Music - English

Talking about Music Genres

To describe different types of music, use genre names as adjectives or nouns in your sentences. For example, you might say you like a certain genre or that you are listening to a specific type of music.

• I like jazz.
• She listens to classical music.
• He enjoys hip-hop and reggae.
• Rock and metal are very energetic genres.
• Folk music often uses acoustic instruments.

Naming Common Musical Instruments

When talking about musical instruments, use "the" with the instrument when you refer to playing it in general. Use "my", "his", or another possessive if you are being specific.

• She plays the piano every day.
• He is learning to play the guitar.
• They practice drums in the garage.
• The violin is a classical instrument.
• Jazz music often features the saxophone and trumpet.

Describing Music Activities

To talk about things people do with music, use verbs such as to listen, to dance, to play, or to sing. To talk about creating music, use to compose, to write, or to create.

• I like to listen to music while I read.
• We often dance to pop songs.
• She performs in a metal band.
• They practice every day after school.
• He composes electronic music on his computer.
• We sing folk songs together.
• She writes the lyrics and melody for her songs.

Describing Music Elements

When describing a piece of music, use vocabulary such as composition, harmony, lyrics, melody, rhythm, and song.

• The melody of this song is beautiful.
• The lyrics are very meaningful.
• This composition has a complex harmony.
• The rhythm makes people want to dance.
• She wrote a new song yesterday.
• He likes to compose his own music.