[Dixielandjazz] More Female OKOM Musicians

[David M Richoux]

There is a movement of younger musicians (mostly 20 to "30 Somethings"  
- but they don't exclude older participants )  that is generally VERY  
"post-feminist,*" equalitarian, and politically conscious.  I have  
reported in the past about the HONK! bands that have been developing  
over the last 10 years or so, and they play many different styles of  
music from all over the world (including some OKOM.)  They have the  
enthusiasm and energy of youth (and a level of "fun") that can take an  
otherwise average brass, woodwind or percussionist to very interesting  
places, musically and otherwise.

For more info, pictures and videos - check out  http://honkfest.org/  
and explore the links. This is a still growing area for music  
performance that encourages participation at many levels!  (and some  
of these bands travel together cross country in small busses, so the  
problems you mention are really minor issues ;-)

Dave Richoux

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third-wave_feminism

On Jan 4, 2010, at 10:00 AM, Gluetje1 at aol.com wrote:

> In truth, I am quite empathic to what I imagine as a pain in the  
> rear for
> small ensemble groups that include a female or two.  For example, in  
> my
> imagination at least, guys in a road trip car are not hesitant to  
> pass gas
> (among themselves).  Then there are even more complex issues of  
> whose  paying
> attention to whom.  I suspect not that many women are interested in   
> constant
> travel for one night appearances, etc.
> I doubt if I would be.  I have made a couple of short trips with a   
> couple
> of guys and myself.  At our age and stage, with no one needing to   
> court
> anyone else, I find the friendship building that occurs pretty  
> special,
> believe it makes for better music at the destination.
>
> There are also apparently deeply embedded cultural factors operating.
> Women are far less likely to choose brass instruments.  They also  
> don't  head
> for banjo in significant numbers.  I have had more girls than boys   
> drop our
> of my youth banjo band and they are far less likely to have a "mom"  
> who
> calls me in the first place.  Then there are the issues of my  
> wanting  them to
> do what with their tender, delicate, fingertips.  LOL
>
> Of course, I would like to see level playing field opportunities  for
> musicians in female bodies.
>
> But when I started my thread, it was a reactivation of my pipe dream  
> to get
> youth bands going., and not about what sex.  We don't have youth   
> bands
> happening locally. Nationally, is it what, less than ten such   
> projects?
> (There are local high school and college bands that start  with  
> swing and
> quickly move forward.  Can't blame those teachers as  that's where  
> their own
> education started.)  I'm just being frustrated  because I have not  
> found a local
> person to undertake a more  historic effort.  But the fact is  
> someone told
> me a couple of weeks  ago to call them and talk more about my  
> thoughts.  So,
> I need to pick up  the phone.  I will, today.  My procrastination  
> springs
> from a good  understanding of how much time will be involved -- time  
> I don't
> want to  devote.  (Rueful grin.)
> Ginny
>
>
>