Music Autography

I don’t have a huge amount of experience with music outside of Western Art music. I’ve grown up in Spartanburg and don’t really know much outside of it other than trips up North, trips with chorus, and whatever Youtube has brought me in my lifetime.

I think the first encounter I had with music outside of the realm of Western Art music would have to be some time in my elementary school years. I was in the advanced music program and we would meet three mornings a week and talk about and study several different types of music. I remember listening to some type of music from Africa and remember wanting to hear more. I liked the beats, rhythms, and notes that were present.

I would have to say the most I’ve heard outside of Western Art music is whenever I go to a restaurant of a different culture. I really enjoy listening to what restaurants decide to play. At Mexican restaurants, I love how different the different types of music are played just within that one culture. I enjoy listening to the music that sounds like mariachi bands. It’s always so happy and simple. I also enjoy the music that sounds like pop music that would be played in other places such as grocery stores or the fast food restaurants people would go to. I also like that the majority of music also sounds happy and I really like that about the culture.

I am astounded by the amount of different types of music just within the Asian culture. I have been to several different restaurants, including Thai, Japanese, and Chinese, and although the music had similar elements, they were never the same. Each culture had something different to bring to the table and I absolutely love it! I love how much music there can be in one country alone!

I look forward to learning tons during this class!