مکالمه انگلیسی درباره استعدادهای موسیقی

Two people discuss musical instruments they can play.

Julian: Adriana, did you ever play an instrument?

Adriana: Yeah, I actually play the saxophone.

Julian: Wow. The saxophone. That’s really, really cool. Can you tell me more about it?

Adriana: Yeah, it’s a cool instrument. Well, I actually took lessons. I started just playing by myself and I was just looking at some YouTube videos and finding songs that I like. But then I realized I needed a teacher. So I went to school for a music career and I studied saxophone.

Julian: Wow. A whole music career. I never heard of that.

Adriana: Yeah. It’s pretty cool. Not all universities have them, but I was lucky that where I lived, the university had a music career and the saxophone teacher was really good, so I got to study there for four years. Tell me, Julian, do you play any music instruments?

Julian: Well, yeah, in fact, I play guitar. I learned as a kid in my school. We had this guitar ensemble. It was classical guitar, but it was really cool, too.

Adriana: Well, that sounds awesome. And besides that, did you ever play in a band or with your friends as something different than classical music?

Julian: Well, yeah, we had a rock band, but we didn’t really make it. So we never go out to concerts or festival or something like that. But you studied a whole career about that. Did you do any of that?

Adriana: Yeah, when I was in school, I had a friend that already had a band and they were kind of famous. So, I went to play with them and it was really fun because they actually did travel to different music festivals around the country. And it was a really fun time. But music festivals can be fun, but it’s also a little bit crowded and there’s so many people that go to that type of event. Do you like going to music festivals?

Julian: Well, no, I don’t really go to festivals. I think they’re really crowded, but I do go to concerts, though.

Adriana: Oh, okay. So tell me, what’s the difference between a festival and a concert?

Julian: Well, a concert is when just one band goes to a closed venue or a stadium. Sometimes they have opening bands, but you get to hear the same band for one hour and a half or two hours. And in the festivals, well, it takes place in a big, big park or something like that. And it’s a lot of bands, different kind of genres, and you only get to hear the band you like for 20 minutes.

Adriana: Yeah. Well, I don’t know what I would like better. I think it’ll depend. Because in a festival, maybe you only get 20 minutes, but it’s the best songs that they have, right?

Julian: Yeah. You’re right. I think that’s the best, because if there’s going to be different bands that you really like, it’s only 20 minutes per band, but they’re going to play the best.

Adriana: Yeah. Because then in a concert, maybe you get to see them for an hour, or an hour and a half or even two hours, but sometimes they play songs you don’t even know. Because not everybody listens to their albums. Maybe you just like some songs you heard on the radio and well, they’re probably the most popular ones. So there’s maybe five or 10 more songs that you don’t even know about.

Julian: Yes. There’s this thing where they put a lot of stages. So they’re playing at the same time. It depends, I guess, how big is the venue or the park where they are doing it. But I don’t know. I think that sometimes you’re listening to your rock band, your favorite band, and then over there is like a electronic music going on and well, they mix the audio.

Adriana: Yeah. That’s crazy. It’s like multitasking at a concert, right?

Julian: Yeah. That’s right. But well, I guess it will depend on the people.

Answer these questions about the conversation.

1) She started watching YouTube lessons ______ she hired a teacher.

1. a) when
2. b) after
3. c) before

2) She studied the saxophone because she _____ .

1. a) was bored
2. b) wanted a career
3. c) wanted to look cool

3) She studied playing the saxophone for four ______ .

1. a) weeks
2. b) months
3. c) years

4) What does he like to attend?

1. a) Concerts
2. b) Festivals
3. c) Neither of them

5) What do they think it is crazy to have _____.

1. a) concerts outdoors
2. b) multiple stages
3. c) children at concerts

Answers

• 1=c
• 2=b
• 3=c
• 4=a
• 5=b

really cool

That’s really cool.

The phrase ‘really cool’ means intensely good.

1. I really love that band, their music is really cool.
2. You look really cool in that new hat!

by myself

I started just playing by myself.

The phrase ‘by myself’ means to do a task independently. Notice the following:

1. I learned to play the violin by myself.
2. I worked out how the machine worked by myself.

besides that

And besides that, did you ever play in a band

The phrase ‘besides that’ means in addition to. Notice the following:

1. My sister does ballet, besides that she does tap dancing.
2. I walk to work everyday, besides that I swim twice weekly.

kind of

they were kind of famous

The phrase ‘kind of’ means somewhat or rather. Notice the following:

1. I kind of like that new song.
2. The woman kind of enjoyed the theater.

I guess

It depends, I guess, how big is the venue

The phrase ‘I guess’ means someone is speculating about a fact. Notice the following:

1. I guess we will need a coat.
2. The shops will be closed by now, I guess.

• cool
• by myself
• besides
• kind of
• guess

1. The test was……….  difficult.
2. Bob is not here. I……….  he isn’t coming today.
3. These pictures are really…………. .
4. I learn how to fix cars………. .
5. I work tonight, but……….  that I am free today.