How Culture Contributes to Musical Development

Psychology of Music
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Psychology of Music
How Culture Contributes to Musical Development
Culture plays a crucial role in shaping and influencing musical development. It provides a framework for creating, transmitting, and maintaining musical practices, styles, and traditions. This section will explore how culture contributes to musical development, drawing upon relevant literature.
Cultural Values and Beliefs Influence the Purpose and Function of Music within a Society
Different cultures assign varying significance to music, such as religious rituals, storytelling, social cohesion, or entertainment. For example, in traditional African societies, music often serves as a means of communication, conveying messages and preserving oral history (Engh, 2013). Western classical music highly emphasizes cultural values of complexity, virtuosity, and emotional expression (Engh, 2013). These cultural expectations shape the development of musical skills and the repertoire of techniques employed by musicians. According to Engh (2013), music in traditional African cultures serves as a vehicle for oral history and cultural preservation. Important narratives, legends, and values are passed down from generation to generation using rhythmic patterns, melodic motifs, and lyrics (Pye, n.d.). The rhythmic complexity and polyphonic textures often found in African music reflect the communal nature of these societies, fostering social cohesion and group identity.
On the other hand, Western classical music places great emphasis on complexity, virtuosity, and emotional expression. Beaman and Williams (2010) suggest that Western classical music reflects cultural values associated with intellectual pursuits, individualism, and aesthetic refinement (Beaman & Williams, 2010). The development of musical skills in this tradition focuses on mastering intricate musical structures, technical proficiency, and conveying emotional depth through performance. These cultural expectations significantly shape the trajectory of musical development. In traditional African societies, where music is deeply integrated into everyday life, children grow up surrounded by music and participate in communal musical activities from a young age (Engh, 2013). This immersive environment facilitates the development of musical skills, rhythmic sensitivity, and improvisational abilities (Pye, n.d.). In contrast, Western classical music often follows a more formalized educational system, with structured instruction, standardized curricula, and a focus on notation and theory (Pye, n.d.). Developing technical proficiency and interpretive skills is highly valued within this cultural context.
Culture Influences the Repertoire of Techniques Employed by Musicians
Different musical cultures prioritize specific instruments, vocal styles, melodic patterns, and rhythmic structures. For instance, Indian classical music strongly emphasizes melodic ornamentation, intricate rhythmic cycles, and improvisation (Pye, n.d.). These stylistic features are deeply rooted in India's cultural and philosophical traditions, reflecting the importance of spirituality and emotional expression. In contrast, the Western classical traditio...