Said Craigie Zildjian, Zildjian’s CEO: “While we can’t speak to trends in the music industry in general, we have seen a steady increase in females playing both drum sets and other percussion instruments. This reflects the same cultural changes that have taken place in sports since Title IX (the law requiring gender equity for boys and girls participating in federally funded educational programs) was passed by Congress exactly 35 years ago. We certainly welcome this trend!
“There are far more role models out there for girls growing up today than in my era,” she continued. “Girls today have the self esteem to believe they can do anything that boys are doing. For example, this past year, we saw Cynthia Yea become the first principal percussionist in a major symphony orchestra (the Chicago Symphony). This demonstrates that female musicians are getting many more opportunities than before, and taking advantage of them!”
Toca Percussion has Sheila E. on its artist roster, which also helped spur female growth, said Victor Filonovich, Toca’s product manager. “Sheila’s a great role model in the drumming community because she’s proven to everyone that a female artist/drummer can achieve anything as long as you believe in your dreams,” he said. “We continue to promote Sheila along with her custom line of drums in advertisements, clinics/performances, Web presence, and printed materials. It’s a great partnership (see the ad above for an example).
“We are proud to have signed some new up-and-coming female artists to our artist roster,” he continued. “Those artists include Nina Rodriguez (Drum Café). Drum Café works with male and female executives on team building and group participation using basic drumming skills….I think [the growth is also] a combination of a few things like music festivals, drum circles, and drum clinics. Meditation purposes [play a role as well].”
Dana Jo Cox, national director of sales, percussion, for Ludwig/Musser, under Conn-Selmer, is also a former retailer and currently serves as a female drummer in a Kansas City band. When she was a retailer, she taught private lessons to 84 students a week, with at least half being females. “This really starts with the support from the school systems,” she said. “In my position, I’m seeing a lot more girls getting involved in school percussion. If you go to PAS, you’ll see a lot of girls playing mallets, timpani, snare drums, and there are a lot of women marching in the drum lines in marching bands. That’s what I did.”
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