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Music is all around us. It's on the radio, on TV, in the background in department stores and restaurants, and even on our smartphones! Music is important in our everyday lives and it's a common discussion topic in English, too. Learn to talk about the music you like in English using these key words and expressions.

To describe music, you will need a few key words. Firstly, we can use the word tempo to talk about whether music is fast or slow and the word melody to talk about the tune of the music. Harmony is the word we use to talk about the sound we make when we play several musical notes at the same time. If someone asks what genre of music you like, they just mean what style or type you prefer.

When you listen to a record in english, pay attention to the lyrics (words) and you might learn some new English expressions. If it's a hit (successful or popular song) you will hear it a lot and if it's a song you and your boyfriend/girlfriend both love, you might say "It's our song".

If you go to a gig (concert), you might hear a band playing original songs or covers (other people's songs). If you are on the subway in some large cities, you might hear musicians busking (playing in public places) and give them a donation if you like their music.

Songs that are easy to remember can be described as catchy and a song that's so catchy you can't stop singing it is called an earworm. If you love music, you might want to take up (start learning to play) an instrument and learn to play your favourite tunes or you could learn to DJ and make a mixtape (collection of your favourite tunes) for your friends.

So what's your favourite song and can you describe it in English?

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How to talk about music in English | EF English Live

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Music is all around us. It's on the radio, on TV, in the background in department stores and restaurants, and even on our smartphones! Music is important in our everyday lives and it's a common discussion topic in English, too. Learn to talk about the music you like in English using these key words and expressions.

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The most common types of music in modern society...

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The most common types of music in modern society...

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Talking about music

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Listen to the basic words we use to talk about music, melody and rhythm. With subtitles. For ESL learners.

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Talking about music you hate

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Your jaw clenches hard and your shoulders automatically lock up in tension. If only you could just close your ears! When you hear that song you hate, there's not much you can do to shut it out, short of putting on noise-canceling headphones or abruptly leaving the room. Nobody knows why we like certain kinds of music and dislike others, but it's definitely true that we don't all like the same things.

What does it mean when we dislike certain bands, songs or genres? Is it possible to gain a better understanding of our world by taking a closer look at things we dislike? Grit your teeth and keep listening to learn more about how to talk about music you hate...

Music affects our brains so viscerally that it is hard to remain objective and respectful when we hear something we don't like. You've probably heard people making jokes at the expense of artists or genres that they dislike or read a review in which the author was more interested in showing off his ability to craft witty put-downs than talking openly about the music. How do we avoid falling into this trap and create a more positive, constructive conversation around music we dislike?

Empathy is the key to maintaining respect. If you are a musician yourself, you know how much work goes into even the worst song and how nerve-wracking it can be to perform original material and release recordings. If you aren't a musician, try to put yourself in the artist's shoes. Instead of laughing or making insulting remarks, imagine the hours of work and try to think about what you might be feeling if you were in their place. How would you want to be treated?

Once you have shifted your mindset to a more empathetic state, keep listening! Ask yourself why you don't like what you are hearing. Do you dislike a particular instrument (bagpipes and accordions seem to attract a lot of ire)? Does the genre embody a particular lifestyle or culture that you don't identify with or find alienating? Many people experience this cultural alienation when they hear rap or country, as both genres tend to encapsulate very specific lifestyles. Do you have a negative association or bad memory that the song brings up? Do the lyrics bother you?

Figure out exactly what it is that you don't like and you'll likely gain a little more insight into your own musical taste. If you know someone who loves the song or band that drives you bananas, ask them in a non-confrontational way what they like about it. You might even gain a different appreciation for the song you previously could not stand.

Finally, focus more on things you do like! How many times have you heard someone say they're tired of even hearing about a big pop star, like Kanye West or Lady Gaga? What if instead of complaining about over-exposed artists you feel are overrated, you shared more about smaller artists who you believe deserve more attention? We all have the power to change the musical landscape with our words, just by keeping a positive, empathetic mentality and sharing more of what we love. Of course, if you love Kanye or Lady Gaga, then turn it up and enjoy more of what you love!

