Comments on: Arranging for Women’s Voices 0: Before You Begin http://www.portamental.com Fluidity of Mind and Music Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:03:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Laura http://www.portamental.com/a-cappella-arranging/advanced-explorations/arranging-for-womens-voices-before-you-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-4059 Laura Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:07:06 +0000 http://www.smartermusic.us/?page_id=1072#comment-4059 Why is this being touted as suggestions for writing all-female arrangements then if you know its general information? If you're not trying to be sexist, then your premise undermines you. This is sexist purely based on the fact that you are calling all these issues all-female-specific. That's great that men's groups agree, they should, because this is just about good arrangement writing. When those individuals told you that it was good advice for you should have realized that this article is written with the wrong focus. Accidentally or not, what you presented was, indeed, sexist. I'm also really curious about this sentence: "I do recommend shielding women from their own trouble areas..." Change "women" to "people" and it's about human nature, but right now you're saying women should be shielded while men do not need to be. ??? Kudos to you for writing good advice, but I was actually looking for help writing a women's arrangement, and just got general advice. Not much help. Why is this being touted as suggestions for writing all-female arrangements then if you know its general information? If you’re not trying to be sexist, then your premise undermines you. This is sexist purely based on the fact that you are calling all these issues all-female-specific. That’s great that men’s groups agree, they should, because this is just about good arrangement writing. When those individuals told you that it was good advice for you should have realized that this article is written with the wrong focus. Accidentally or not, what you presented was, indeed, sexist.

I’m also really curious about this sentence:

“I do recommend shielding women from their own trouble areas…”

Change “women” to “people” and it’s about human nature, but right now you’re saying women should be shielded while men do not need to be. ???

Kudos to you for writing good advice, but I was actually looking for help writing a women’s arrangement, and just got general advice. Not much help.

]]> By: Catherine Cheng Jones http://www.portamental.com/a-cappella-arranging/advanced-explorations/arranging-for-womens-voices-before-you-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-70 Catherine Cheng Jones Thu, 15 Jan 2009 06:58:10 +0000 http://www.smartermusic.us/?page_id=1072#comment-70 Kim, You may have caught me in an editing mistake, but I firmly stand by my post. Most of my experience is in directing a womens' group (2.5 years), and arranging for a coed group after college (8 months). Perhaps I should have titled the entry "A few considerations for the music director." I'm mostly a contributor for thoughts on working with all-female a cappella groups, so I started with the title as it stands now, and the content admittedly became a bit tangential. In reaction to your strong comments, I've gotten feedback from three men who have directed all-male groups, and they agree that the points I made apply to men as well as women. As a manager, it's important to massage the egos of the group members, and to highlight their strengths. It's the positive way to handle a situation, and has nothing to do with sexism, or with <em>Cosmopolitan</em> magazine. Kim,
You may have caught me in an editing mistake, but I firmly stand by my post.
Most of my experience is in directing a womens’ group (2.5 years), and arranging for a coed group after college (8 months).
Perhaps I should have titled the entry “A few considerations for the music director.” I’m mostly a contributor for thoughts on working with all-female a cappella groups, so I started with the title as it stands now, and the content admittedly became a bit tangential.
In reaction to your strong comments, I’ve gotten feedback from three men who have directed all-male groups, and they agree that the points I made apply to men as well as women. As a manager, it’s important to massage the egos of the group members, and to highlight their strengths. It’s the positive way to handle a situation, and has nothing to do with sexism, or with Cosmopolitan magazine.

]]> By: Kim http://www.portamental.com/a-cappella-arranging/advanced-explorations/arranging-for-womens-voices-before-you-begin/comment-page-1/#comment-68 Kim Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:15:41 +0000 http://www.smartermusic.us/?page_id=1072#comment-68 This article reminds me of the kind of self-imposed sexism usually reserved for Cosmopolitan Magazine, and The Rules book. That is sexism that uses the most common stereotypes of women, and uses their worst qualities to explain their points. Are these "amazing, fiery, and strong," women really in need of "back scratching, shielding" and most of all -- so handicapped that it is imperative to write parts that make them feel "safe and confident?" Is catering your music to the group's emotional needs really what arranging for women is all about? Please reconsider your assumptions about women singers, as well as the language and style of writing. I don't argue the points, expect that they seem to paint these women as being overly emotional, insecure, and spoiled. I'm sure this is not a true reflection of the group you are trying to reach. This article reminds me of the kind of self-imposed sexism usually reserved for Cosmopolitan Magazine, and The Rules book. That is sexism that uses the most common stereotypes of women, and uses their worst qualities to explain their points. Are these “amazing, fiery, and strong,” women really in need of “back scratching, shielding” and most of all — so handicapped that it is imperative to write parts that make them feel “safe and confident?” Is catering your music to the group’s emotional needs really what arranging for women is all about? Please reconsider your assumptions about women singers, as well as the language and style of writing. I don’t argue the points, expect that they seem to paint these women as being overly emotional, insecure, and spoiled. I’m sure this is not a true reflection of the group you are trying to reach.

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