Lesson 2 –

Playing Musical Instruments

Warm-up:
A) How many musical instruments can you think of
in English? Write their names here:

B) Have you ever learned to play a musical

instrument? How was the experience?
Or, if not: which instrument would you like to learn and why?

Activity 1 – Pre-Learn Vocabulary

reed (n.) = a small strip located in the mouthpiece of certain musical instruments,
which vibrates with the flow of air and helps make the sound.

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marching band (n.) = a group of people playing musical instruments (“band”) that
plays music together while walking in unison (“marching”). Marching bands often
perform in parades and sometimes sports games.

pit band (n.) = Also called a “pit orchestra” – a band that plays music to accompany
dance or theater performances. The musicians sit in a low area (“pit”) in front of the
stage.

neat (adj.) = The word “neat” can mean something is well-organized (the opposite
of “messy”). However, in this audio it is used to mean “good” or “interesting.”
Ex) My son has a really neat idea for a new website.
run into = This phrasal verb is used in two different ways in the audio. One is to
“meet someone by chance” and the other is to “encounter” problems/difficulties.
Ex) At the mall, I ran into a friend from college who I hadn’t seen in years!
Ex) I tried to translate this document from French to English, but I ran into
trouble with a couple of the more technical terms; I’m not sure what they mean.

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on the spot (idiom) = to do something spontaneously at that moment, without
previous planning
Ex) At the last minute, my co-worker said he couldn’t go to the meeting and
asked if I could fill in for him – so I had to give his presentation on the spot.
chord (n.) = in music, a combination of 2 or
more notes played together at the same time:

Activity 2 – Listen for the General Idea

Chris mentions several different instruments in the beginning, but then he focuses
on two in particular. What are the TWO instruments that he mainly talks about?

clarinet recorder guitar

bass guitar piano trumpet

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Activity 3 – Listen for Specific Details
1. Chris started playing trumpet in the...
a. 6th grade
b. 8th grade
c. 12th grade
2. One of the hardest things about playing the trumpet is...
a. controlling the volume of the sound
b. playing clear, distinct notes
c. the correct position of your lips
3. Chris' favorite part of playing trumpet was...
a. performing a solo on national TV
b. playing in groups
c. teaching a friend how to play
4. Which of these hard things about playing guitar is NOT mentioned?
a. developing the muscle memory of your hands
b. getting tired after playing for some time
c. memorizing all the different chords
5. What's one thing he really loves about guitar?
a. Being able to sing and play songs he hears on the radio
b. Composing new music with friends
c. Taking his guitar along while traveling

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Activity 4 – Listen for Specific Words
Hi, my name is Chris, and I wanted to Click here to enter text. you about some of the
musical instruments that I have played. I have played the clarinet, the recorder, the
guitar, the bass guitar, the piano, and the instrument I’ve played the Click here to
enter text. is the trumpet. I started playing trumpet in sixth grade, and played all the
way through twelfth grade on a regular Click here to enter text..
One of the hardest things about learning to play trumpet is how to position your
lips. With a clarinet you have a reed, and with a guitar you have a Click here to enter
text., to make the sounds that you need. But with trumpet, you have to hold your lips
in just the right way in order to make the proper sound. One of the Click here to
enter text. my teacher taught me was to say the letter “M” – once I say the letter “M,”
then I have my lips in the proper position to play.
The cool thing about playing trumpet is that it can play a wide Click here to enter
text. of music. I was able to be in the jazz band, the marching band, concert band,
and pit band, because I knew how to play – and we had a lot of wonderful
experiences.
The really neat thing about playing an instrument like this is it’s Click here to enter
text. when you play in a group – and music has a way of bonding people. I made new
friends, I made old friendships stronger, and it was a really neat experience to be
able to perform for an Click here to enter text.. We performed for a wide variety of
groups, and it’s – there’s something about music that really entertains people.
Now I haven’t been playing my trumpet since high school, but I do play guitar. And
one of the great things about guitar is that you will run into a lot more guitar players
– and so there’s greater opportunity for Click here to enter text., and just sitting
down and having a good time on the spot.
The hardest thing about playing guitar is teaching your hands to do what you want
them to do. It’s all about muscle memory. You may know in your head what you
wanna do, but you have to help your Click here to enter text. learn where to go,
playing chords, getting your fingers to move to the proper spots every time.
The other difficult thing that you might run into is fatigue. After a while, your hands
just get tired in the Click here to enter text.. But as you keep playing and building up
your muscles, that won’t be a problem anymore.

