Why is singing considered the oldest form of musical activity?

Singing is considered the oldest form of musical activity because it is deeply rooted in the fundamental human experience of sound and communication. It is difficult to separate the origins of music from the act of performance itself, as the pleasure derived from hearing sounds is closely linked to the pleasure of creating them.1

The sources of what eventually became song are found in the natural inflections of speech and the vocal expressions of human emotion, such as cries of grief, pleasure, and desire. These vocalizations serve as a primary means of communication, reflecting both instinctual demands and complex intellectual processes. Because the human vocal instrument is a natural, built-in device, it required no external construction, unlike the flutelike instruments made from bone or wood that appeared in early cultures. Even in the most archaic societies, the singer held a special, defined position, underscoring the activity's foundational role in human culture.12