Female Representation in the Traditional Music Classroom

Abstract

This article discusses how the scarcity of female representation in music history curriculums, music textbooks, and traditional classical music repertoire affects student aspirations for professional careers in music and the way in which students relate to the music. The role of political issues and social movements in the classroom, such as those concerning gender issues, remains a controversial issue. However, it is also evidently a critical aspect in better understanding and re-creating the context for women in music. This article seeks to provoke discussion surrounding traditional music curricula in the vast disparity between male and female figures in music education and to encourage continual refinement of modern classical music curricula to present a more comprehensive view of music and music history.