Lesson 11 – Step 1 – Reading

Goal

Let’s start the lesson with some reading. You can read it on your own, or play the audio and follow along.

Once you have finished, you can go to the next step.

A Musician’s Life

What is a musician? In short: everyone who works with music; rock stars, opera singers, guitar players, jazz pianists, violinists, drummers… In reality, musicians make up a broad group of artists who can play instruments, sing, compose and arrange music. They perform in front of live audiences or record in music studios.  Those who use elements such as the violin, drums, piano, or saxophone to create music are called instrumental musicians. Singers, on the other hand, use their voice. Those who create original music are composers. Conductors direct orchestras and bands, and choral conductors direct choirs, singing clubs and other vocal ensembles. 

Musicians often feel an inner compulsion to play and share their music, to the point where they are willing to sacrifice a lot. It isn’t easy to make ends meet for many of them; it can be a tough field. Even famous stars haven’t always been able to make enough money from their music and have had to work part-time jobs at the beginning of their careers. Moreover, countless hours rehearsing, travelling, and sleepless nights playing at clubs and parties, especially on weekends, can greatly limit their social and family life. Perhaps the next time you see a musician, you will be able to appreciate not only their performance.

Adapted from The Princeton review: A day in the life of a musician https://www.princetonreview.com/careers/98/musician

Reflection

What is the difference between the words in blue and the phrases in green?

The answers are in step 3.

Conclusion

Have you finished? Then you can move on to step 2.