互動英語教室 - We love music (2)

After reaching home from work, Lily relaxes herself by playing some light music (輕音樂). Her friends cannot understand why she spends so much time and energy in pursuing (追求) music. She believes that hobbies (興趣) help the person to develop self-esteem (自信心). Before learning the piano, she never had the courage (信心) to perform (表演) or speak in front of the others. Now, she feels comfortable in playing music with a group of amateur (業餘) musicians. She thinks that keeping some time aside for leisure activities can help her to curb (制止) stress (壓力) after a bad day at work and keep a fresh mind. .

Lily’s cousin Thomas is also a music lover. He is learning to be a good rapper. However, Lily prefers classical music. Geoff, who works for the music centre where Lily takes her piano class, can play a few musical instruments (樂器), such as the violin (小提琴), drum (鼓) and guitar. Lily suggests that three of them can play some chamber music (室樂) together.

Geoff: I play guitar and violin. The instrument families are made up of four main families: woodwinds (木管樂器), brass (銅管樂器), strings (弦樂器), and percussion (敲擊樂器).

Thomas: They are classified (分類) by the way they make sounds. Guitar and violin belong to the string family.

Geoff: You are a smart boy!

Lily: Let’s play some music now.

Geoff: Sure! Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments.

Lily and Geoff play a Bach’s minuet (小步舞曲). This kind of light music can lead us to a relaxed state of mind.

Geoff: Same as drums, the piano is a percussion instrument.

Thomas: Oh! It’s fun! Lily, do you know human beatbox (表演口技)?

Lily: No. What is it?

Thomas: Let me show you.

Thomas: Music is all about sharing and creativity!

If you feel completely drained out after school or work, it’s time to do things you love!

Families of musical instruments
In the video, Geoff and Thomas mentioned that musical instruments are grouped into families based on how they make sounds.

Percussion
Percussion instruments make sounds when they are hit, such as drums. Anthropologists often think that percussion instruments were the first musical devices ever created by mankind.

Strings
Sounds of string instruments come from their strings, such as violin, cello, harp and guitar.

Brass
Brass instruments are made of brass or other metal and make sound when air is blown inside. Tuba, French horn and trombone are brass instruments.

Woodwinds
Woodwind instruments produce sound when air (wind) is blown inside. Flute (長笛), piccolo(短笛), clarinet (單簧管) and oboe (雙簧管) are woodwind instruments.

Questions:
1) Which are the four families of musical instruments?
2) How are instruments being classified?
3) Can you name some woodwind instruments?
4) What are the benefits of having a hobby?

Answers:
1) Woodwinds, percussions, brass and strings.
2) They are classified by the way they make sounds.
3) Flute, piccolo, clarinet and oboe are woodwind instruments.
4) Leisure activities can help her to curb stress after a bad day at work and keep a fresh mind.

Article: Lily Poon
Director: C.P Chan
Actor: Thomas Alan Ng, Geoff Lam
Special thanks to Great Music Centre and Chrissy Gordon

互動英語教室 - We love music (1)

Lily works in a bank and has to answer to complaints (投訴) everyday. She cannot get ample (足夠) sleep because of hectic (忙亂) work schedules and feels very tired all the time. She realized that stress (壓力) symptoms (症狀) can affect her health. A friend advised her to learn a musical instrument (樂器) as a method to relax after a hard day and soothe (緩和) her mind. After learning how to play the piano for two year’s time, she can play some simple pop and classical pieces (樂曲). She also likes to put on some quiet music and lean (傾斜) back or lie down (躺) at home to relax.

Lily’s cousin (表弟) Thomas, who lives in the U.K., has come back to Hong Kong for holidays. He was astounded (驚奇) when she told him that she can play the piano. Today, they are going to play some music together in a music centre where Lily takes her piano lessons.

Thomas: Hey Lily! How are you?

Lily: Hey Thomas! Are you ready for some music?

Thomas: Yes!

Thomas asks Lily why they can’t practise (練習) at home. Lily explains to him that since her apartment (公寓) is very small, she will be disliked by her neighbour if they play loud music. They asked Geoff, a staff of the music centre about their booking.

Geoff: Welcome. I am Geoff. How can I help you?

Lily: I’ve booked a room from 2 to 4 today.

Geoff: You must be Lily. This way please.

Geoff walks Lily and Thomas to the basement (地下室). There is a room with a drum set (鼓). The room is soundproofed (隔音) which means it can insulate (絕緣) against noise.

Lily: Oh! It such a spacious (寬敞) room! Thomas, let’s play some music together.

Thomas: Lily. I’ve learned something new.

Lily: What’s that?

Thomas: I can rap (說唱) !

Geoff: Cool! I am from North America (北美洲) . Rap is so popular there.

Lily: What is rap?

Geoff: Rap music or hip-hop (嘻哈) is a genre (類型) of African – American (在美國的非洲人) music of the 80s and 90s. The rappers have to talk rapidly (快速), rhythmically (有節奏地) and vividly (生動地).

Rapping began as a variation in reggae (西印度群島居民的民族的一種音樂) and dub (鼓聲)music, mixed with influences from radio DJs. Rappers can improvise rhymes (音韻) over the beats (拍子) created by the DJs. Thomas starts off trying to rap as fast as possible with a constant (不變) beat. Lily and Geoff are very excited.

Lily: Thomas! You are great! I am more into classical music (古典音樂).

Thomas: Really?

Lily: Don’t you remember that I can play the piano?

Thomas: Oh! Yes! Please play some music now!

Questions:

1)     How does Lily relax at home?

2)     What kind of musical instrument Lily has been learning?

3)     What is rap?

Answers:

1)     She also likes to put on some quiet music and lean back or lie down  at home to relax.

2)     Lily has been learning the piano.

3)     Rapping began as a variation in reggae and dub music, mixed with influences from radio DJs. Rappers can improvise rhymes over the beats created by the DJs.

Article by Lily Poon

Script by Louise Chow

Directed by CP Chan

Actors: Geoffrey Lam, Thomas Alan Ng