ABSTRACT
The music of American Indians now living is both like and unlike that prevalent at the time of the European colonists’ arrival. To understand the styles, meanings, usages, functions, histories, and changes in American Indian music is a life-long endeavor, if you accept the notion that musical sound is only comprehensible when considered within its associated cultural context. The principles and processes of American Indian music were different than in Western Europe; music was transmitted orally from one generation to the next, and no notation system was used. The music of the American Indians also differed from that of the Europeans in type, since it was predominantly to be sung by individuals or groups of either the same or mixed sex. Introduction to American Indian music is also infiltrating primary and secondary education as music educators become increasingly interested in introducing world cultures to their students.
