Efforts to counter gender bias in the choice of musical instruments (TES, February 3) certainly need to be strengthened but are not entirely unsuccessful.
The “cissy” image, admittedly, means that few boys join school choirs, but more and more are being successfully encouraged to sing in musicals.
There are probably two main reasons for this: the increase and widespread popularity of this genre as a form of entertainment and the fact that each participant, girl or boy, discovers both acceptance and self-confidence in hiding behind the mask of a character.
MICHAEL J. SMITH
North Pickenham
Swaffham, Norfolk