What songs really grind your gears? Does a second or third listen tell you something new about yourself or your taste in music? We want to hear about it! Let us know in the comments!
- Megan L. TakeLessons Staff Member and Blogger

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Photo by Jason Ippolito

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Your jaw clenches hard and your shoulders automatically lock up in tension. If only you could just close your ears! When you hear that song you hate, there's not much you can do to shut it out, short of putting on noise-canceling headphones or abruptly leaving the room.

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This lesson is about music and, in particular, music festivals, which have become an increasingly popular phenomenon in recent times. The lesson aims to develop speaking and listening skills and provides practice of the sub-skills of reading for gist and reading for specific detail. The students' own experiences and opinions form the basis of all discussion and extension work.
Topic
Music
Level Aims

To discuss music tastes and trends

To identify the meaning of vocabulary in the context of music festivals

To practise reading for gist and specific detail

To find out more information about music festivals in the UK and internationally

The plans and worksheets are downloadable below in pdf format .

Copyright - please read

All the materials on these pages are free for you to download and copy for educational use only. You may not redistribute, sell or place these materials on any other web site without written permission from the BBC and British Council. If you have any questions about the use of these materials please email us at: teachingenglish@britishcouncil.org

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Introduction This lesson is about music and, in particular, music festivals, which have become an increasingly popular phenomenon in recent times. The lesson aims to develop speaking and listening skills and provides practice of the sub-skills of reading for gist and reading for specific detail.

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words used to describe someone s voice - synonyms and related words | Macmillan Dictionary

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Comprehensive list of synonyms for words used to describe someone s voice, by Macmillan Dictionary and Thesaurus

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Anniversary Bar & Bat Mitzvah Birthday Breast Cancer Awareness Christmas Congratulations Easter Father's Day Fourth of July Friends Get Well Graduation Halloween Housewarming Love & Romance Memorial Day Mother's Day New Years Sorry St. Patrick's Day Sympathy & Funeral Teacher's Day Thank You Thanksgiving Thinking of You Valentine's Day Wedding

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On June 29, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act which initiated the construction of 41,000 miles of interstate highways across America. As a result, many small towns that had once thrived along the famed east-west Route 66 were bypassed by the new high-speed interstate highway system.

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DESCRIBING MUSIC Vocabulary: Adjectives to describe music Old-fashioned Vocabulary: Musical genres Pop Let's check the worksheet! Listening game Instructions worksheet You will listen to some songs Work in pairs Look at the vocabulary; listen to the audios and classify words according to the music styles. Which word defines better each music style?

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words used to describe music or musical instruments - synonyms and related words | Macmillan Dictionary

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Comprehensive list of synonyms for words used to describe music or musical instruments, by Macmillan Dictionary and Thesaurus

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This lesson plan for teachers of older teenage and adult students level B1 is about Music. Students will develop their fluency through a range of speaking activities.
During this skills lesson you might want to use background music where facilities allow. You will also need some samples of music, not necessarily just in English, but a variety of different genres

Topic

To develop fluency through a range of speaking activities

To introduce related vocabulary
Materials
Lesson plan: guide for teacher on procedure.

Download lesson plan 170k pdf

Worksheets: worksheets which can be printed out for use in class. They include:

Download worksheets 157k pdf

The plans and worksheets are downloadable and in pdf format. If you have difficulty downloading the materials see the download section of the Help page.

Copyright - please read
All the materials on these pages are free for you to download and copy for educational use only. You may not redistribute, sell or place these materials on any other web site without written permission from the BBC and British Council. If you have any questions about the use of these materials please email us at: teachingenglish@britishcouncil.org

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Introduction This lesson plan for teachers of older teenage and adult students level B1 is about Music. Students will develop their fluency through a range of speaking activities. During this skills lesson you might want to use background music where facilities allow.

