Female drummers: just have fun, drumming has no gender

Some time ago in a hostel I met a girl who played transverse flute and I found it wonderful that she could be travelling with her instrument. As a female drummer, my love, instead, has been conquered by a giant instrument, impossible to carry with me, and that´s something that drove me away from drums in different moments of my life. However, I am lucky enough to have arrived at a place where I can play pretty regularly, in fortnightly jam sessions, with local musicians always happy to play.

I have no doubt that more sedentary times will come, in which we will be able to recover a more stable cohabitation. One of the first things I´ll do in my next life after Australia will be buying a drum set, probably electronic, as you put your headphones on and you can play without being heard by others (neighbours are not always happy to have a drummer behind the wall).

Are there differences between female drummers and male drummers?

I started to play different instruments in music bands when I was about 16 years old. And although I´ve never been a professional, from there till now I can tell that there are some differences between women and men in their development as musicians. I am talking about the things we have to face to be considered in equal conditions as a man. When I started to play drums all these things became stronger. Of course you always find nice people; I´ve made many friends thanks to music. I will mention only a few of the things I consider must change, at least, when you are not one of the best in the world.

But before, if you still do not know them, check Anika Nilles, Roni Kaspi, Didi Negron, Emmanuelle Caplette, Sarah Thawer… just to name a few amazing contemporary drummers. In the picture, Viola Smith, pioneer in the United States jazz scene, who played until she passed away, at 107 years old.

1. We female drummers always have a man telling us what to do.

This is for me the main difference, and if you do not learn how to take it with a little bit of humour, it might be exhausting. From the first approaches to the instrument we women have always had a man feeling authorised to tell us what to do: while you are young and you are learning, but also when it is already supposed that male musicians should see you as an equal. Also when I am setting the instrument or carrying it… Always someone asks if I need help from a man.

I would never interrupt a guy who is playing to tell him what to do, and less if his instrument is different from mine -not my territory-. But, believe me, it happened to me many times.

Once, playing at a bar in my hometown, I had a drunk stood next to my ear, and between song and song he screamed to me, “Hit it stronger! Hit it!”. I was not too yogi at that time and he drove me crazy -with good reason-. Security came to take him out.

2. We female drummers are prejudged as bad musicians until we prove the opposite.

Since I started to play drums, every time I get into a music shop to buy something, the sellers ask me if I am starting to learn. The years have passed and although I have not dedicated myself exclusively to being a drummer, I could say, no, I am no longer a beginner. I could keep on learning all my life, and I will try to do it, but that is another matter.

Telling a guy I play drums is a good thermometer, an easy way to know if he is a person who is worth keeping talking with, or a waste of time. Once a boy told me, “But, do you play well?”. Conversation ended.

3. We are told we are women and different things about our physical aspect.

Sounds crazy, but it is something that people tell me: you are a lady -in connection with the fact that I play drums-, and other commentaries about my alleged beauty.

Would a man be reminded that he is a guy? Would his beauty or lack of beauty be important for those who see him drumming?

Yes, I am a woman (I already know it! The world reminds me of it quite often), I play drums, and I do not need to know what you think about how I look.

One of the things I like about good female drummers is that they do not feel pressure to demonstrate they are good. All the time they are playing music, and not only a sample of their technical skills.

4. We female drummers are not always encouraged when we want to start.

I guess the times have changed, but I had to open my path as a drummer by myself. I have nothing to reproach my parents for; they always supported me. However, when I was 13 or 14 and I said I wanted to play drums, their answer was: “You will get bored. What do we do with a drum kit after that?”. Probably it was not expected for a teenage girl to have the desire to play drums. When I was 19, a girl lent me her drumset, and I played all day, locked in my room. After that, a friend crashed his mum’s car, and he needed money to fix it. So I bought the instrument which I studied with in a music school for some years.

Teaching drums to little girls, teenage girls and young adult women was a beautiful gift that the instrument gave me. Feminism in its simplest and purest form.

I hope all I am writing here sounds strange and out of time one day. Embrace this beatiful instrument and just have fun… Drumming has no gender. Inequality does.