🎶 Hello Musical Friends! 🎶 🎼 Have you ever faced issues making a career in music composition, notation, or engraving? I have! 🎼 Do you think some of these issues are related to who you are or what program you use, and not due to your music or skills? I've seen multiple stories just like this! Make sure to share those experiences in the comments below!
@jackzaino
3 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and perspective on this important topic! I'm enjoying seeing your channel expand to topics beyond notation programs! :)
@ellybargmusic
3 ай бұрын
I write classical-style music and almost all of my viewers (and pretty much all of my regular viewers) are men too! I really appreciate their support and I did know about women being a minority in the composition field, but didn't expect that to also extend to who even listens to my music in the first place. I think another key point is that at the moment, the broader classical music world doesn't really care all that much about living composers. If you aren't going to spotlight living composers when barriers to entry have historically been so insanely high, how is anyone ever going to find us?
@redravenrages6321
3 ай бұрын
Interesting to note because it seems like music has all equal representation gender-wise when you first start out as just a performer, but then there are less conductors/educators that are female, and then there are a lot less composers. Wonder why this is?
@Snow-Willow
3 ай бұрын
I appreciate the work you put into this, you made a nice little video essay on the subject. That being said DEI never helps anyone. Nothing is stopping women from becoming composers, there are no laws or even cultural stigma (in the western world and Japan anyway) against female composers, It seems like it's just something most probably don't even think about or care to do, and that's fine. Equality of outcome is toxic because it means you're taking away peoples free will to choose. Equality of opportunity exists, and that is the best kind of equality there is. I'd like to point out that while there is an over representation of men in the traditional composer sphere, there's also an over representation of women in the pop music sphere. Again, just different choices and where the different genders tend to gravitate, and there's nothing wrong with that.
@TheMusicalNotesOfficial
3 ай бұрын
Thank you for appreciating the video! To be fair, I've experienced cultural stigma, even though I'm currently living in a country solidly in the Western World. Unfortunately, laws don't need to be in place to create unintended inequalities. I've constantly been mistaken as a music educator or have my compositional goals belittled. However, when fellow male composers of equal skill make the same remarks, they aren't belittled or made fun of! In fact, they are promoted, given connections and opportunities, and are praised for being ambitious. While I agree equality of outcome is toxic, I personally think there are ways to at least encourage equity on different levels. (equity won't guarantee equality, and that's totally fine!). I guess my definition of DEI is different than most definitions of DEI, as I want to increase equity in education, opportunity, and attitude, but don't need equality in outcome. Equality of outcome will likely never be great. Equality of opportunity is the best, as it inspires and promotes the best music. It is true that there is over representation of men in classical music, and more women in pop. I do wonder how many pop singers write their music, rather than have a ghostwriter. (both are fine!) I'd need to make a more in depth video of the ratios between classical music (only 5% women) and pop, and see if the ratios are pretty similar! While most women probably wouldn't think or care to do composition, I have gone to conferences where my female peers said they never thought they could do it until they met another women composer. I'd love more than 5% of living classical composers to be women. (even if it creeps up to 10% in my lifetime, I'd be happy!) Have a wonderful, musical day!
@heavens00
3 ай бұрын
If women wanna do composition or notation, literally nothing is stopping them. Get over it.