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Frank Zappa once said that "writing about music is like dancing about architecture." He may be right in a sense, but being able to actively describe music enables you to appreciate music more. If you get into the habit of analyzing music and trying to put it into words, you'll find yourself hearing things in music you may have otherwise overlooked. Describing a song also comes in handy when you're talking with someone and trying to recommend them something new to listen to.

Describing Music Objectively

1. Pinpoint the genre. Genres categorize music within overarching umbrellas; large amounts of music tied together via a common tone or structural approach, but usually both. Referring to genre is the easiest way you can describe music to someone. Genres may refer primarily to the sound, but they come with a lot of preconceptions, including lyrical content and artistic intention. If the song you're trying to describe fits what you know of the genre, the genre-tag will become that much more useful to you.

In modern music, it is common for musical groups to draw from two or more genres to develop a unique character of their own. Calling a band 'eclectic' is a decent start if they're playing in many different genres. Try to keep your genre tags limited to one or two however; anything more and you'll just end up confusing whomever you're talking to.

The Beatles, for instance, incorporate many styles, but they're best seen as pop. Led Zeppelin could be considered anything from progressive to blues or metal, but they're arguably best pegged as bluesy hard rock.

For example, you might say: "Deathspell Omega's "Obombration" is an interesting song for the band. It has the atmosphere of orthodox black metal, but the instruments used are largely orchestral, making it sound like very dark classical music."

2. Look into the lyrics. The majority of songs you'll hear are quite clear in their topics. Many pop songs, for example, concern romantic encounters the singer has had. If the song's meaning isn't already apparent to you, do some research online to learn what the song is about. Many songs-- especially classics-- will have some info as to the story behind them. Using this story alongside your description will help to specify the character of the song.

For example, you might say: "Pink Floyd's "Dogs" tells a story of dogs being aggressive in their nature, but it's also a cynical commentary on the 'dog eat dog' mentality in modern society. This cynical undertone has a big effect on the song's atmosphere."

3. Educate yourself in formal notation. Formal notation is the way musicians describe the objective details of music accurately to their fellow players. It takes years to develop a masterful understanding of notation, but having a general idea as to the tools musicians use to communicate with one another will help out a lot.

The 'key' of a song refers to the chords and set of notes it predominantly uses. A 'minor key', for instance, tends to sound inherently sad, while a 'major key' is often uplifting.

Tempo refers to the speed of the music or the pace of the beat.

4. List the musicians involved. Giving an outline of the particular people involved in the making of the music is most important in performance-based styles of music, like jazz. For popular forms of music, telling someone which singer(s) are involved will give them the best idea as to the sound of the song. Many of the best-known singers have very distinctive vocal qualities, and merely giving a name may give the person you're talking to a clearer idea what to expect in a song.

For example: "Miles Davis In A Silent Way is a wonderful album, and I think a good part of it is owed to the fact that Chick Corea and John McLaughlin (among others) took part in it. If you listen close, you can hear their personalities mingling in with Davis' own."

Describing Music Subjectively

1. Listen to the music intently. Even moreso than a formal analysis of music getting a full emotional reaction requires you really invest yourself in listening. Find a time and place you won't likely be distracted, and put on the song. Let yourself focus in on the mood of the song. Listen carefully to the lyrics if there are any. While you're listening to the music, try to figure out how the artist was feeling when he wrote the song. Giving your heart and mind over to the music will make it a lot easier to communicate your own personal response to the material.

Listening with headphones is usually the preferable mode of listening intently; it helps to block out all external sound, and you'll be able to pick details out of the mix more clearly.

2. Read music reviews. Music journalists and reviewers make it their business to describe music in ways that sound fiercely descriptive and appealing-- or unappealing. Music reviews have become a very helpful outlet in the internet age, and you can usually read many reviews about the most obscure albums. Reading some of them may give you a better understanding of how to describe music yourself. The webzine Pitchfork is often recommended in this respect, but the pompous style of writing is not for everyone. More specialized and underground outlets like Heathen Harvest Periodical or Prog Sphere Magazine may offer better examples of descriptive writing.

