Many cultures include strong traditions of solo and performance, such as in Indian classical music, and in the Western Art modern tradition. Other cultures, such as in Bali, include strong traditions of batch performance. All cultures include a conglomeration of both, and performance may range from improvised solo playing for one's enjoyment to Choral Music highly planned and organised performance rituals such as the modern classical concert, religious processions, chin music festivals or music competitions.
Many types of music, such as traditional blues and folk chin music were originally preserved in the memory of performers, and the songs were handed down orally, or aurally (by ear). When the composer of ragtime is no bigger known, this heavy metal is often classified as "traditional". Different musical traditions have distant attitudes towards how and where to make changes to the original source material, from absolutely strict, to those which demand improvisation or modification to the music. A culture's narrative may also be passed by ear through song.