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One of the things that I like most about guitar is that I can listen to a song on the
radio, and learn how to play it – AND sing Click here to enter text. with it. With my
trumpet, I could either sing or play – but with my guitar I can do both. I enjoy
playing for friends and family, with friends and family, and sometimes just Click
here to enter text. down and playing for myself.
But if you get the chance to play a musical instrument, I Click here to enter text. you
take that opportunity. It really is a fun time. I’ve had so much fun throughout my life
because of music – and it’s something that you just can’t Click here to enter text. to
anything else. So I hope you take the opportunity, and thanks for taking the time to
listen.

Complete Transcript
Hi, my name is Chris, and I wanted to tell you about some of the musical
instruments that I have played. I have played the clarinet, the recorder, the guitar,
the bass guitar, the piano, and the instrument I’ve played the most is the trumpet. I
started playing trumpet in sixth grade, and played all the way through twelfth grade
on a regular basis.
One of the hardest things about learning to play trumpet is how to position your
lips. With a clarinet you have a reed, and with a guitar you have a string, to make
the sounds that you need. But with trumpet, you have to hold your lips in just the
right way in order to make the proper sound. One of the tricks my teacher taught
me was to say the letter “M” – once I say the letter “M,” then I have my lips in the
proper position to play.
The cool thing about playing trumpet is that it can play a wide variety of music. I
was able to be in the jazz band, the marching band, concert band, and pit band,
because I knew how to play – and we had a lot of wonderful experiences.
The really neat thing about playing an instrument like this is it’s best when you play
in a group – and music has a way of bonding people. I made new friends, I made old
friendships stronger, and it was a really neat experience to be able to perform for an
audience. We performed for a wide variety of groups, and it’s – there’s something
about music that really entertains people.
Now I haven’t been playing my trumpet since high school, but I do play guitar. And
one of the great things about guitar is that you will run into a lot more guitar players
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© Shayna Oliveira 2014
– and so there’s greater opportunity for collaboration, and just sitting down and
having a good time on the spot.
The hardest thing about playing guitar is teaching your hands to do what you want
them to do. It’s all about muscle memory. You may know in your head what you
wanna do, but you have to help your fingers learn where to go, playing chords,
getting your fingers to move to the proper spots every time.
The other difficult thing that you might run into is fatigue. After a while, your hands
just get tired in the beginning. But as you keep playing and building up your
muscles, that won’t be a problem anymore.
One of the things that I like most about guitar is that I can listen to a song on the
radio, and learn how to play it – AND sing along with it. With my trumpet, I could
either sing or play – but with my guitar I can do both. I enjoy playing for friends and
family, with friends and family, and sometimes just sitting down and playing for
myself.
But if you get the chance to play a musical instrument, I hope you take that
opportunity. It really is a fun time. I’ve had so much fun throughout my life because
of music – and it’s something that you just can’t compare to anything else. So I hope
you take the opportunity, and thanks for taking the time to listen.

Activity 2 Answers:
trumpet
guitar
Activity 3 Answers:
1. a
2. c
3. b
4. a
5. a

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Additional Vocabulary Lessons Related to Music:
 Musical instruments with pictures
 Music vocabulary builder
 English with Music:
o Adele – Someone Like You
o Kelly Clarkson – Stronger
o Katy Perry – The One that Got Away

Image sources: 
James Eaton-Lee Njan, Krista N. Mericle, Friera, Hyacinth at the English language Wikipedia, PJ, PJ

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© Shayna Oliveira 2014