hey! i'm responding to Jennifer from NYC. I'm one of the band members of "Saffire" and i just wanna thank you for that comment :) haha We have more videos on youtube and you can check out our website "www.saffire.us"
And to John Schaefer and Jessica Hopper - I really enjoyed listening to the broadcast. You rock!!!

happyNYC: "every once in a while,at a gig - some one (usually a guy) will ask me if I'm a 'groupie'. What's a good response to that?"

Sleater-Kinney's Corin Tucker responded to such questions, "We're not here to [expletive deleted] the band. We are the band."

Advice for the gals looking to join a band who's members are all guys- if they're cool they'll give you a chance to show your chops or will at least play/practice with you to see if the "vibe" is right or your sound style fits in... Uncool guys won't bother and give attitude, which says they're not serious about playing music but are more into hanging out as "dude's" tend to do.

My theory is in the "olden days" (like you grandpa's age and older) before everyone was "in a band" (though not particularly serious about playing music or working on the craft) young guys had other outlets like bowling leagues, meeting at the local bar, stickball, pool, dominos, cards, played sports or were in a similar style social clubs. Now it's as if you're basically a gamer or a rocker, sad.

Anyway, don't be bothered with naysayers, haters, don't ask permission or give off the whiney whiff of "why won't they let me play too?". Forget the advice books, forge your own path! History is packed full of girl-bands who rocked, and made it. Hope you have fun and even make some money... Btw, save your pennies from that part-time job- gear & practice space is wicked expensive!

One other book touching on this subject that folks may enjoy is Helene Stapinski's Baby Plays Around.

Stapinski is a journalist and this is her follow-up book to her wonderful memoir Five-Finger discount.

Here's a brief excerpt of a description from Publishers Weekly at Amazon.com: "Stapinski evocatively recounts her life in 1990s New York City, where she tries to balance a freelance writing career with the responsibilities of a new marriage while playing in a rock band led by Julie, one of her interview subjects. Her account of learning to play drums as a teenager by sneaking into her brother's room to play his set is a touching piece on the secret joy that rock music can provide "to hold on to those last, panicked moments of childhood lost." She also captures the strange exhilaration that comes from relentless rehearsals and performances in dingy clubs, and her exploration of her love for the music of Elvis Costello is touching."

Hi everyone -
Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls has a community-based after-school program in the works, so for girls in NYC who are having trouble convincing their parents to buy them a drum kit, this could be the answer!

Also adult women: if you wish there was a book like this/Rock Camp when you were a kid - it's not too late! Come to LADIES ROCK CAMP, an adult version of Rock Camp for Girls. We've got 2 sessions this summer and there are still spaces left!

www.williemaerockcamp.org

@TJ from Brooklyn
I think the "divas" you're talking about are the girls/women who are confident enough and aggressive enough to work their way into the bands (full of guys). I had been playing guitar since age 7 by the time I was in high school, I had given it up by then but all the guys I hung out with had bands and I would hang around WAITING FOR THEM TO ASK ME TO JOIN THEIR BANDS. Because I was shy and not confident in my musical skills. I am so sad I missed that opportunity to mess around with music and have fun. That's why I support Willie Mae Rock Camp! And this book is awesome! And I'm playing guitar again finally.

awesome segment

My daughter, Elisa (17 years old and home schooled) started playing with rock & Roll bands through the Gawanus Music Club in Brooklyn last summer. She has written several songs, two of which she has recorded. She has really blossomed dramatically in the past year, learning to play guitar, getting along with boys and being the lead singer in several Rock bands now!

The first time I ever saw a girl play in a band where she wasn't there to look pretty, and she wasn't even there to sing, was when I saw Jawbox, with bassist Kim Coletta, in the early 90's, in Cleveland Ohio. She was up there, rocking out, looking fierce, and playing her heart out, on a bill with all boy bands, (including Jesus Lizard). I saw her, and I realized, hey, I can do this! And later that year I sold my flute and used the money to buy a guitar.

