The World Music Foundation

The World Music Foundation A 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a simple mission: to open minds through Music!

Lutes have been shaped and adapted by musical traditions around the world. Swipe through to discover some of the differe...
10/06/2026

Lutes have been shaped and adapted by musical traditions around the world. Swipe through to discover some of the different lutes and the stories behind them! Are there any that you recognize?

10/05/2026

Bruno Mars has built a career on authenticity, soul, and unforgettable hooks. From chart-topping anthems to heartfelt ballads, his music blends funk, pop, R&B, and old-school influence into something that feels both timeless and fresh. As an artist of mixed heritage, Puerto Rican, Filipino, and more, his background reflects the same kind of cultural blend you hear in his music. When he says, “I just write songs that I strongly believe in and that are coming from inside. It’s honesty with big melodies”, it’s that honesty that makes his music stick. It’s not just catchy, it’s the truth.

Do you think the best songs are the ones that come straight from the heart? 💭🎤

Thank you to everyone who tuned in to our September Together Sessions! 🎶We had such a great time sharing music and perfo...
10/05/2026

Thank you to everyone who tuned in to our September Together Sessions! 🎶

We had such a great time sharing music and performances from Eun Kyeol Cho, Ivan Stepanov, Miqayel Voskanyan, and the Tuvergen band. A huge thank you to our amazing artists and everyone who joined us live! 💛

Here are a few moments from the session. Until next time! 🎶

Today we celebrate World Teachers' Day! 📚️Observed every year on October 5, this day recognizes the educators who inspir...
10/05/2026

Today we celebrate World Teachers' Day! 📚️

Observed every year on October 5, this day recognizes the educators who inspire, guide, and empower future generations.

Teachers do more than share knowledge. They encourage curiosity and help shape stronger communities. Today, we celebrate their lasting impact and thank them for everything they do.

Happy World Teachers' Day!

What does it take to stay creatively inspired for decades?Take a look at this interview with Imogen Heap, composer behin...
10/04/2026

What does it take to stay creatively inspired for decades?

Take a look at this interview with Imogen Heap, composer behind Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and inventor of the Mi.Mu gloves, which turn gestures into music.

Heap shares why she keeps exploring projects she “literally knows nothing about at first,” and how sound itself can shape her songwriting: “A sound for me often has precedence in the studio above a chord structure.”

Her idea of success? “To be sustained by your creative output but to never have to repeat yourself musically.”

Read the full interview at the link in our bio.
⁠

We loved presenting Radio Free Honduras at the Edgewater Music Festival, and we’re still hearing from people about how m...
10/02/2026

We loved presenting Radio Free Honduras at the Edgewater Music Festival, and we’re still hearing from people about how much they loved their set!

If you saw them at the festival and want more—or if you missed them—here’s your next chance, and you won’t want to miss it.

will be at with (NYC/Colombia) TONIGHT, Friday, October 2, at 9 PM sharp.

And even better: it’s FREE!

Go catch them!

10/02/2026

It’s time for our Friday reveal! 🎶

This week’s instrument is…the QUIJADA DE BURRO, presented by the fantastic Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou!

The quijada de burro, or simply quijada, is an Afro-Peruvian percussion instrument traditionally made from the jawbone of a donkey, although jawbone instruments can also be made from horses or mules. Preparing the instrument is an important part of creating its sound. The jawbone is cleaned of tissue and left to dry, which causes the teeth to loosen naturally in their sockets while remaining in the bone. Once loose, the teeth are able to vibrate inside their sockets, creating the quijada’s distinctive rattling or buzzing sound.

The quijada can be played using several techniques, with each producing a different sound. A musician typically holds one end of the jawbone and strikes the other with their hand or fist, causing the loose teeth to vibrate and rattle together. A stick can also be dragged across the teeth, producing a rough, scraping sound similar to a güiro. These techniques can also be combined to create different rhythmic sounds and patterns.

The quijada has an important place in Afro-Peruvian musical tradition. Its history is connected to enslaved Africans and their descendants in Peru, who adapted available materials to create instruments and continue making music. Over time, the quijada became an important part of Afro-Peruvian music alongside percussion instruments such as the cajón and cajita.

Watch Daria demonstrate the quijada de burro and hear its distinctive sounds in action! ✨

Did you guess this week’s instrument correctly? Let us know in the comments!👇

Happy International Music Day! 🎶✨ The theme this year is Healing Through Harmony, which resonates so perfectly with our ...
10/02/2026

Happy International Music Day! 🎶✨ The theme this year is Healing Through Harmony, which resonates so perfectly with our mission! If you believe music can unite and heal communities around the world, please let us know in the comments! 🌍💙

Ready for this week’s What’s That Instrument Wednesday? 🎶This week’s mystery instrument has a distinctive sound and can ...
09/30/2026

Ready for this week’s What’s That Instrument Wednesday? 🎶

This week’s mystery instrument has a distinctive sound and can be played in several different ways. Take a look at the clues and see if you can figure out what it is!

Here are the hints👇

Hint 1: This percussion instrument is an idiophone, meaning the instrument itself vibrates to create sound. When struck, it produces a distinctive rattling or buzzing sound, while scraping it creates a rough rhythmic effect.

Hint 2: This instrument has traditionally been heard at lively community gatherings, including celebrations where music and dancing are central to the event. Its distinctive sound can become part of the music that accompanies these celebrations.

Hint 3: Unlike most instruments, loose parts are actually essential to this one’s sound. Its natural material is carefully prepared and dried until certain parts become loose enough to vibrate while remaining in place.

Think you know the answer? Share your guess in the comments! 👇

Come back this Friday for the big reveal! 🌟

09/30/2026

The World Music Foundation’s Together Sessions livestream brings audiences from around the world together through live performances and conversations with musicians representing diverse musical traditions.

This session features Eun Kyeol Cho (South Korea/New Zealand), Ivan Stepanov (Ukraine), Miqayel Voskanyan (Armenia), and Chicago-based Mongolian folk-fusion trio Tuvergen Band. These artists will be showcasing a variety of amazing instruments such as the gayageum, Ukrainian hurdy-gurdy, Armenian tar, morin khuur (horsehead fiddle), Mongolian throat singing, and more.

Join us to discover the stories behind these remarkable sounds while celebrating cultures and creativity from across the globe!

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