Meet the author, Hayley Chan.

I’m a drummer from Warrane/Sydney, currently completing my BMus Honours at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. I began researching for this project in my third year of university, determined to uncover the reasons for gender disparities in Australian music after hearing that some of the women in my course were thinking of dropping out. 

But really, the seeds of this project began to grow whilst I was in high school. I was the only woman drummer at my school and whilst I had fantastic teachers and mentors, I still found myself in situations where I would be bullied and alienated for being a “girl drummer”. I would be made to feel as though I didn’t deserve to be playing alongside the boys, which led to me quit some school bands, isolating myself from the other drummers at my school. 

Thinking back on this made me wonder, “Why is it that I am still here today, pursuing this career? Why didn’t these experiences dissuade me from this path? What empowers us drummers to keep playing drums?”

Under the supervision of Bree van Reyk, I interviewed six women and gender-diverse drummers from Sydney, Australia. I sought to discover common experiences of overcoming and empowerment. These interviews uncovered many unexpected and insightful experiences, but the most impactful discovery was joy. All these drummers loved playing drums; loved sharing music with others; loved connecting with others; loved the way music made them feel. That is why they continue doing what they do. 

It is this joy that I hope we can continue spreading to future generations of drummers, whilst we continue to support and encourage them to hone their craft and chase their dreams.