Music is one of the oldest performing arts. People probably started to sing as soon as they developed their own language.Bones and hunting tools striking together may have been the first musical instruments.

By about 10,000 B.C., People had discovered how to make flutes out of hollow bones. Many ancient cultures, including the Egyptians, Chinese, and Babylonians, used music in court ceremonies and religious worship. The earliest written music dates back to 2500 B.C.

Today music takes many forms around the world. The music of people in Europe and The Americans is known as Western music. There are two main kinds of Western music, classical and popular. Classical music includes symphonies, operas, and ballets. Popular music includes country music, folk music, jazz, and rock music. The countries of Africa and Asia have developed their own types of classical and popular music.