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Can Women Do Mouthdrumming? |
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Written by Wes Carroll
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Friday, 19 May 2006 |
Question: Can women do mouthdrumming?
Great question. The short answer is "of course!"
This question comes up every so often, and I'm going to keep trying to get the message through: there is no physiological way in which I rely on my gender to perform vocal percussion. (Period. Full stop!)
Though many believe that women's voices are not well-suited to vocal percussion, this belief does not take into consideration the fact that I so rarely use my voice in producing the sounds I produce that I could go an entire concert without engaging my larynx even once (except to sing). What other physiological property besides my voice relies on my gender? None of which I am aware (and not for lack of investigation).
Yes, the obvious truth is that few women pursue this art at present. But that tends to be a self-fulfilling assumption; women who see that women are a rarity in the field are thereby discouraged from participating. Also, the ways in which the art is acquired tend to be combative in flavor if not actually in practice (witness "beatbox battles" and such), which I think tends to further discourage women (as well as many men).
Because of these misunderstandings surrounding vocal percussion for women, my seminar list these days includes a session designed specifically to introduce women to mouthdrumming. So far the results have been good, but many are still waiting for the woman who will first claim a place among the most highly-respected and sought-after vocal percussionists. Soon after that, I imagine the gender bias in the field will be substantially reduced.
Here's hoping you or someone you know will consider being the first!
All best,
W
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 27 May 2006 )
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