Traditional Musics in the Modern World

Abstract

Music lovers in the modern world are fortunate, since technology has made it possible to enjoy numerous traditional genres from different cultures and countries. However, these same musics also face tremendous challenges. Youngsters tend to prefer popular music and ignore or even discriminate against music of the past. Artists may misinterpret or “modernise” traditional musics due to political issues and Western influences. Teachers may mislead their students due to limited understanding and knowledge because of biased teacher education programmes. Parents may hinder their children’s learning of traditional musics for utilitarian reasons. Professional learners may not be able to acquire the necessary authentic artistry since such pedagogy is challenged by modern “scientific” methods and technology. Schooling has become the major mode of transmission of traditional musics, substituting the informal learning approach of oral traditions. Overall, then, it is the case that traditional musics have been devalued and marginalised in the musical world, while Western art and popular music have expanded their domination in the fields of performance, composition, dissemination, education, and inheritance. Over the past few centuries, colonisation has resulted in the extinguishing of some of the world’s ancient languages. Alarmingly, the same situation now faces traditional musics. It is time for music academics and practitioners to advocate traditional musics, regardless of the culture involved, in all channels and contexts of teaching and learning.