Etymology

• The word "music" is derived from the Greek word "mousike." In Greek, the word translates into the "art of the Muses."
  
  

Function

• Music is used for a variety of reasons depending on cultural influences. Common applications of music include religious ceremonies, entertainment, celebrations and artistic expression.
  
  

Origin

• Western music (the type in which most music is written or performed) likely began with Gregorian plainchant in 800 A.D. From then it grew through cultural periods such as the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic 20th Century and Modern.
  
  

Geography

• Western music is not the only approach to music used in the world. Cultures often determine their own rules based on the types of music that they prefer to play. For example, Asian cultures typically employ a different type of scale (step-wise organization of notes) than is often used in Western cultures.
  
  

Features

• Music is organized by series of notes that are then formed into tone groups called chords. These chords can then be grouped into a chord progression that forms the base for most songs or pieces.