@TheMusicalNotesOfficial
3 ай бұрын
Totally hear your point! It’s part of the reason why I (as a woman) decided to compose. There isn’t too much difference. However, when allegations of assault exist, which can potentially traumatize and push many women away from composition, creating a sustainable career in composition and engraving is not as easy for some. These factors aren’t as commonly seen, as many people just assume that “it’s just the way to get into music.” However, abuses of power and harassment are never okay. While this is not composition/engraving related, here’s a big story about assault in the NY Phil: www.nytimes.com/2024/04/18/arts/music/new-york-philharmonic-investigation.html#:~:text=The%20New%20York%20Philharmonic%2C%20which,outside%20investigation%20into%20its%20culture. And here’s a story about a composer potentially harassing others (while creating music in a more popular genre): www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/danny-elfman-sexual-harassment-1235623040/ Unfortunately these things do stop women frequently! I am very fortunate to not have experienced these events. There are also multiple factors that impact everyone, and not just women! While there are some great free programs that exist (like musescore), if you want to publish music with a publishing company, these companies require files from paid programs. If someone truly lives paycheck to paycheck (and are not subject to lifestyle inflation), they literally can not afford to purchase these programs at all! Self publishing can cost a lot too, from networking, printing, advertising, and so much more. While I agree that if women want to compose or notate, they should do it, there are factors that stop them that we don't talk about. Hopefully this helps clarify why some may have more barriers to composition and notation than others!
@housepianist
3 ай бұрын
I really hate bringing up race and gender but comments like this fail to look at the overall picture. My guess is that you are a white male - therefore - from your perspective, there should be no problem for women to just start composing. Listen to what she is saying. The reasons for the apparent lack of female composers are way deeper than you realize but, if my guess about who you are is accurate, you either fail to see it or simply gloss over the issues female composers/conductors, etc, face. Don’t let the illusion of seeing a few successful female composers tell you that women don’t have to deal with gender issues.
@heavens00
3 ай бұрын
@@housepianist Start your own thing and build it to success. No one is stopping women from doing that. You want success within someone else's sphere? Deal with what that comes with then. If you don't like it, make your own sphere instead of demanding the world changes for you. Also.....yeah women are far from being the only people with so called "gender issues"
@housepianist
3 ай бұрын
@@heavens00 No one is saying women can’t achieve success or strive towards their goals or make changes or go in different directions if they encounter stumbling blocks. People in general do everything you’re talking about all the time. The point you miss is that there are obstacles in place that should not exist for ANYONE regardless of race or gender. And to say “just deal with it” is another way of saying nothing is going to change and nothing much is being done to change things. It’s all about the status quo. It’s INTENTIONAL. That’s by design. So yes, one can overcome these obstacles and create their own niches in life and be successful but these gender and race issues are intentional. It’s not always some naturally occurring event but a deliberate attempt at maintaining a sense of control and social hierarchy. Women can be successful in every endeavor in the music industry. But if the INTENT of misogyny and other social issues affecting women is present, THAT has to change which should encourage more women to enter this field. I can’t stop the rain from falling but I can sure turn off the sprinklers if my lawn is getting too much water.
@heavens00
3 ай бұрын
@@housepianist lol then do it
@el-gonza
3 ай бұрын
You can't force people to do something they don't feel,
@TheMusicalNotesOfficial
3 ай бұрын
That is true! However, I've meant so many women who never knew they could compose until way too late in their lives to practically create a composing career on the same scale as other individuals. These individuals do want to compose, but don't have the training or the skills! You can't force people to do something they don't feel, but that also doesn't eliminate the issues we do see from these choices. Representation matters, and I strive to be a great composer that many look up to.
@EdKidgell
3 ай бұрын
What exactly is stopping them?
@TheMusicalNotesOfficial
3 ай бұрын
While nothing initially will stop anyone, abuse has lead to several women dropping out, as one can only handle abuse for so long. Unfortunately, there are some professors and other musicians at the top of the field who also treat musicians differently. While this is not the case for everyone, one person can ruin a lot of dreams. (There are a lot of cases coming out now, especially with members within the NY Phil and in the Euphonium world with Demondrae Thurman) Additionally, unequal shared responsibilities in childcare can lead to individuals leaving the profession. Since composition can be so unstable, (while requiring some to travel or work long hours) it is not as conducive to taking on the majority of childcare. While not needed, seeing a great role model can help motivate people. Within classical music, there are less women classical composers, so it is hard for some to envision themselves. While not a barrier in itself, role models can help. Each part of music composition will have different levels of representation. Luckily for everyone, there are less barriers now than there were 100 years ago. However, musicians should ban together to prevent abuse within the industry.
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