Regarding drums, if you have the money there are electronic drum kits that you can use with headphones. These may be more interesting to aspiring drummers than practice pads.

For the flute-playing sisters whose father called in: a lot of saxophone players also play flute, because the fingering is the same. This can work the other way around, too--the girls could learn a different embouchure & switch to sax. I know it's not as prominent in rock as in some other genres, but it's not that rare, either.

How about girls in indie or punk bands, like Vivian Girls? They've said it's hard to be taken seriously as punk girls, not pretty girls. Can you talk a little about that?

Hi, first, let me say that I have much respect for what your doing, looking at the book, its a great idea, I book shows in the New York area, and find the biggest problem that girls face, is and I hate to say this but the diva stereotype, theres allot of girls who join bands, and only want to be the frontwoman, and not have to be involved in the actual promotion, song writing etc. Not saying this is all girls in bands by any means, but I have seen it and unfortunately it leaves a sour feeling in allot of peoples mouths. What are your thoughts on this?

Dear Michael,

We all have to start somewhere. The decks are stacked against women from the gate. There are fewer of us, we are cute and pretty before we are taken seriously as players. I think that what Jessica's book is making clear is that we all start somewhere. And where there are no understanding and tolerant role models of any gender, her book is a great guide.

MICHAEL FROM MORNIGSIDE - WHAT'S YOUR ISSUE? WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ENCOURAGING KIDS TO START BANDS. YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT?

I'm 25 and have a indie band in NYC(PaperDoll) - we toured Ireland last week, sold 3,000 albums (just at shows), and play all over the city.

I write the music, book gigs, promote, write press releases...yet every once in a while,at a gig - some one (usually a guy) will ask me if I'm a "groupie". What's a good response to that?

Great interview! I'm gonna get your book. I am a lady who started playing guitar at 28...started bands threafter, have been in multiple bands since, and play lots of shows. Music/writing songs/being in bands is my life now and I wouldn't want to do anything else. It is never too late or too early to begin.

ohmygoodness I am so happy to hear this being talked about on the radio - thank you! thank you!

I'm a guitar/bass teacher. Half my students are female. I'm having trouble finding a bass player for my own group so, I've been posting on my blog the bass parts written in notation on Bob's Blog which you can find by going to boscoden.com

THE SAPHIRES ARE SO CUUUUTE!

I recently wrote a middle-grade novel about a 12-year-old girl who starts a band at her middle school. It comes out on Walker Books for Young Readers in Spring 2010. I didn't have a specific grrl-power theme in mind, but as a male writer, I wanted to write from a girls' point of view to avoid both guy-rock cliches and the temptation toward autobiography. Along the path toward publication, I met a lot of inspiring tween girl rockers, and am thrilled that there seems to be a growing well of creativity among these young women. Rock on!

I really needed this book when I was younger. I was a band geek and played a lot of horns and loved music, but I didn't try actually rocking out until I was 29! I bought a cheap drum set and started taking lessons. After a few months, I started jamming with friends and now, two years later, I am in a band and have played several shows around NYC.

I wish I knew that I could have done it sooner. Rock out, girls!

The guest just underlined my point: No muscial skill? No problem! No talent? No problem! No clue? Read my lips: No problem! After all, it's not about music. It's about everything else, but not about music. Never was.

This book and the rock camps institutionalize and neuter the individuality and rebellion that makes rock music vital.

Yes! When I was growing up, it felt like boys have ALL the information. Sometimes it still does. Congratulations to Jessica for her book!

Musically, they all sound the same. Totally predictable and not an original note to be found.

As for what they have to say, snore.

In fact, the entire subject is one big snore. More homage to the shallow, callow, self-absorbed, self-involved, navel-gazing youth culture.

The "world of rock", indeed!

(But c'mon Michael, tell us what you REALLY think!)

Wish I'd had this book when I was a girl!!!!!!

Excellent intro music! I love "Rebel Girl"! Almost as much as I love Kathleen Hanna her own bad self! Why can't I stop using exclamation points?!