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Unit 2
L ET ’ S B EGIN
Take this quiz to check your knowledge of music and musicians.

1. What kind of music is Ravi Shankar famous for?

(a) Jazz
(b) Classical
(c) Pop
2. Which country was Justin Beiber born in?
(a) USA
(b) India
(c) Canada
3. How many strings does a guitar have?
(a) 6
(b) 7
(c) 8
4. What is a group of three musicians called?
(a) a trio
(b) a duet
(c) a quartet
5. What is the next note after sa-re-ga-ma?
(a) dha
(b) ni
(c) pa
6. What is the next note after do-re-mi?
(a) ti
(b) fa
(c) so

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Notes Reading Comprehension

In this section, you will read three texts on music in different
perspectives. The first one will enlighten you about the
effective role of music in our lives, the second reflects on the
life of the famous music composer, Ludwig van Beethoven,
and the third is a poem by William Wordsworth where he
appreciates the melody of a song.
Read the texts carefully and answer the questions that
follow.
Text I
Role of Music in Life
Today, we are rushing through life and everyone seems to
be pressurised and stressed about one or the other thing.
inescapable: unable to be Stress has become an inescapable part of our lives. Many
avoided or denied
of our illnesses are a result of stress, and to deal with it, we
need certain ways to relax our body and mind. Listening to
music, particularly gentle, calming and melodious music,
relaxes people both physically and mentally. Music releases
endorphins, the natural painkillers in our brain,
which relieve us from the sense of pain. Music
can normalise heart rate and blood pressure.
The common occurrences of fatigue and boredom
decrease when we listen to music. It diverts
our attention from everyday anxieties, thereby
reducing the stress caused by such concerns.
While meditating, listening to music helps us to
connect with our soul. Students can improve their
concentration and boost their memory by listening
to soft music. Soothing music, when played at
night, helps us to rest and relax for a good night’s
sleep. Listening to good music helps in overcoming
negative traits such as anger or worry, thereby
improving our personality. It creates positive
energy and happiness. Every cell in the body
becomes energetic with increased peace of mind.
Music is a therapy for everyone — plants,
birds, animals and human beings — to flourish
and rejuvenate. It certainly plays an important
part in making the world better for all living beings.

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Complete the following statements by selecting the most

appropriate options given below.
1. ________________ helps in relaxation of our body and
mind.
(a) Pop music
(b) Soothing music
(c) Jazz music
(d) Rock music
2. The natural painkillers released in our brain are
________________.
(a) Insulin
(b) Endorphins
(c) Endocrine
(d) Glycerin Fun fact
3. Music is helpful in improving the _____________ of Common suffixes that
students. make nouns

(a) concentration - ment

(b) emotion agree — agreement
move — movement
(c) relaxation
-y
(d) anxiety
monarch — monarchy
4. Which word from the passage means the same as ‘to discover — discovery
renew’? _______________________________
(a) rejuvenate
(b) enhance
(c) release
(d) relieve
5. List the benefits of music mentioned in the passage.
_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

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Notes Text II
Beating the Odds
The musical accomplishments of composer Ludwig van
Beethoven have been all the more remarkable for the
fact that he lost his hearing ability from an early age. He
beating the odds: to succeed
developed the symptoms of tinnitus, a constant sound of
despite not having a good
chance of succeeding ringing in his ears that made it difficult for him to hear. He
is compared to Mozart for his genius, and is considered the
most eminent musician after Mozart.
Although his formal education never went beyond the
elementary level, he trained in music under Joseph Haydn.
He has always been acclaimed as a brilliant piano maestro.
His father and grandfather were the court musicians of a
German prince. Young Ludwig was often made to perform for
his father’s drinking companions in the middle of the night,
and was even beaten if he protested.
For the first thirty years of his life, Beethoven could listen
to and play music effortlessly. As a result, he understood
sounds of musical instruments and the pitch of the singing
voices. He knew the harmony between music and singing
before he became completely deaf. His deafness was not
sudden, but a gradual decline. This slow process of losing his
hearing activated his mind to imagine
how his compositions would sound
like. When he became completely deaf,
he started to observe the vibrations of
the piano. The observations helped him
realise that he could not hear the high
notes of the piano. To be able to hear
his own compositions, he sawed off the
legs of his piano. The piano touched
the floor, and Beethoven would press
his ear to the floor, banging the piano
keys to listen to the high notes in his
compositions.
The most significant aspect of
Beethoven’s character was that he
did not give up. With a brave heart,
he confronted the greatest challenge

