ABSTRACT
This chapter will seek to explain the reasons for the gender imbalance in secondary school and university jazz programs. While many young women participate in secondary school jazz bands, many will not volunteer to take improvised solos and even fewer will decide to pursue jazz studies in college. Studies have shown that young women are more risk-averse than young men and are also not as comfortable being in the spotlight due to higher rates of performance anxiety and low self-esteem. (Wehr, 2016; Wehr-Flowers, 2006). Improvising is by its very nature a risky endeavor and taking a solo naturally calls attention to the soloist.
