Music as a kind of art and cultural activity uses sound and silence as the medium. The English word originated from the term mousike, a Greek word. Mousike refers to the nine goddesses who inspire the arts, literature, and science according to Greek mythology. The muses are a source of knowledge embodied in poetry, cultural myths, and song-lyrics. When in need of learning about music Oakland is one of the best places to consider visiting.

The reasons why people engage in this art differ. Some of the reasons are to derive aesthetic pleasure and ceremonial purposes. Increasingly, musicians today produce the art for public consumption in the marketplace. People played music on home pianos during Romantic and Classical eras when sound recording capabilities had not been invented yet. Enjoyment of the art was made much easier when technology for recording sound was invented.

There has been a lot of advancement in the technology used for the production and performance of this art. The 1980s home tape recorder and the 1990s digital music are some of the main inventions in this field. People gained the ability to listen to favorite playlists on MP3 and portable cassette players. Prescriptions for parties, self-portrait, and gift-giving is often done using mix tapes of favorite music.

Music is loved by many people. Some people, especially amateur musicians produce music for self-pleasure while making income through other totally different activities. Professional musicians are employed by different institutions in different events. Major employers for professional musicians are music schools, the armed forces, symphony orchestras, film production companies, broadcasting companies, churches, and synagogues among others. Marching bands are the main example of what professional musicians do in the armed forces.

Professional musicians also commonly work as freelancers or session musicians in some settings. Here, they seek engagements and contracts from clients. Professional musicians also train amateur musicians to get better. Professional artists also sometimes allow advanced amateur musicians to perform together with them in community orchestras, concert bands, and similar events. Performances are done before audiences in a live setting or within a studio.

Music that is produced within a studio and that which musicians perform in live concerts in front of audiences differ in many aspects. Product of the studio is meant for recording and distribution to buyers at a cost. In most cases, performances are not recorded. If recorded legally, they are highly valued and may be distributed through the internet and other forms of media.

Music is made of various elements including sonic qualities of timbre and the texture, rhythm, pitch, and harmony. The government of melody and harmony is done by pitch, whereas rhythm has concepts like tempo, meter, and articulation associated with it. The elements are emphasized to different levels in various styles.

It takes various vocal techniques and musical instruments to perform this art. The vocal techniques used range from instrument-free singing to rapping. The various styles and other aspects of this field have evolved a lot since its discovery. New styles come up regularly as old ones lose popularity in the mainstream. The industry is actively expanding and reaching new corners of the world and accompanying technology gets better.