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a musician can face, and continued living his dream of

composing music. Deafness could not deter him from pinnacle: the most
successful point
achieving the pinnacle of musical success. He fought against
the greatest obstacle and won.
His quality of ‘never giving up’ strengthened him. It
made him come to terms with his deafness in a dynamic
and constructive way. These qualities led him to become a
famous composer.
1. Read the following statements and write true (T) or
false (F).
(a) Although he composed a lot of music, Beethoven
never learned to play music himself. (T/F)
(b) His deafness was not a sudden loss of hearing.
(T/F)
(c) He composed most of his music early in his life,
before he became deaf. (T/F)
(d) His musical skills were compared to Haydn. (T/F)
(e) Beethoven cut down the legs of his piano to hear Fun fact
the notes of the keys from the floor. (T/F) Common Spelling Errors

2. How could Beethoven compose music despite his loss It’s “tomorrow”, not “tommorrow”.
of hearing? It’s “noticeable”, not “noticable”.

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

3. What realisation made Beethoven continue his passion

for music with more determination?
_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

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4. Which word in the following is similar in meaning to

‘skillful’ (para 1)?
_____________________________________________________

(a) brilliant
(b) masterly
(c) talented
(d) genius
Text III
Read the poem carefully and answer the question that
follows.
the solitaRy ReapeR
Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland lass!
profound: very great or Reaping and singing by herself;
intense Stop here, or gently pass!
chaunt: old British spelling
Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
of chant; a repeated rhythmic
phrase And sings a melancholy strain;
O listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.

No Nightingale did ever chaunt

More welcome notes to weary bands
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands:
A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard
In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.

Will no one tell me what she sings?

Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:
Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
That has been, and may be again?

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Whate’er the theme, the Maiden sang

As if her song could have no ending;
I saw her singing at her work,
And o’er the sickle bending;
I listened, motionless and still;
And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.
—William Wordsworth

1. Complete the summary of the poem given below with a

suitable word/phrase in each blank.
The poet finds a young Highland girl who
(a)________________alone and sings to herself. The poet asks
us to listen carefully, because the whole (b) ________________
is filled with the overflowing sound of her singing. He asks
us to either (c)________________and listen to her sad song, or
gently pass by so as not to disturb her.
He goes on to say that no nightingale ever sang a more
(d)_________________song to bands of tired (e)_______________
in the Arabian Desert. The poet asserts that the beauty
of the girl’s singing exceeds that of the cuckoo’s in the Fun fact
(f)________________. Her singing is also the only thing which
That chair is not BROKE.
(g) ________________the silence of the valley. That chair is BROKEN. You,
however, might be BROKE
The poet tries to (h) ________________what the girl is
if you can’t afford to fix the
singing about. He is unable to get the words of the song chair that’s BROKEN.

clearly. He thinks that perhaps she is singing about old

sorrows or (i) _________________fought long ago, or more
routine concerns of life or even some (j) ________________
which she has endured and may endure again.
At the end, he quietly walks away with a feeling that
he may never be able to find out the (k)________________of
her never-ending song. Nevertheless, he asserts that her
singing has captured his imagination so much that he will
(l) ________________the music in his heart long after it is
heard no more.

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Vocabulary

1. The following words and phrases occur in the given

passages and poem. Given below are the words and
their meanings. Match each meaning with the word.
Text 1
relieves substances produced by the brain that
have painkilling and tranquillising
effects on the body
endorphins power to live or grow
exhaustion to free from anxiety, fear, pain, etc.
rejuvenate tiredness
vitality to restore to a former state; make fresh
or new again
Text 2
prodigy constantly repeated
persistent to cut or divide
virtuoso to make or become worse or inferior in
character, quality, value, etc.
deterioration something that obstructs or hinders
progress
sawed a person, especially a child or young
person, having extraordinary talent or
ability
obstacle a person who excels in musical technique
or execution
Text 3

behold tired
yon girl
lass look, see
melancholy climbed
vale expressing sorrow
strain causing sadness
weary that
plaintive melody
mounted valley

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2. Word search
Look at the grid given here.

p i a n o l a b b c c d
a e b c y p r a t i t g
s n s r t a b l a r o d
i o e a l s e l u d t h
t h o b r e a m a p a o
a p d s a r o d p n n l
r o t h r e d e f g j a
a l v e t n r i u t o k
l y e h a a u p u n g i
c x e n n i m f d n t p
l h n a h p e t u l f g
e h a i m o n i u m j o

A. Find the names of the musical instruments in the

grid. They can be found in different directions:
up-down, down-up, left-right, right-left and
diagonally.
Name the musical instruments.

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

B. Use the pictures as clues. Write the appropriate name

of the instrument in each blank given below. One has
been done as an example.

(a) Evelyn Glennie is a Xylophone player.

(b) Zakir Hussain plays the _________________.
(c) Hariprasad Chaurasia plays the _________________.

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(d) V. Doraiswamy Iyenger plays the __________________.

