- Traditional African music: Music has been an integral part of African culture for thousands of years, with diverse styles and traditions emerging from various regions of the continent. Musical forms like drumming, singing, and storytelling have existed long before the development of New Orleans jazz.
- Ancient Asian music: Asia is home to some of the oldest musical traditions in the world. Classical music forms such as Indian classical music, Chinese classical music, and Japanese gagaku have histories that span several millennia.
- European classical music: The Western classical music tradition has roots dating back to the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Composers like Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart created works that have influenced music around the globe and continue to be performed today.
- Traditional folk music: Folk music from different cultures around the world has existed for generations, passing down musical traditions and stories through oral transmission. Examples include traditional Irish music, Scottish bagpipes, and folk music from Eastern Europe and the Americas.
Therefore, while New Orleans jazz is an important and renowned musical genre with its unique contributions, it is not the oldest form of music. Different musical traditions from various regions of the world have existed for much longer periods.