there actually were, has been mind-blowing. I wouldn't say that I'm "awesome," just that I overcame quite a lot to be where I am, and that I think this explains why there aren't more women playing the trombone professionally.
I think I've seen you "like" a few times, or maybe am imagining it :p
That's awfully kind of you, much thanks!
Everyone has different circumstances, hardships that they can't really help. A kid born in a family of musicians, or in a city like NY or LA with lots of opportunities to experience music and culture, is going to have a massive advantage. While others who come from absolutely nothing and out of nowhere make things happen for themselves, and end up at just the same level as those kids who had the advantages. It's really fascinating to think about!
99% of the time I never even think about being a woman in relation to playing...I'm just "doing what I do" haha. But there are areas where as a woman you HAVE to remember that you are an outlier, so that you can tread carefully and not lose opportunities. Or so that you can understand why something happens in your life (i.e. "Why wasn't I offered that touring gig even though they loved my audition? Ah...because there's an even number of band members and they need another male, otherwise they'd have to pay extra to bring me along because I'm a woman." And yes this is a real scenario where I lost a gig for this actual reason.)
I haven't thought about it much except in passing, but for some reason this week I kind of pulled back mentally and had an introspective look at my career up to this point. And looking "behind me" like that, I saw all of the obstacles that had been there, that in the moment I had been too busy tackling to stop and think about how bizarre it is that I have to take lower-pitched breaths so the audition panel won't know I'm a woman, or how ridiculous it is that I should have to ask for wardrobe to modify my costume to actually fit my body so I don't look frumpy in the men's costume they've given me. As I said, when I truly stop to think about it, the list goes on and on.
Looking back at all these big and small instances, now that they're behind me and I can review how many there actually were, has been mind-blowing. I wouldn't say that I'm "awesome," just that I overcame quite a lot to be where I am, and that I think this explains why there aren't more women playing the trombone professionally.
Anyway thanks for coming along on the journey!
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