What the guides cover
The guides are written for people who are new to polka and folk music. They cover where polka came from, the wider folk music traditions it belongs to, the accordion, fiddle and brass that give it its sound, how to count the rhythms, and how to dance the polka and other common folk dances. The last two guides help you find a local group and enjoy your first dance.
About the name
PolkMusic is a website about polka and folk music. It is not connected with any county, city, person, band, dance school or venue that shares part of its name.
How the step charts work
Each step chart shows one or two bars of a basic dance step, one count per cell, with the foot and the move. They show common beginner versions. Real dancing varies between regions, groups and teachers, so follow the local teacher when their version differs.
How we handle facts
Folk music history is often uncertain, because country dances and tunes were rarely written down until much later. We use approximate dates, say "about" or "sources differ" where accounts disagree, and avoid repeating origin legends as fact. The regional style names we use describe general approaches to the music and are not strict categories.
Where dancing or playing could affect your health, such as energetic dancing, heavy instruments or loud bands, we give general guidance only and suggest you ask a doctor, physical therapist or hearing professional about your own situation.
Why we list no bands or events
We don't list or recommend particular bands, events, festivals or venues. Schedules change often and many groups are run by volunteers, so any list would go out of date quickly. Instead, the finding groups guide points you to public sources that keep current listings, such as libraries, parks departments and state folk arts programs.
Who the guides are for
If you have heard polka at a wedding or festival and want to know more, start with the history and the rhythm guide. If you want to dance, go to the polka step and then to the page on your first community dance. If you play an instrument, or once did, the instrument pages and the finding groups guide will help you find people to play with.
How the site is funded
The site has no advertising, partner links or sponsored content, and we don't sell instruments, lessons or tickets. When we name a public organization, it is because it keeps useful listings or information.
Corrections and contact
If you spot an error in a date, a step or an instrument description, please write to contact@polkmusic.com. We check reports and fix confirmed mistakes. See the privacy policy for how we handle email.