Music as a Language

What do the following words mean when we are talking about music?

key

beat

bow

note

fade

scale

air guitar

string

minor

tempo

blue

harmony

solo

pitch

folk

strum

catchy

reverb

verse

chorus

jam

skin

stick

Idioms using music

Shouting dictation

Music is a language. Both music and verbal languages serve the same purpose. They are both forms of expression. They can be used as a way to communicate with others. They can be read and written. They can make you laugh or cry, think or question, and can speak to one or many. And both can definitely make you move.

 

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Think about the first language you learn as a child. More importantly, think about how you learned it. You were a baby when you first started speaking, and even though you spoke the language incorrectly you were allowed to make mistakes. And the more mistakes you made, the more your parents smiled.

 

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Music is a language.

Both music and verbal languages serve the same purpose.

They are both forms of expression.

They can be used as a way to communicate with others.

They can be read and written.

They can make you laugh or cry,

think or question,

and can speak to one or many.

And both can definitely make you move.

In some instances, music works better than the spoken word,

because it doesn't have to be understood to be effective.

Although many musicians agree that music is a language,

it is rarely treated as such.

 

 

 

 

 

Think about the first language you learn as a child.

More importantly, think about how you learned it.

You were a baby when you first started speaking,

and even though you spoke the language incorrectly

you were allowed to make mistakes.

And the more mistakes you made,

the more your parents smiled.

Learning to speak was not something you were sent somewhere to do

only a few times a week.

And the majority of the people you spoke to

were not beginners.

They were already proficient speakers.

Imagine your parents forcing you to only speak to other babies

until you were good enough to speak to them.

You would probably be an adult before you could carry on a proper conversation.

language 

embracing 

communication

approach 

Music is a powerful 1.______ tool - it causes us to laugh, cry, think and question. Bassist and five-time Grammy winner, Victor Wooten, asks us to 2.______ music the same way we learn verbal 3.______ - by 4. ______mistakes and playing as often as possible.

True or false according to Victor? Listen and check.

1. Music and language are completely different things.

2. Music has to be understood to be effective.

3. Music is often not treated the same way we treat language.

4. Music is usually taught using a very strict method.

5. Music should be taught more informally - like we teach spoken language.

6. The more mistakes you make when learning to speak, the more your parent encourage you.

7. If we learned music the same way we learn to speak, we'd learn faster and more naturally.

8. Kids who grow up in a musical family often learn music slower.

9. There are no 'wrong notes' when you just play from the heart.

10. Many music teachers don't let their students 'say' anything through their music.

Vocab:

regiment
tutelage
proficient
to carry on a proper conversation
to jam (improvise)
air guitar (pretending to play the guitar with your hands)
accomplished




Go to Lesson:

Music as a Language


Language focus: listen (with headphones if possible) and fill the gaps

1. ___ music and verbal languages serve the ____ purpose.

2. In some ________ music works better than the spoken word because it doesn't ___ __ __ understood to be __________.

3. _________ many musicians agree that music is a language, it is rarely treated as ____.

4. ____ _____ you spoke the language incorrectly, you were allowed to make mistakes.

5. And ___ ____ mistakes you made, ___ _____ your parents smiled.

6. In the beginning, ________ mistakes ______ __ correcting them.

7. There ___ no wrong notes.

8. to play and perform with accomplished musicians ___ a _____ basis.

9. ___  _____ they play, ___ _____ they will practice on their own.

10. Remember that a language works ____ when we ____ something interesting to say.

11. ____ many rules ___ the onset will actually slow them down.

12. In my _____, the approach to music should be the same. _____ ___, music is a language too.

Review of language covered



Practice comparative phrases and structures


The...the... comparatives