Music is an essential accompaniment to any Genna or festival. The themes have a wide range of variety. They may glorify a tradition, extol a specific act of heroism, narrate an important event of the recent past or relate to a love story.

A common musical instrument played by the Nagas is Petu.  It is a string instrument. The Angamis and Chakhesangs are particularly fond of it and  it is used to give the desired accompaniment to one's voice. Another popular string instrument is Theku. Of the wind instrument, the flute is quite common. In earlier days, the instrument was kept in the Morung only, but now the restriction is not observed. In some tribes, only boys are allowed to play the flute, the girls are debarred lest they seduce the young boys. The trumpet is mostly used by the herds men to scare away wild animals from the cattle. Among the present-day youth, the guitar is very popular. Born and brought up in a Christian atmosphere, the young boys and girls are naturally attracted to western music and instrument.

Dance

Dancing is natural to the Naga tribes. It is full of vigour and vitality. Strangely it is the monopoly of men, except in Zeliang tribe where women join with their men folk in dancing. There is nothing like individual performance.  Naga dancing is always in a group. It is difficult to generalize, but roughly it could be said that the artists first slowly enter the arena or stage, make a circle or any other geometrical formation and gradually work up tempo with the stamping of feet, interspersed with clapping and chanting of some formula. The spear, dao or the shield  are swung to the rhythm of the dance. After the climax is reached, the tempo is brought down again and there is a satisfying finale. The beauty of the dances is heightened by the colourful costumes. The zeliang dance is particularly artistic.

The Zemis of North Cachar hills are very fond of dances. There are a number of dances and each with a different name. They are named after the manner in which hands and feet are executed to resemble the movements of a bird or an insect or an animal. For example, Nruirolians known as 'cock dance' is the dance which resembles the trait of a cock, Gethinglim or 'cricket dance' is a dance in which hands are moved to and fro. Some what resembling the movement of the insect Temangnetin or the 'fly dance'; Hetateulee or the 'bear dance', which was usually done by men when defeating enemies. All these dances are performed with the accompaniment of songs and music. Drums and cymbals are beaten at regular intervals while the singers array themselves on one side or form a circle so as to allow space for the dancers in the centre. Songs which are generally and commonly sung by both young and old alike may be classified as follows.

Songs

1. Heliamleu or dancing songs -  They are composed and sung by young and old alike and are usually romantic.

2. Hereileu or war songs - composed by old people about  the pride of their life, their bygone days, usually sung in memory of the victory or defeat in war.

3. Neuleu or legendry songs - composed by old men to commemorate any significant event of the old days or that of a person who had done something notable during his life time.

4. Hekialeu or songs about self - These songs are composed by old men of their eventful career while they were young and strong.

5. Hekialeu or a duet - composed by both young and old is sung by young boys and girls together.