History tells us that ancient music is difficult to re-create due to the lack of written scores.  There are only about 40 existing written music scores before 400AD.  The lack of a notation system combined with a lack of education prevented music from being handed down.

This problem is no better today in many countries.  There are many musicians in Africa, but very few music schools or formal education. It is common to see a dance that has been handed down through many generations, but few songs older than a few decades exist in the repertoire of local music.

Music missions help to preserve the local music by training musicians.  We don’t teach songs, we teach how to write songs.  We train in musicianship.  We teach about Biblical worship using instruments God created through man.