IELTSУстная речьvocabularytrainingmusic

Examiner: What kind of music do you listen to?

Answer 1: I like (1) mostly.That kind of music is always (2) and has (3) . Even though I don’t understand all parts of the songs, it is always fun to (4) the music.

Answer 2: Most of my friends like (5) , but I have a different (6) . I’m a big fan of (7) . I guess it is because I am a traditional person, so I like established musical pieces.

Answer 3: I’m really into (8) . I like to go to a lot of (9) and listen to local people putting on performances in the park . I think a live performance always sounds more exciting than a recorded version.

Examiner: How do you listen to music?

I mostly listen to music on my phone, with headphones. For example, when I take the train, I like to listen to something to (10) .

Examiner: Do you play any instruments?

Answer 1: Yes! I play piano and flute. I love to listen for different techniques and parts of the song that I can play myself. I often feel inspired by artists like Bach and Beethoven.

Answer 2: No I don’t … I’ve always wished I’d (11) , but I think I’m a bit (12) so it is hard to get started.

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.

My favorite song ever would have to be “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey. This song is super positive, and I am sure if you heard it, you would recognize it, as it is a (1)  I think it is impossible to go out to a university bar without hearing it. It is a fantastic song to do karaoke with, or (2) the melody. This band also has a (3) . I love being around people who are (4) with the singers singing this song

As for when I like to listen to it, I always listen to this music when I feel tired or in a bad mood because listening to this song always (5) !  I am lucky that I live in this day and age, because even though I don’t live in the US now, I am still able to download tracks online.

The biggest reason I love this song is that it has a fantastic message. People who are feeling down, or like they can’t go on anymore should listen to this song, because it has a message of hope and love. I imagine this song has inspired many people. Unfortunately, the band Journey no longer (6) , so I won’t ever be able to see a live performance of my favorite song anymore.

Anyway,  I recommend everyone to listen to this song because it is very catchy, energized, and has a fun (7) !

Examiner: Is the Internet a good or bad thing for the music industry?

Well, there are definitely pros and cons. On the one hand, it’s good for marketing new (1) or particular bands. So many people discover artists through the free music they've gotten on the internet! If those downloading music get it for free, they are much more likely to attend concerts, buy merchandise and support the artists in other ways.  On the other hand, (2) is an issue. It’s so easy to share and (3)  for free I think it is costing the music industry a lot of money.

Examiner: What kind of music is popular in your country?

There are a few different (4) of music that are popular, but pop music is obviously one that is most commonly heard on the radio. Pop music that people like usually either comes from local bands or very well-known American or British bands. Sometimes people also like to listen to Korean pop, we call it K-pop. That kind of music is gaining popularity especially quickly with young people right now. Other than pop, I think people like to listen to modern genres like rock and (5) , and there are even some people who like more obscure folk music or classic songs.

Examiner: How does music now compare to when you were growing up?

Music today has faster (6) , more electronic sounds, and is more influenced by music from other countries. For example, many people like listening to bands like the Chainsmokers, who use quite a bit of (7)  and have a beat that’s easy to dance to. I think there are fewer pop songs today that sound like traditional music, because young people are not interested in listening to the types of songs that their parents did. Music today also has more (8) , but at the same time, I think the (9) are also more realistic and honest.

Examiner: Do you agree that we should support official music?

I think that’s a difficult question, because the issue actually has a few different sides to it. Although (10)  is definitely a problem, the industry which produces music officially also has some of its own negative aspects. One example of this is that the artists that produce the music with major (11)  often don’t see almost any of the profits of their CDs or online music that is sold legally. Most of the money goes to the record label. So, the most important way to support music artists that you like is to pay to see their (12) , and to buy merchandise from them, like t-shirts. That way, you can make sure your money goes to the people who actually make the music.