The Happy Musicians

014 Monika Herzig – Understanding the History of Women in Jazz

by tannerguss on

Monika Herzig joins Tanner Guss to discuss the “ever-emerging phenomenon” of all female Jazz groups. She explains how developmental psychology, instrument choices, and current community actions negativity impact the matriculation of female musicians. She also suggests new practices we can adopt as a community to better support each other and promote an equal playing field.

“It’s not that there’s less capability, there are other reasons behind this inequality”

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Actionable Advice

  • Create as many role models as possible. We need to work hard to change the visual bias surrounding being an instrumental musician. Showcasing the many talented female musicians in the world helps everyone to develop a gender neutral preconception for what a musician looks like on any given instrument. All female bands are an important part of this process.
  • Seek out and hire qualified female musicians for instrumental faculty positions. This doesn’t mean you should hire an under-qualified candidate over someone else solely because of their gender. Luckily there is not shortage of competent female musicians! Some affirmative action is all it would take to find these important role models.
  • Make soloing non-voluntary and not a big deal. Most students are introduced to improvisation around middle school. Generally speaking, boys at this age are excited by the opportunity to show off and aren’t afraid to make mistakes in a public situation. However, studies show girls are less likely to voluntarily put themselves in the spotlight in a “risky” situation like soloing. This is why it’s so important not to leave soloing up to whoever volunteers. Those that take more solos get better at improvising which in turns leads to more opportunities to play, which leads to better improvising etc. Those that take the most chances get exponentially better in a system that only rewards the chance takers. Have everyone in your band improvise, and treat it like just any other part of being a musician.
  • Be a good friend, speak up for them, and just be normal. As the majority the biggest responsibility is on us males to better support our sisters in music. Hire competent women, say something if you seem them being disrespected, and invite them to the hang!

Coda Questions

  • What is your go to feel-good album? Chick Corea‘s Light As a Feather
  • What’s some important advice about happiness that you’ve received? Take one thing and finish. Then go to the next thing.
  • What advice would you like to give to young musicians? Take advantage of the practice time you have now, and follow you gut.
  • Who’s a happy musician in your life? Leni Stern
  • What is you purpose as a musician? To develop this language in a way that I can communicate with people on a deeper emotional level than words can reach.

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