I have noticed a lot of little differences between my perspective and that of the other students here. Sometimes it’s funny little things like shaking hands when you meet someone; I do that, but the students from Mexico give you a kiss on the cheek and a hug. The students from France give a kiss on each cheek, and the students from Switzerland give three cheek kisses and a little pat on the arm. Sometimes it’s a little more complicated to understand these customs, and my awareness of both sexism and racism informs the way I see things here. In Switzerland, women didn’t get the right to vote everywhere until 1971. That was after The Beatles broke up!
One of the ways I have a different perspective about sexism and racism is from my old school. In the US, most music schools at least make an effort to be inclusive in classes like music history and music theory. Sadly, many teachers only include a few women and a few people of color, but they at least know enough to try. Here, I have been in classes since September and I have never once heard a teacher mention any composer or performer who was not a white man. And not only the curriculum is limited - all of my teachers are white and only one of my “theoretical” teachers is a woman!
