Family Traditions and Musical Expression

When family birthdays or seasonal holidays come around, does someone in the family usually bring out a guitar? Gather others around the piano? Maybe family gatherings include Grandpa and your sister drumming their hands on the table to the beat of the music—unable to resist it. You might also have fond memories of Mom and Grandma singing songs together as they baked cookies or got ready for a family party.

Being part of a musical family isn’t limited to professional musicians. Musical expression can play a deeply meaningful part in anyone’s personal life and family traditions spanning generations. Still, the aptitude for music might come through genetics—something that could be revealed through an AncestryDNA + Traits test. But it’s more likely that musical skills and talent are a combination of nature and nurture.

The Complex Nature of Musical Talent

People with musical abilities are likely to have a combination of traits and skills that enable them to carry a tune either vocally or through an instrument. Some of those traits may have come through genetics—they may have been born with certain traits related to musical expression. According to scientific studies, the following qualities are influenced, in part, by genetics:

• Absolute pitch is strongly influenced by genetics. Someone with a predisposition for absolute pitch can accurately identify a specific pitch or note's frequency without requiring another note for reference. 

• Rhythmic ability can help carry the beat of a tune. Genome-wide association studies of over 600,000 volunteers revealed a strong connection between DNA and rhythm.

• Playing music by ear is about the ability to hear a song and then reproduce it without any sheet music or written notation.

• Hand-eye coordination is essential for instrumentalists, who often need to simultaneously read music and play their instrument, especially when first learning a song. Even if you don't play the same instrument as one of your relatives, you may have inherited the ability that lets your fingers fly across a keyboard.

How Musical Families are Made

But no one picks up an instrument for the first time and plays it perfectly. Cultural traditions, access to instruments at a young age, and training—whether formal or informal—are hugely important. 

Your family’s cultural heritage may influence how music is used in everyday life for work, play, rituals, and spiritual practices. Some traditional tunes may evoke a sense of celebration, joy, or triumph, as well as sorrow or even defiance.

Family traditions around music can also be a meaningful way to bond because of its emotional expression. It may be singing the same calming lullabies to your child that your parents sang to you, or it might be a special song that’s always used at family weddings. An older brother might help his younger sister learn how to play a song on the keyboard.

Whether or not genetics may have given you an edge in musical talent, it’s still possible to learn skills through formal instruction. Hard work, determination, and practice, practice, and more practice can go a long way in developing musical skills!

Whether or not formal music instruction is part of your family tradition, you can still foster musical experiences in your family by attending cultural events together or creating playlists for family activities. You might even make chores less tedious by playing “pump it up” tunes—a good dose of silliness can lighten the mood.