Despite the equality and freedom now enjoyed by women in pursuing careers, education, and hobbies, playing the drums still seem to be a man's thing. At times it seems like finding women drummers is like finding a needle in a haystack. If your daughter was bugging you to enroll her in drum lessons, would you take her seriously and encourage her?
Or as a woman, do you have any apprehensions in playing the drums just because not too many women are into it? As an aspiring female drummer, there are a lot of drummer heroes out there which may have influenced you to pick up the sticks and hit the skins. But wouldn't it be great to find drummer heroines who could inspire you?
Believe it or not, accounts of women drummers and percussionists date back as far as 2380 BC. A Mesopotamian priestess named Lipushiau was recorded to be the first drummer in history. She was the head of the spiritual as well as the financial and administrative affairs of the Ekishnugal temple, in the city-state of Ur. In ancient times, women used drums and other percussion instruments in spiritual dancing rituals to summon the gods and goddesses. Yet history also accounted for some ancient and oppressive laws that barred women from education, and from learning to play musical instruments. This may be a factor that made women shy away from playing the drums or taking up drum lessons.
Passion and talent could not be suppressed by gender, laws, or stereotypes. Get to know about these women drummers who followed the rhythm of their dreams and banged to the beat of their own drums.
Be Inspired! Check out some of the most celebrated women drummers in contemporary music history:
1. KAREN CARPENTER - She is part of the famous brother-sister duo, The Carpenters, who filled the airwaves with her gentle and melancholy voice. And yes, she's a drummer. During their early gigs, she sat on the drums while doing her lead vocal chores. If you want to be like her better enroll in drum lessons.
2. MAUREEN €MOE€ TUCKER - Known for her stint with The Velvet Underground. Moe's unique style is playing the drums standing up and not using drumsticks and cymbals.
3. SHIELA E. - Sheila Escovedo was a prodigy of Prince. She is ranked up there as one of the best funk drummers of all time. She goes by her famous moniker Sheila E. Very famous among drum teachers.
4. KATE SCHELLENBACK - The Beastie Boys used to have a lone female member. Their original drummer was Schellenback. Despite being replaced by a drum machine as the band diversified their sound and style, she never stopped playing the drums and went on to form her own all-girl punk band, The Lunachicks.
If you are having second thoughts about enrolling in drum classes just because society has subconsciously ingrained in you that €it's not a girl thing'... think again. Women drummers may be few and far behind in terms of numbers, media and institutional recognition as compared to the men. But these women continuously inspire generations of new and aspiring drummers, both men and women. And yeah, they sure are making a lot of noise!
Or as a woman, do you have any apprehensions in playing the drums just because not too many women are into it? As an aspiring female drummer, there are a lot of drummer heroes out there which may have influenced you to pick up the sticks and hit the skins. But wouldn't it be great to find drummer heroines who could inspire you?
Believe it or not, accounts of women drummers and percussionists date back as far as 2380 BC. A Mesopotamian priestess named Lipushiau was recorded to be the first drummer in history. She was the head of the spiritual as well as the financial and administrative affairs of the Ekishnugal temple, in the city-state of Ur. In ancient times, women used drums and other percussion instruments in spiritual dancing rituals to summon the gods and goddesses. Yet history also accounted for some ancient and oppressive laws that barred women from education, and from learning to play musical instruments. This may be a factor that made women shy away from playing the drums or taking up drum lessons.
Passion and talent could not be suppressed by gender, laws, or stereotypes. Get to know about these women drummers who followed the rhythm of their dreams and banged to the beat of their own drums.
Be Inspired! Check out some of the most celebrated women drummers in contemporary music history:
1. KAREN CARPENTER - She is part of the famous brother-sister duo, The Carpenters, who filled the airwaves with her gentle and melancholy voice. And yes, she's a drummer. During their early gigs, she sat on the drums while doing her lead vocal chores. If you want to be like her better enroll in drum lessons.
2. MAUREEN €MOE€ TUCKER - Known for her stint with The Velvet Underground. Moe's unique style is playing the drums standing up and not using drumsticks and cymbals.
3. SHIELA E. - Sheila Escovedo was a prodigy of Prince. She is ranked up there as one of the best funk drummers of all time. She goes by her famous moniker Sheila E. Very famous among drum teachers.
4. KATE SCHELLENBACK - The Beastie Boys used to have a lone female member. Their original drummer was Schellenback. Despite being replaced by a drum machine as the band diversified their sound and style, she never stopped playing the drums and went on to form her own all-girl punk band, The Lunachicks.
If you are having second thoughts about enrolling in drum classes just because society has subconsciously ingrained in you that €it's not a girl thing'... think again. Women drummers may be few and far behind in terms of numbers, media and institutional recognition as compared to the men. But these women continuously inspire generations of new and aspiring drummers, both men and women. And yeah, they sure are making a lot of noise!