(e) Bismillah Khan plays the ____________________.
(f) Amjad Ali Khan plays the _____________________.

Grammar
1. In the lesson ‘The Sound of Music’ you have read that
‘adjectives’ can be used before a noun and after the
verb ‘be’.
Example:

The book is interesting. The interesting book.

The table is round. The round table.
But ‘adjectives’ can have many forms.
Fun fact Examples:

Commonly 1. He chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem that was

misunderstood phrases longer and broader.
2. Ustad Bismillah Khan was awarded India’s highest
For all intents and
civilian award.
purposes
3. My mother is the most beautiful woman in the world.
This phrase means for all
practical purposes. Here the adjectives longer and broader refer to the
Sneak peek
comparative degree; and highest and most beautiful refer to
Often mistaken as ‘sneak
the superlative degree.
peak’. ‘Er’ is used for the comparative degree for shorter words
This phrase means to take and ‘more’ is used for longer words.
an early look at something. Example:
Let’s go to the local market. The vegetables are cheaper
there. But in Supermarket these are more expensive.
A. Now fill in the blanks with appropriate comparative
adjectives.

(a) He was not audible. His voice was not loud. Can you
request him to be a bit ____________________(loud)?
(b) There are many peaks in the Himalayas. Everest is
_____________________________ (high) peak in India.
(c) With 9 degree Celsius it was colder yesterday, and
with 4 degree Celsius it is ___________ (cold) today.
(d) Our police is the____________________ (reliable) in
the country.
(e) My sister is_____________________(serious) than me.

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(f) Your dance performance is not good. It can be

__________________________ (good) with practice.
(g) Living in the countryside is _______________________
(peaceful) than living in a town.
(h) My father is _____________________________________
(important) person in my life.
B. Fill in the blanks with appropriate superlative degree
‘most’/‘est’.

(a) With so many vehicles, the roads of Delhi have

become___________________ (crowded) ones in India.
(b) Yesterday was_____________________ (cold) day of
the month.
(c) The book is interesting. It is_____________________
(interesting) book I have ever read.
(d)
This hotel is cheaper. But that one
is__________________________ (cheap) in the town.
Fun fact
Literally
(e) _______________________ (old) member of my family
Literally is often misused to
is my grandfather. express intensity when in
fact, it is a word that implies
(f) Lata Mangeshkar has___________________________
something is completely
(melodious) voice in the country. true. Don’t use literally unless
something is true.
2. In the same lesson, use of ‘to-verb’ has been explained.
Let’s do some more activities on this. Join the two sets
of sentences given below, and make one sentence. The
first one is done for you.

1. ‘May I help you?’

‘Okay’
He offered to help her.
2. ‘Let’s go to the Old Age Home in the evening.’
‘That’s fine.’
She arranged ___________________ to the Old Age
Home in the evening.
3. ‘What would you like to eat?’, asked Shivani’s
mother.
‘I don’t have an appetite’, replied Shivani.
Shivani refused _________________________________.
4. ‘Post the letter. Don’t forget.’
Don’t forget_____________________________________.

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5. ‘Can you participate in the music concert?’

‘It’s fine with me.’
She agreed ________________________________ in the
music concert.

Editing
Fun fact Some words have been omitted in the paragraph given
A homophone is a word that
sounds the same as another
below. Write the appropriate words and rewrite the
word but differs in meaning paragraph.
and/or how it’s spelled. The following words were written/the tomb of/Anglican
Examples Bishop of Westminster Abbey:
cereal – serial When I was young/free and my imagination had no
morning – mourning limits, I dreamed/changing the world. As I grew older and
profit – prophet
wiser, I discovered/world would not change, so I shortened
stationary – stationery
my sights somewhat and decided/change only my country.
But it too seemed immovable. As I grew/my twilight
years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled/changing only
my family, those closest to me, but alas, I couldn’t.
And now as I lay/ my deathbed, I suddenly realise: If
I had only changed myself first, then/ an example I could
have changed my family.
From their inspiration and encouragement, I could then
have been able/better my country and, who knows, I may
have even changed the world.

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

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__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Listening
A passage on the healing aspect of music is given below.
You need to listen to the passage read by your teacher/
classmate carefully and answer the question that follows.
You may listen to the passage twice, if required.

