“Sort of in your blood”: Inherent musicality survives cultural judgement

Abstract

This article reports on lived experiences of a cohort of 20 self-perceived non-musicians. Their stories reveal culturally based perceptions that humans are inherently “musical” or they are not. While recent inquiries are beginning to investigate this phenomenon, instinctive musicality of self-perceived non-musical individuals remains an under-researched area. Presented in narrative form, participant experiences reveal impositions that thwart developing musicality of individuals growing up in a western cultural tradition. Although they have “learned” that they are not musical, these individuals reveal intrinsic musicality.