My grandmother studied classical piano, preparing herself for a career as a performer. Her father promoted her dreams. She was enrolled in The Juilliard School of Music (when it was The Singer School) in the early 1920s.
She met my grandfather and made the choice to marry him and teach private lessons while raising a family.
And when I was a music major, there was an undercurrent of sexism -- and this was at an independent ALL WOMEN'S college (Sweet Briar College)! The chairman openly mocked a woman who wasn't a major. She wanted to learn how to play the piano solely for the purpose of "amusing herself". No wonder there was only two majors when I graduated.
By comparison, biology/chemistry/psychology majors had relatively no sexism. Music majors didn't get enough respect from within -- with one exception: one professor was a serious piano teacher. She could be heard practicing in her studio on campus at 3:00 a.m. and she demanded that you work hard in her classes. She changed my entire perspective of dedication and perseverance. She told me I could do a clarinet recital -- only if I was ready to work for it.
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