Traditional Music: Learning for Yourself

With over 40,000 years of musical history behind us, when you learn to play music, you are slotting yourself into an ancient tradition that has brought pleasure, joy, and memories to many. Then, if you want to follow in the first musician’s footsteps and teach yourself how to play traditional instruments and music, read on.

The History of Ancient and Medieval Music

Most ancient societies crafted musical instruments of some sort, with some modern instruments, like guitars, appearing once we hit the 15^th century. There have been many archaeological digs that have turned up instruments, however different they may be from those that are played today. Music was played by traveling bards at court, and has even been played to pass on history, tell stories, and as a basis for ceremonies of all kinds. A lot of this music was centered around religion and was played in monasteries and churches around Europe throughout the medieval era.

Preserving These Traditions

Although you might believe that there is no value in traditional instruments and music anymore, this is not the case. There are many bands that are influenced by medieval and folk music. These traditions store the country’s heritage within them and have helped to shape cultures beyond modern society. By preserving these traditions, historians and musicians alike can see where modern musical traditions have come from and can feel part of this tapestry.

Teaching Yourself

If you are planning on teaching yourself some of the musical traditions that have been scattered across the Earth for centuries, you should first consider learning the basics of modern music. This music is likely to be more recognizable and easier to track down. Not only this, but you might be able to find a teacher and resources that can help you with this. For instance, you might decide to look around for a guitar tab that can help visual learners play beautiful tunes that they already love and are passionate about. Once you have learned modern music with songs that you dance around to at home, you can apply the skills that you have learned, such as perfect pitch and fingerpicking, to an older instrument or a more complex, historical tune. There will likely be some similarities between these that ensure you are able to transfer your abilities to these older traditions.

Finding a Society

However, if you are struggling to teach yourself, there are plenty of societies across the country and the globe that specialize in medieval and ancient music and that might be able to help you to get started yourself. They might also have the resources to create and purchase traditional instruments that you would otherwise not be able to get hold of. By joining up with them, you might even be able to meet like-minded people and grow your confidence enough to perform across the globe. If there is not a society near you, you might be able to contact them online to ask for tips and advice, or just to follow their progress and performances. These could inspire you to keep going- and even start your own group one day.