Music reviews are also found in print form. Newspapers will often include them alongside film reviews. You can also buy music books that will focus specifically on a band, scene or genre.

3. Try to visualize the music. Actively visualizing the music you are listening to ties in with intent focus. If you're looking for interesting ways of describing the music, it's a good idea to meditate and imagine the music scoring a scene to an imagined film inside your head. The process of actively visualizing music may seem obtuse at first if you're not used to it, but it can otherwise be a great way of appreciating music without distractions.

For example: If the music is sad, you might visualize rain or images of death and loss. If the music is upbeat, you might think of a car racing down a highway. If the music is gentle, it may bring to mind the image of kittens nestling in a handknit blanket. No interpretation is wrong; if you are sincerely getting an image in your head because of the music, it must be for a good reason.

4. Employ metaphors and poetic language. Music itself is an intensely personal, creative venture with poetry inherent to its very nature. It makes sense that descriptions of music can and should be poetic as well. If someone is emotionally rapt by a piece of music, they will often explain their feelings in terms of a metaphor. Metaphors and other descriptive poetic devices (like similes) will enable you to describe the emotional experience of the music.

For a metaphor, you might say: Deathspell Omega's Paracletus is an absolute whirlwind of calculated madness.

For a simile, you might say: Anton Bruckner's first symphony sounds like going to an evening gala at the height of 19th-century Prussia.

5. Compare the song to other songs you've heard. If you are hearing a song that's left a particular impression on you, it's likely you can compare experiencing the music to something else you've heard in the past. Comparing music with other music is a solid way to develop strong associations and expectations in the other person's mind. Comparing music can be done in objective (genre, tempo, musicians, etc.) or subjective (mood, tone, etc.) terms.

For example: "Dream Theater's "A Change of Seasons" reminds me quite a bit of Yes' "Close to the Edge" in terms of its sprawling design, but it's obviously quite a bit darker and heavier in comparison."

Community Q&A

Add New Question

How can bring personality into my music?

Tanisha Hall is a Vocal Coach and the Founder and Executive Director of White Hall Arts Academy, Inc. an organization based in Los Angeles, California that offers a multi-level curriculum focused on fundamental skills, technique, composition, theory, artistry, and performance at a conservatory level. Ms. Hall's current and previous students include Galimatias, Sanai Victoria, Ant Clemons, and Paloma Ford. She earned a BA in Music from the Berklee College of Music in 1998 and was a recipient of the Music Business Management Achievement Award.

Try to connect your song's lyrics and structure to the overarching story that you're trying to tell. A lot of people put a lot of effort into the notes and tone of each line in the song, but if you think about singers that tell amazing stories, like Bob Dylan, they don't always have the best voice. It's more about the larger feeling being generated by the music. It also helps to practice. If you can keep your training in the back of your mind and just enjoy singing the song, you're more likely to live in the moment and bring some personality to your music.

If you're still having trouble describing a song you like, it always helps to ask a friend what they think. Get a friend to listen to the song in question and ask them to describe it to you. Someone else's example may help your own descriptive juices flow more easily.

Music appreciation is most definitely a skill, and an important one at that. There are many benefits innate to the appreciation of music, and knowing how to describe the music you're hearing will almost certainly deepen your ability to enjoy it.

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Don't let yourself get too stressed about describing music. If a proper way to describe a song isn't jumping out at you, there's likely a reason for it. Being too stressed out will impede you from properly interacting with the material. If you believe this to be the case, take a step back, wait a while, and return to the song again when you're feeling more level-headed.

Understand that there are certain things about music that you'll never be able to convey to your satisfaction through words alone. Some things need to be felt directly to be fully understood. Music is no exception.

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Updated: September 3, 2020

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Frank Zappa once said that "writing about music is like dancing about architecture." He may be right in a sense, but being able to actively describe music enables you to appreciate music more. If you get into the habit of analyzing music...

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