The power of music.

Exercises.

Leisure. Time. Music.

Unit VIII.

I. Listen and Read. [ ai ] [ ei ]

pine side side – sight chain page

time night lied – light shame tray

pie sight tide – tight save face

mine light alive – life place may

my shy day made

knife sigh table state

ice my say name

line type plate late

eye style Kate main

tie tape –recorder train

lie sailor grain

II. Read and remember these proverbs and sayings.

1. Art is long, life is short.

2. Art is not an end to itself, but a means of addressing humanity.

M. Moussorgsky.

3. Tastes differ.

Comment on the proverb " Art is long, life is short."

III. Here is a list of arts. Look at it and say which of them you like and understand better than the others.

Music

Dancing

Theatre

Literature

Sculpture

Architecture

Cinema

Answer the questions:

1. Where do you go if you want to enjoy arts?

2. Do you like to go to these place alone or with somebody else? Who with? Why?

3. Can you do anything in the way of arts yourself? What can you do?

4. What art would you like to be really good at?

5. What arts are the most popular nowadays?

IV. The adjectives given below are often used to describe music. Make up sentences with them expressing your attitude.

gentle violent traditional discordant rhythmical

soothing joyful energetic romantic melodious

loud harsh sad depressing lively

lovely aggressive beautiful background healing

Example: When I do my homework I like to have gentle background music; it helps me to concentrate. But when I tidy up my room I always listen to loud energetic rhythms which make me work faster.

V. Before you read the text look at the following statements and decide whether you agree or disagree with them.

1. There are few places where you can avoid hearing music.

2. Our taste in music is personal.

3. Music can affect us physically.

4. The only music which affects us positively is that which we like.

5. Music can be used to cure people in hospitals.

6. Certain types of music can be harmful.

Nowadays it is almost impossible to live a day without music. It's everywhere. But very few of us have any idea of the effect music has on people.

Resent research in America and Australia has shown that certain types of music have a particular effect on us. For example, some music will help us feel relaxed and peaceful, and other types may encourage our creativity and curiosity. Some music promotes loving feelings while other sounds call for violence.

As a result music is used in hospitals and soothing music is more effective than medicine.

Psychologists believe that all music can be divided into three types: low – energy music that makes you feel bad and hate. Most rock music falls into this category. The next category is high – energy. This makes you feel better. It can help to normalize the heart rate.

The third category is prayerful music. This is the most healing of all. Most of the classical music falls into this category. Most jazz, country and western music is neutral. Music can help us in our daily life. For example, you can prepare yourself for an exam or a job interview. It can also act as a pain reliever when you go to the dentist. Listening to music gives your brain a break and helps get through the day.

VI. Read the statements given before the text again and decide whether your opinion has changed.

Read the following text.

DO YOU LIKE MUSIC?

Everybody likes music: some people enjoy classical music, other are fond of popular music. But are all of them good listeners?

One of the most important thing is to learn to be a good listener. Only then one can learn to understand music. You may say: " It's very easy! We hear a lot of sounds around us." But hearing is not listening. Are we really listening to music on the radio while working, before leaving home or after coming there? I think not, because our ears take in many other sounds besides the music, such as the noises from outside, conversation, or a baby's crying.

So, to be a good listener means to listen to music without doing anything else. And that's not very easy. One has to sit still and concentrate on listening. At last it will become a habit. That's one thing. The other is to read about composers whose music we are interested in, about their works, about conditions under which those people had to live and create. People often say: "I often go to concerts, as I like music very much". They may go to a concert of chamber music, attend a symphony concerts, a piano, a violin or a choir concert. It's all the same to them. Does it mean that they love music or they understand it? And what about you?

Discuss the text answering the following questions.

1. Are all people good listeners?

2. Is it difficult to learn to be a good listener?

3. What does the author of this article mean by being a good listener?

4. Do you think a person really loves music if he enjoys all kinds of concerts?

5. What kind of music do you like – classical, popular or chamber music?

6. What can help you to understand the music of a certain composer?

7. How often do you listen to music?

8. Do you know anything about any composer?

9. What's your favourite pop group?

10. Do you play a musical instrument? Are you good at it? Did you take music lessons?

11. Have you got any records? Have your musical tastes changed since you were younger?

VII. Are you for or against classical (pop) music? Study the following arguments and develop the ideas.

For classical music.

- classical music gives the listeners delight and pleasure;

- classical music has a deep intellectual appeal;

- classical music has a strong ethical effect: it makes the listener better and more human;

- classical music condemns evil and supports the ideas of good;

- classical music creates a special world for the listener and enriches his inner life and makes him happy.

Against classical music.

- classical music is a complicated art;

- It's an exclusive art: most people don’t like or understand it. It's not a popular art;

- classical music pieces are very long and can send any listener to sleep;

- people want the kind of music, to which they can dance or just talk to friends. It should be cheerful and up – to –date.

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