Musical contexts

What is a Musical Context?

We’re going to engage with music from lots of different times and places. Some of the music you will be familiar with, and some of it will be new to you. Exploring, experimenting and presenting music from different contexts enriches our experience with music, develops our international mindedness, and gives us an even greater understanding of music. There are 3 main musical contexts: Personal, Local, and Global.

Personal context

The music that you are most familiar with. It is significant because you may have played it, heard it, or experienced it somehow.

Sample music journal questions

Personal context prompts might include the following.

What type(s) of music interest me?
Are there patterns that I can find across the types of music that interest me? (For example: Do I like a particular kind of music? Do I like a particular kind of emotion in the music I listen to?)
What type(s) of music do I dislike, and why?
Have my musical interests changed over time?
What types of music do I want to learn more about?
What is my musical identity?
To what extent are there relationships between personal, local and global contexts?

Local context

The music that is from your local, cultural, or regional community, but it may be unfamiliar with.

Sample music journal questions

Local context prompts might include the following.

What is my local musical context?
Are there any trends/similarities in the music that is in my local context?
What is the musical identity of my local context?
To what extent do I engage with my local musical context?
To what extent should I engage with my local musical context?
As a musician, what are my responsibilities to my local community?
To what extent are there relationships between personal, local and global contexts?

Global context

The music that is unfamiliar with you, from a variety of places, societies, and cultures.

Sample music journal questions

Global context prompts might include the following.

What is a global musical context?
What global music do I enjoy?
To what extent are global musical contexts a part of my personal and/or local context?
To what extent do I engage with global musical contexts?
To what extent should I engage with global musical contexts?
To what extent are global contexts isolated?
If music from a global context is combined (fused) with music from my local context, is the music now local?
As a musician, what are my responsibilities towards global musical communities?
How am I developing my knowledge and understanding of global musical contexts?
To what extent are there relationships between personal, local and global contexts?

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