Topic 9: Talking about Music
Part 1
- Do you like listening to the music on a regular basis?
Yes, without a doubt. I like different music genres and I listen to various tunes almost every day… I do not like elevator music, though… It makes me bored and annoyed.
- Have you ever been interested in singing?
No, not really… I took singing classes when I was younger, but, unfortunately, I am tone deaf, so I can’t sing very well…
- Can you say that music is a very important part of your life?
No, I can’t… Although I enjoy music and listen to classical music every now and then, I’m not obsessed with it…
Part 2
Now, have a look at the card and prepare a monologue.
Describe a band you enjoy listening to. You should say:
- How did you find them
- What kind of music do they play
- When do you listen to them
And say why you like them so much
I really enjoy listening to Maroon 5… I found this music band a few years ago, when I was looking for some pop music on the Internet… And, immediately after listening to the few of their songs, I fell in love with this awesome band… Their music is very catchy and tuneful at the same time. I especially like this band for their driving rhythms… As of today, I have gone to a few of their concerts and have their posters all over my wall. I listen to their songs when I’m upset or stressed out… They always cheer me up… Also, one of their songs, namely “Payphone”, is set as a ringtone on my phone.
Part 3
- Do you think music is getting better as time goes on?
No, quite the opposite. In my opinion, music was a lot better back in the day… I love music from 60s and 70s… There are myriads of famous rock bands of that time that I really like… And nowadays almost every pop-song sounds boring and dull to me…
- Where do you think people enjoy listening to music the most?
I my point of view, it all depends on a person… As for me, I enjoy listening to the music in my room, where nobody can bother me… But a lot of my friends would prefer listening to the music while travelling in public transport… This way their journey becomes more pleasant.
- Is it better to go to a live concert or to listen to a CD?
I think that nothing compares to a live concert! It’s just magical to be on a concert in a large group of people like you, listening to the songs you know being played right in front of you… It’s empowering, and completely unlike listening to recorded music.
- Do you like the same music as your parents?
Um… When I was a child I used to listen to the same music as my parents did… Probably, that was because we were often driving in the same car … and my parents always turned on some jazz on the radio. So I thought I was fond of jazz… But eventually I discovered other music genres and understood that I like rock music and techno much more…
IELTS Music Vocabulary
Part 1-style questions
- Examiner: What kind of music do you listen to?
Katherine: I’m a big fan of classical music … it doesn’t make me very popular with my children … their taste in music is completely different … they always want to listen to their favourite rock bands …
- Examiner: Do you play any instruments?
Jamie: No I don’t … I’ve always wished I’d taken up a musical instrument … I’d love to be able to play the guitar … but I think I’m a bit tone deaf so perhaps I’d find it hard …
- Examiner: Have you got any hobbies or interests?
Marco: I’m really into live music … I go to a lot of music festivals … I think a live performance always sounds more exciting than a recorded version … as long as the performers can sing and play well of course …
Part 2 -style task
Describe a song you like to listen to. You should say
- what the piece of music is called
- how long you have liked it
- when you like to listen to it
and say why you like it so much.
Millie: Well … I’m a little older than most students and when I was young Abba the Swedish pop group were vhuge following but I think now people have realised what wonderful songs they wrote … one piece of music in particular is called ‘Slipping through my fingers’ … it wasn’t a massive hit but I love it … it’s a song for parents and it’s all about how quickly our children grow up … it’s a slow number and like a lot of their songs it’s a very catchy tune … the two women in Abba had great voices and it’s the kind of music you can also sing along to easily … even if you don’t have a great voice … I listen to Abba when I feel like a sing-song … and I especially like to listen when I’m doing the housework … it stops me thinking about the hard work …
Part 3 -style questions
- 1. Examiner: Is the Internet a good or bad thing for the music industry?
Thomas: On the one hand it’s good for marketing new musical talent or particular bands but it’s so easy to share and download tracks for free I think it is costing the industry a lot of money …
- 2. Examiner: Should music be treated as seriously as subjects like maths or sciences at school?
Carla: I think it should … I don’t think it should be taught in a boring way … I mean making children read music … but I do think they should be encouraged to play instruments and to play things by ear perhaps … to keep the lessons fun …
- 3. Examiner: Where do people usually enjoy listening to music?
Sally: In lots of ways or places … as background music when they are doing something else … at concerts when a band goes on tour … or in clubs or discos …
adoring fans: people who love a particular band or singer
background music: music that is played while something else is happening
a catchy tune: a song that is easy to remember and makes you want to sing it
classical music: music that is regarded as part of a long, formal tradition
to download tracks: to obtain music from the Internet
to have a great voice: to sing well
to go on tour: to go on a planned series of performances around a region or country
a huge following: a large number of fans
live music: music that is listened to while it is performed (not recorded)
live performance: (see live music)
a massive hit: a record that sells lots of copies
a music festival: music performances at a venue often over several days
musical talent: skilled at music
to be/sing out of tune: to not be in harmony/to sing the wrong notes
a piece of music: an item of music
to play by ear: to play without reading the musical notes
a pop group: a small group of people who play or sing pop music together
to read music: to understand and follow written musical notes
a rock band: a group of musicians that play rock music
to sing along to: to join in singing
a sing-song: to sing informally, often with other people
a slow number: a song with a slow tempo
to take up a musical instrument: to begin learning a musical instrument
taste in music: the music someone likes
to be tone deaf: to be unable to distinguish the different notes in music
Vocabulary
- music genre: a distinc type of music. Famous music genres include:
- classical music: music that is thought to be a part of a long, formal tradition.
| My dad is fond of classical music. He listens to Mozart and Beethoven every day.
- pop music: a genre of popular music.
| One of the most famous pop-singers in the history are Michael Jackson and Madonna.
- rock music: music that is based around amplified instruments, especially the electric guitar and electric bass, and is characterized by driving rhythms.
| My favourite music genre is rock. I adore such rock bands as Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Beatles.
- catchy tune: a tune or a song that’s easy to remember and that you enjoy singing.
| I heard a catchy song the other day and now it’s stuck in my head.
- elevator music: music that is played in places like supermaket or family restaurant. Almost always is very repetitive and annoying.
| Yesterday I heard a very annoying elevetor music in the local supermarket.
- live music: music performance in front of an audience
| I prefer listening to a live music than to a recording. It’s much more emotional and energetic.
- music to one’s ears: something (often information) very pleasant and enjoyable to someone.
| When my teacher told me that I got the highest mark in the class for the assignment, it was like music to my ears.
- opera: a kind of performance in which actors sing during their play with music performed by an orchestra.
| I often listen to classical music and go to opera.
- ringtone: sound that a cell phone makes when someone is calling.
| I set my favourite song as a ringtone on my cell phone.
- rock band: musicians that play rock music.
| Last week I was on my favourite rock band’s concert.
- tone deaf: not able to discern the notes properly.
| Alhough I’m tone deaf, I’d like to learn to sing properly in the furture.
- tuneful: pleasant and melodious music or sound.
| I heard a tuneful choir of birds yesterday morning.
Useful idioms:
- to face the music: to have to accept the unpleasant consequences of your actions.
| If you commit a crime, eventually, you’ll have to face the music.
- to ring a bell: to sound familiar.
| I think I heard this song somewhere. It definitely rings a bell.
- to sound like a broken record: to repeat yourself again and again
| Little children often sound like a broken record and it annoys most people.
- to strike (hit) a false note: to do something wrong.
| I realised that I hit a false note on the exam when I received a 0 mark afterwards,