Casey Was Told She Couldn’t Play Drums

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By: Casey | Age: 18 | On: 06-1-2009

This is one of many reader entries from the Share Your Story section, designed to encourage and inspire other women to rise to the challenge and follow their dreams.

Have you ever been told you can't
because you're a girl?

Tell us your story...

I’ve been playing drums for about 4 years now, and I’ve had tons of people tell me I couldn’t play because I’m a girl, and I hate it when they say well you’re good for a girl, but I believe I’m better than any guy drummer I’ve ever heard. Yeah sometimes it gets hard when someone picks a dude over you but I keep playing and getting better.

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7 Responses on “Casey Was Told She Couldn’t Play Drums”

  1. gretchen | June 1st, 2009 12:21 pm

    Casey – I feel your pain! I’ve been there so many times. I started playing when I was about 15 and I’m 36 now. It’s a long road but eventually you will earn respect. The best thing to do is to work hard and be the best at what you do. Your skills will outshine anything negative anyone says about you.

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    Ryan | September 11th, 2009 4:41 pm

    Don’t ever let anyone tell you down. Don’t ever stop playing the drums if thats what you love. I am a longtime player too and have had to deal with many disrespectful people.

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    panhead#13 | September 12th, 2009 12:45 pm

    Yeah! I have played drums for one year but people still think that girls can’t play. I think girls would be better at playing because we’re multi-taskers (more than most boys). I’m sixteen and I hope to join a band when I turn eighteen. (Preferably before but I don’t think that’s going to happen yet).

    It takes a lot of work to be a drummer. I practice every day for one hour. I would play more but I’m really busy and I pulled a tendon in my right hand almost a year ago and I have to be careful (heat 20 minutes before playing and ice 20 minutes after playing.)

    I love playing drums. I have amazing strength for a girl and I don’t even know how much strength I have because I hurt people a lot so drumming is a good way to get my energy out!

    I have twenty seconds before I’m kicked off the computer because I’m at the library…

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    James Spinney | October 8th, 2009 8:28 am

    “but I believe I’m better than any guy drummer I’ve ever heard.”

    This is exactly the kind of hypocrisy I was expecting, especially coming from a contorted site and inner-community that helps further expand the divisions between genders and sexism.

    If someone says you can’t play drums, their just being incompetent and ignorant. What if you were a little geeky boy, would it have been any different?

    Then again, do whatever makes you feel better on the “inside”, because hiding behind all that false comfort is good for you, right?

  5. gretchen | October 8th, 2009 8:36 am

    James – first, you are making a judgment without ever hearing Casey play. 8-|

    Second, if you think we are here to “further expand the divisions between genders and sexism” you are dead wrong.

    And third, if Casey says she has been playing for four years and she is practicing and getting better, how is that “false comfort”? I would be commending her for that. At least she’s not spewing out a bunch of hot air saying she can play and not bothering to practice. :)>-

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    James Spinney | October 8th, 2009 8:44 am

    “Second, if you think we are here to “further expand the divisions between genders and sexism” you are dead wrong.”

    Refers to original quote… “but I believe I’m better than any guy drummer I’ve ever heard.”

    Simply stated, her perception is that a “guy” told her she can’t play the drums because she’s a “girl”. When in reality, an “asshole” told her she can’t play the drums. It’s all about a realistic perception and not a generalized one. Which is exactly what you’re trying to do here right? Debunk generalizations about women.

  7. gretchen | October 8th, 2009 8:51 am

    Her exact words were gender neutral… “I’ve had tons of people tell me I couldn’t play because I’m a girl”

    And “better than any guy” is somewhat of a generalization (I agree with you there), but it could just mean the guy drummers she knows personally. I seriously doubt she meant every single male drummer in the world.

    The point is that she was told she couldn’t play BECAUSE she was female.




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