IELTS Vocabs - Music

Music
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 
classical music: music that is regarded as part of a long, formal tradition
taste in music: the music someone likes
a rock band: a group of musicians that play rock music
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 
to take up a musical instrument: to begin learning a musical instrument
to be tone deaf: to be unable to distinguish the different notes in music
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 
live music: music that is listened to while it is performed (not recorded)
live performance: (see live music)
a music festival: music performances at a venue often over several days
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 very famous  I don’t think it was cool to like them even though they had a huge 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 
a piece of music: an item of music
a pop group: a small group of people who play or sing pop music together
a huge following: a large number of fans
a massive hit: a record that sells lots of copies
a catchy tune: a song that is easy to remember and makes you want to sing it
a slow number: a song with a slow tempo
to sing along to: to join in singing
a sing-song: to sing informally, often with other people
Part 3-style questions
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 
musical talent: skilled at music
to download tracks: to obtain music from the Internet
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 
to read music: to understand and follow written musical notes
to play by ear: to play without reading the musical notes
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 
to go on tour: to go on a planned series of performances around a region or country
background music: music that is played while something else is happening
Addition:
adoring fans: people who love a particular band or singer
to have a great voice: to sing well
to be/sing out of tune: to not be in harmony/to sing the wrong notes