Music has played a vital role in preserving Kurdish culture.

Poetry, historical narratives and current events were always spread by musicians and Dengbej", the singing story-tellers who carried the Kurdish heritage of the poetry and music down through the centuries to modern times. Despite years of brutal assimilation policy of states (Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria), the Kurds have succeeded in having writers, musicians and many artists. There are a variety of instruments today used in Kurdish music. Some of them are Saze, Ud, Santur, Guitar, Drum, Violin and electronic keyboard. The traditional musical instruments "Flute", "Shemshal" which resembles the flute, "Zurna" and has a high pitched sound and "Dohole" a type of drum used today are from the ancient time of the Medes. Dancing among the Kurds is mixed. Men and Women join in a long line or a circle. There are about a dozen different dances. The dances are dynamic, full of movement and changes. They are very different from dances of the Iranian, Turks and Arabs.