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If Title IX were taking away male spots in orchestras and dad's son was a musician losing his shot, the argument still applies. (Look how professional orchestras have changed. Men are getting fewer spots because tryouts are now held with the musician behind a curtain. Nobody knows if it's a he/she/black/white/whatever. Now that's what I call fair!)
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<p>Sorry to burst your bubble, but my brother has made his living as a professional string bass player for more than 25 years and has been on both sides of the curtain (auditioning and being on the selection committee). As far as his instrument is concerned (and in his opinion all string instruments), he and most other seasoned professionals in a region can identify most local musicians playing the instrument on the other side of the curtain by auditory queues such as instrument sound (no 2 basses sound exactly alike), bowing technique and often their audition solo piece. And unfortunately, he sees many political decisions made where certain committee members insist upon their favorite players (usually their own students) whom they can easily identify.</p>
<p>The curtain may portend to take the sexism out of musical auditions, but my data point of one would argue otherwise.</p>
<p>And unfortunately as much as we put athletic surveys out there, there will always be politics in the design and implementation of those too. There is no substitute for honorable people.</p>