1.3. Revision

 WRITING

Task 1. Write a letter to the arts page of a newspaper. In your letter, answer the question: Why do (don’t) we need the arts? Ponder on the following:

1. Do you ever think a lot of art is not really art?

2. Does art change the way you think or feel?

3. Do you think anyone can be an artist or do you need a special talent?

4. Do you think all children should study art/ learn the history of art at school? Why?

5. Do you think a painting can really cost $1,000,000 (or more)?

6. Do you think today’s artists are as good as those from hundreds of years ago?

7. What kind of life do you think an artist’s one is?

8. What is the purpose of art? Or does it, by definition, have no?

9. How would the world be different without art and artists?

Remember to follow the rules of writing a formal letter (see Appendix 8).

Unit 2. music

 VOCABULARY PRACTICE

2.1. Man and music

Task 1. Here is some topical vocabulary that can be useful when describing music. Arrange the words and phrases under the appropriate headings. Make sure you know the meanings of all the words on the list. Then get ready for a test-reading.

Amplifier, to arrange, band, bass, bow, cello, chorus, clarinet, concerto, folk (country) music, French horn, to improvise, jam session, movement, operetta, percussion, samba, single, turn-table, virtuoso.

1. Musical genres (styles): classical music (instrumental, vocal, chamber, symphony), opera, ______________, musical, ballet, blues, ragtime, jazz, pop, rock, ______________, background music, incidental music.

2. Musical forms: piece, ______________, sonata, aria, fantasy, suite, rhapsody, ______________, solo, duet, trio, quartet, quintet, sextet (etc.), ______________.

3. Musical rhythms: polka, waltz, march, blues, ragtime, jazz, swing, bassanova, ______________, disco, rock.

4. Musical instruments:

(string group): violin, viola, ______________, guitar, harp;

(wind group): flute, oboe, ______________, bassoon, saxophone;

(brass group): trumpet, ______________, tuba;

(______________): drum, cymbals, piano;

(aerophones): accor­dion;

(electronic instruments): synthesiser, ______________; as opposed to acoustic instruments.

5. Music makers: composer, conductor, musician, soloist, ______________, minstreller group, team, ______________, orchestra.

6. Music making: to write authentically Russian, Afro-American, etc. music; to compose, ______________, to transcribe, to make music, to perform, ______________, to interpret, to accompany, to complete.

7. Musical equipment: tape-recorder, tuner, ______________, player, equalizer, (loud) speaker, ______________.

8. Musical events: (made up) concert, recital, ______________, festival, competition.

9. Miscellany: major, flat, baton, ______________, drum sticks, under the baton, ______________, album, track, record jacket (sleeve), score, spiritual, beat, video-clip, syncopation, harmony.

Task 2. Study carefully all the given information and learn the vocabulary you have not been familiar with.

A. Buying music

Many people now buy music on CD though some people prefer tapes (audio cassettes).

• album [a recording of a selection of songs/tracks/pieces of music on a CD or cassette]

• hit singles [best selling songs issued individually]

• lead singer [main singer in a band]

• backing [the group providing the background music/vocals for the song]

B. Types of music

Music can be described in terms of the instrument(s) playing it: piano music, guitar music, big band music, instrumental music [instruments only with no vocals (voices, singing)], electronic music [played by a synthesiser], orchestral music.

• The dinner was lovely, but the background music was just too loud. We couldn't talk.

• It's difficult to concentrate on work when there's dance music playing.

• The soundtrack of that film is fantastic. I think it won an Oscar. [music for a film]

• I don't really like restaurants where they play muzak. [recorded, light music played continuously in public places; you can also say canned music or piped music]

Music can be described in terms of its period or place of origin:

contemporary / modern / 20th century / of the sixties / Irish / Indian music

C. Other adjectives used to describe music

live /laiv/ recorded deafening loud rousing soft sweet innovative

tuneless discordant tuneful soothing relaxing peaceful modern

D. Things you do with music

• She plays the piano very well, but she doesn't read music. She's got a good ear. [informal]

• She can pick out any tune on the piano. [informal] She doesn't have to practise much at all. She's a natural. [informal]. She can play by ear.

• He's very musical. He wrote an arrangement of / arranged a Bach symphony for the band. You can play a tune on an instrument or you can whistle [make a sound by pushing air through your lips] or hum [sing with lips closed]. You can make music in lots of ways.

• I've some new chords on the guitar [several harmonising notes played at the same time]

• I have to practise my scales, but it's boring, [sets of notes moving up and down in steps]

Task 3. Explain the difference between:

1. a track and an album

2. a CD and a cassette

3. a lead singer and a backing group

4. a hit and a single

5. orchestral music and chamber music

6. country music and folk music

7. muzak and disco music

8. soothing music and discordant music

Task 4. What styles of music do you think the people below might be playing?

Task 5. Look at the adjectives in Task 2, Section C above. Divide them into those that have positive associations and those that have negative associations.

Task 6. Find the words in Task 2, Section D above that fit in these sentences.

1. I started to learn the piano when I was a kid but I always made a fuss when I was told to ......................... every day and eventually gave up.

2. If you don't know the words of the song just ......................... along as the others sing.

3. My brother is learning the guitar and he can already play a few basic ..........................

4. A student opera singer lives in the flat next to mine and she spends hours practising every day - not songs, just.......................... I think I'll have to move.

5. This music was originally written for the violin but it has been .............. quite successfully for the guitar.

6. Paul can play anything. He’s got a good ..........................

7. I always know when the postman is there as I can hear him ......................... very tunefully.

8. In primary school young children practise ......................... music with all sorts of different things - even, say, with tins containing buttons.

Task 7. Answer these questions about music.

1. Can you remember the name of the first single you ever bought? Who was it by?

2. Which songs are currently big hits in your country?

3. What kinds of music do you particularly enjoy?

4. Are there any kinds of music that you dislike? Why do you dislike them?

5. Do you like to have background music while you are working? If so, what kind of background music do you like?

6. Can you read music? Can you explain the basic system used for writing music?

7. Can you play any musical instruments and how well do you play them?

8. What musical instrument and what kind of music would you like to be able to play well and why?

Task 8. Match the verb in the column on the left with the correct noun from the column on the right.

VERB	NOUN
compose	tune
conduct	drum
write	horn
play	instrument
blow	piece of music
tap	orchestra
improvise	lyrics
sing	song
hum	solo
beat	foot

Task 9. Fill in the blanks with a word from the exercise above, make sure to conjugate the verbs.

1. Don't you think the Maestro _____________ the orchestra well?

2. He beat the __________ like a madman!

3. John Lennon __________ the lyrics to many of the Beatles' best songs.

4. You can tell when Peter is in a good mood, he ___________ one of her favorite tunes.

5. The most famous opera _________ by Mascagni was "Cavelleria Rusticana".

6. Jazz musicians almost always _________ their solos.

7. Most professional musicians _________ their instruments up to five hours a day!

8. I can remember the time when President Clinton appeared on MTV to _________ his horn - the saxophone.

9. Would you please not tap your ________ in time to the music?

10. Some of the best rock singers don't _________ their songs, they shout them!

  READING&SPEAKING