Archive | April 2016

Breaking down barriers in jazz

Apr2

The problem with women in jazz is longstanding. That’s why we have http://wijsf.org. We promote women musicians, globally!

UC San Diego Extension

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by Beth Wood

Holly Hofmann is an acclaimed jazz musician who tours internationally. Her success has not been without challenges, however. Hofmann has had to overcome misconceptions and biases about her gender and her instrument. Often told a woman couldn’t make a living in jazz, she also has had to convince many that the flute belongs in a jazz band as much as a saxophone or trumpet.

“I have been fighting discrimination since 
I was a young student,” Hofmann said. 
“The flute was a problem, but it’s also related to the question about women. Other women who played the so-called jazz instruments were not welcome either. A lot of the men didn’t want women on the bus.”

Hofmann fully supports the goal of the UC San Diego Jazz Camp to increase its number 
of female students. She has been an instructor at the weeklong summer camp almost every year since…

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