I'm curious to know what the percentage is of male versus female music majors with concentration on Bass. Having taught in the public school systems over several decades, there were always way fewer girls playing bass for whatever reason. When my son played bass in orchestra in college, there were no girls in the bass section. You're doing great work to bring these issues to light... I'm sure it's exhausting, but it's appreciated.
Pretty much ALL the middle school bassists I have taught over the last few years have been girls. But, I've only had one go on to be a performance major. Somewhere in between we're losing them. That would be high school. Something to consider.
After I reported concerns about Eastman's orchestra director, one previous female bass student reported that he'd told her directly - not too long ago - that she hadn't win a concerto competition because she wasn't a man. Other female bassists reported similar issues. He's had his job for 20 years - and continues to have it. Many young women avoid these spaces intuitively, with good reason, the ones who don't often get pushed out, and the institutions look the other way.
Are auditions blind all the way through the choice of the person? And isn't there a probationary period with the winner playing in the orchestra, so the chosen winner can lose the job based on non-blind information?
Certainly the tenure process is never blind, if that's what you're referring to as the "probationary period." And there is no answer to your questions here that is an across-the-board answer. Different places do different things. I feel there is a move towards more, but not complete, blindness in the audition processes. Principal positions (though I can't speak to the two mentioned here) are very rarely hired completely blindly, without a trial week.
I'm curious to know what the percentage is of male versus female music majors with concentration on Bass. Having taught in the public school systems over several decades, there were always way fewer girls playing bass for whatever reason. When my son played bass in orchestra in college, there were no girls in the bass section. You're doing great work to bring these issues to light... I'm sure it's exhausting, but it's appreciated.
Nikki LaBonte has published some numbers on this topic.
Pretty much ALL the middle school bassists I have taught over the last few years have been girls. But, I've only had one go on to be a performance major. Somewhere in between we're losing them. That would be high school. Something to consider.
After I reported concerns about Eastman's orchestra director, one previous female bass student reported that he'd told her directly - not too long ago - that she hadn't win a concerto competition because she wasn't a man. Other female bassists reported similar issues. He's had his job for 20 years - and continues to have it. Many young women avoid these spaces intuitively, with good reason, the ones who don't often get pushed out, and the institutions look the other way.
Ugh. Thanks (not exactly the right word) for sharing.
Are auditions blind all the way through the choice of the person? And isn't there a probationary period with the winner playing in the orchestra, so the chosen winner can lose the job based on non-blind information?
Certainly the tenure process is never blind, if that's what you're referring to as the "probationary period." And there is no answer to your questions here that is an across-the-board answer. Different places do different things. I feel there is a move towards more, but not complete, blindness in the audition processes. Principal positions (though I can't speak to the two mentioned here) are very rarely hired completely blindly, without a trial week.