Music as a Therapy
“Rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places
of the soul”, rightly said by Plato. Music is often referred
to as ‘food’ for the soul due to the several benefits we can
derive from experiencing it.
Music can be pleasure for some, and a way to relax
for others. It also motivates and energises listeners. Music
is, indeed, a universal language, which can bring nations
together and unite people with different faiths as it touches
one’s soul. In the mainstream, music is mainly known for
its entertainment quotient, but the Indian culture also talks
about the healing effects of music through ‘Raga Chikitsa’.
Raga Chikitsa has helped in reviving an ancient healing
practice known as Nada Yoga.
Nada is a musical sound, which is believed to have
curative effects on the body and soul of all creatures.
Consequently, its power is therapeutic and is used in curing
diseases. Medical research has found music therapy to aid
patients in pain management. It is not surprising, as music
affects the body and mind significantly.
One experiences positive energy by listening to music. desolate: giving an
impression of bleak and
Music lifts one from clouds of desolation. Rhythms, dismal emptiness

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Notes particularly upbeat music, helps one distract oneself from

situations that cause stress and brightens one’s mood. Music
sedative: promoting calm or lowers anxiety levels, relaxes mind and brings optimism. It
inducing sleep
is said that listening to soft, sedative music once a day can
help overcome depression.
Music therapy finds its traces in mythology. The story of
Hippocrates, the Greek father of medicine dates back to 400
B.C. He is known to have used music to cure his patients.
This therapy also aids stroke victims to heal at a faster
rate, since it increases the patient’s emotional comforts and
motivates them to move towards the path of recovery. On
the other hand, adolescents, too, are benefitted by music
in terms of emotional, social and psychological well being.
Music is a force that purifies beings from within.
According to you, which FOUR of the following statements
are true?
(a) Nada Yoga treats diseases through Raga Chikitsa.
(b) Music is a universal language that reaches souls.
(c) Music therapy dates back to 400 B.C.
(d) Hippocrates played music to treat the patients.
(e) Upbeat tunes help stroke victims recover faster.
(f) Music helps adolescents to discover their identity.

Speaking
Two students need to come to the front of the class for a role
play. One plays the role of Thyagaraja, a famous singer, and
the other the role of the interviewer, Rohit, a Radio Jockey (RJ).
The interview is about the singer’s initiatives in helping
people through music.
RJ Rohit : Do you think music has any effect on
people’s lives?
Thyagaraja : Yes, I believe music surely has a
positive effect on people’s lives. It helps
when you are stressed, or depressed
about something. Apart from these,
music is a good way of relaxing and
feeling good about life.
RJ Rohit : What, according to you, could be the
influence of music on young children?

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Thyagaraja
: Now-a-days, young children get
distracted easily. Music helps them in
concentrating on what they are doing.
RJ Rohit : How does music help patients?
Thyagaraja : Listening to music relaxes patients. The
process of healing becomes faster when
they are in a relaxed state of mind.
RJ Rohit : Thank you very much. You are doing a
great job for the humankind.

Writing
1. Listening to music has become a part of our lives for
many reasons. We listen to different types of music
today.
Discuss in pairs the following question:
• Is the traditional music of a country more important Fun fact
than its contemporary music? Adjectives ending in ING
Write your views in about 50 – 60 words. Used to describe something
that causes an emotion.
___________________________________________________ -ing
Tiring
___________________________________________________
Confusing
___________________________________________________ Relaxing
Satisfying
___________________________________________________ Shocking

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

2. The traits of a musician are given in the box overleaf.

Use these and write a short biography in about 100 –150
words. You may collect more information from the
Internet, books in the library and other sources.

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A. R. Rahman: Indian composer, singer, songwriter, music

producer, musician and philanthropist; born in Chennai
on 6 January 1967; graduated from Trinity College,
Oxford University; famous in integrating Indian classical
music with electronic music, world music and traditional
orchestral arrangements; recipient of the Padmashri and
the Padma Vibhushan awards; two Oscars and a Golden
Globe; a notable humanitarian and philanthropist; donates
and raises money for a number of causes and charities.

Biographical Sketch

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________
Fun fact __________________________________________________________
By and large
Mistaken as ‘by in large’. __________________________________________________________
This phrase is used when
discussing a subject in a __________________________________________________________
general sense.
__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

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Project
1. Sit in groups of four. Each of you find information on the
folk music of your state and of one of the neighbouring
states. You may seek information from the community,
library, Internet and other sources. Now, ask questions
to each other in the group to complete the table below.
Fun fact
Lie/Lay
Names of the folk music These two words are often
misused for the other.
Lie means to rest on a
surface while lay means to
put something in place.
States where they are
performed

Any instrument/s used

(you may illustrate the
instruments)

Performers

2. Prepare a report in your group and present it to the

class. Then, share your suggestions in the class to
popularise the folk music in your community.
3. ‘The Sound of Music’ is a biographical piece about
percussion: musical
Evelyn Glennie, a famous percussionist, who listened instruments that one plays
to sound without hearing it. Collect information about by hitting them with hand
people/children who have overcome their physical or a stick, for example,
barriers and have achieved success in their lives. drums

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