Reading the researches done on finding the gender stereotypes on instruments, I find music

educators plays an important role in affecting students perception on music. From the article, there
is a research showing 31 percent of the students thought that their music teacher influenced their
choice (of instruments). (p.130) As music educators are the direct source for students to know
more about music, students decisions related to music will be influenced by their music teachers.
There is a little reduction in instrumental gender stereotype, because there are a change in societys
perception on musical instruments, for example there are more girls playing masculine
instruments such as brasses and guitars as that is becoming more common in society.

Conformity is one of the factor for students or even adults gender stereotype on instruments.
Abeles listed out some factors of the phenomenon concluded by the researches, peer pressure and
influences by parents and teachers are significant factors that affect students choices of
instruments. This is a result of conformity, students tend to choose instruments that fits their
gender in order to avoid being abnormal. This is an issue of identity as well. If one have a sense
of identity in a group or in the class, they may not feel uneasy to choose or try instruments which
are in a different gender. As music teachers has a strong influence on students decisions for
choosing an instrument, they should first develop an inclusive classroom environment to the
students and give them courage to choose what they want to try. Also, parents and teachers have the
responsibility to teach students that conformity will not bring benefit to them and to society.
Therefore, students should start to be trained for having unique thoughts by simply choosing an
instrument they are eager to try.

From the researches, Abeles points out that the majority of students are having gender stereotype
on instruments because of the timbre of the instruments. Music educators can introduce different
sound quality produced by different instruments. For example, the trombones timbre may make

students identify as masculine. However, with different interpretations like playing with a bouncy
character may change students stereotype over the instrument. Therefore, music teachers should try
to demonstrate a hidden side of the instrument to students, as to widen their knowledge and
choices of instruments.

Culture is one of the factor that influences students choices of instruments. In the article, Abeles
provided an example of boys in asian countries are encouraged to play violin and flute. (P.137)
Knowing the culture of my home-country, I think this is because of the traditional thoughts that still
remain in society. In ancient times, flutes were usually played by boys. Therefore, a social norm like
boys should be playing flute still remains in some conservative families. However, this gender
stereotype on instruments has changed. That shows that the stereotype does changes over time.

Citation: Abeles, H. (2009). Are musical instrument gender associations changing? Journal of
Research in Music Education, 57(2), 127-139. doi:10.1177/0022429409335878