In some cultures, music is viewed as an innate human expression that anyone can engage in. Yet, in others, it is seen as an elite skill restricted to formally trained experts. These opposing perspectives reveal much about how societies construct ideas of creative participation. Tracing the roots of these widely divergent worldviews on music is a worthwhile endeavor.

In many West African societies, for instance, music is deeply integrated into daily life, and everyone is encouraged to participate in music-making, whether through singing, dancing, or playing instruments. Music often accompanies rituals, celebrations, and communal gatherings. Here, participatory singing and drumming encompass whole communities regardless of musical skill. Since everyone contributes equally, these cultures view music-making as an egalitarian process that does not require specialized education.

In the Western and Indian classical traditions, on the other hand, music is often seen as a refined art form that requires formal training. Composers and performers usually have years of rigorous study and practice. To “properly” learn music, one needs instructors, examinations, accredited schools, and universities. This notion of music as a credentialed discipline makes it exclusive, positioning untrained singers as lacking in some way. Unfortunately, these elitist tendencies also manifest themselves in the manner different musical genres are evaluated and deemed worthy or unworthy.

At the heart of clashing cultural beliefs on music lie opposing ideas of achievement. When a society sees music as an inborn human gift, collective enjoyment is the purpose rather than individual skill. But when music becomes professionalized, institutional gatekeeping and competitiveness around talent ensue. Some cultures emphasize communal ties, while others focus on personal success.

The idea that classical training is the sole criterion for creating authentic music is a restrictive and questionable notion. Ingrained social stratification means only certain artistic expressions associated with the educated elite classes tend to be deemed worthy of the "serious music" label. True appreciation of music's essence, however, demands recognizing the creativity and artistry present in all of its myriad folk, popular, and contemporary forms across the cultural spectrum.

Opening artistic boundaries then requires examining how societies categorize cultural participation. Who gets excluded from making music in a culture reveals underlying social prejudices. Recognizing music’s fundamentally inclusive essence as a universal human communications mode is the first step to dismantling such barriers.