Yvonne: Hello, I'm Yvonne Archer, this is 6 Minute English – and I'm delighted thatRob has joined me today! Hello Rob.
Rob: Hello Yvonne, nice to be here.
Yvonne: To start the New Year, BBC Radio 3 ran a Mozart festival, playing 12 days ofthe genius' classical music. Now, many people believe that we need to bemusical to enjoy classical music. So Rob, what makes someone musical in youropinion?
Rob: Hmm – well, I don't think it's just about playing musical instruments. I thinkit's somebody who appreciates and understands the rhythm of a piece of musicor a song.
Yvonne: OK – that means that you'll probably find today's question quite interesting.
Are you ready?
Rob: Absolutely.
Yvonne: Listen to these two pieces of music, and, ignoring the pitch – that's the keythey're played in – tell me whether they'rea) exactly the same orb) differentInsert 1: BBC Learning English music testYvonne: Well?
Rob: Hmm, it's tricky but I do think they're different. Yes, a different beat in thesecond piece of music there.
Yvonne: OK, we'll find out whether you're right or wrong later on, Rob. Now that's thesort of question you might be asked in BBC Radio 3's online test to find outabout people's musical abilities.
Rob: Hmm - that sounds like fun.
Yvonne: It does. Dr Lauren Stewart of Goldsmith University is one of the scientistsrunning the Radio 3 project. So, is the traditional description of musical peopleas people who can play a musical instrument or who've had formal musictraining a good one?
Insert 2: Dr Lauren StewartWe think that this is far too narrow, and even just being immersed in our very musical worldengenders people with a very sophisticated level of musicality that they probably aren't evenaware of. So if people can choose the right music for a social occasion, know how musicaffects their moods and emotions - we say that that's already a sophisticated skill.
Yvonne: Dr Lauren Stewart says our view of what makes someone musical is toonarrow – it's just too limited. So many people who don't play a musicalinstrument or haven't had formal music training could actually be reallymusical too.
Rob: Mm, and she also says that we're 'immersed' in a 'very musical world' – we'resurrounded by lots of music – and that can also make us musical.
Yvonne: I agree with her. We do live in a very musical world. Even the BBC LearningEnglish office is musical – think of all those musical ring tones on our mobilephones.
Rob: Yes, they can be great fun – but they can also be very annoying too! Anyway,Dr Stewart says all that music helps to engender us with music skills – musicskills that become a natural part of who we are.
Yvonne: We also heard how lots of us probably have a very sophisticated, or advanced,level of musicality, but we don't even know – we're not aware of it. Rob, canyou tell us how Dr Stewart explains 'musicality' please?
Rob: Mm, certainly. Well, a part of musicality is an understanding of how music canchange the way we feel – how it can affect our moods and emotions. And ittakes a sophisticated level of musicality to be able to choose music for a socialoccasion, such as a wedding.
Yvonne: So being musical isn't only about playing an instrument, getting the beat, all ofthat kind of stuff. And even if we think we're tone-deaf – totally incapable ofhumming a few notes in a tune – we may still do quite well on that test.
Rob: That's good to know! So we'll have a go later on then, Yvonne?
Yvonne: Definitely!
Rob: But I wonder whether some people are simply born musically gifted?
Yvonne: Well, that's what the scientists running the project hope to find out. And asBBC Radio 3 presenter Petroc Trelawny explains, there's also another reasonwhy they want as many people as possible to take that online test…Insert 3: Petroc TrelawnyActually, maybe it'll debunk some of the myths about music being frightening andalarming. I think people are often put off by classical music because they think they'regonna make a fool of themselves. This, hopefully, will prove that we've all got it in us.
Yvonne: So Petroc Trelawny hopes the test results will prove that we're all born withmusical abilities. But he also hopes the test will debunk some of the myths –the stories that aren't true - about music being frightening and alarming. Rob,what does Petroc mean by 'debunk'?
Rob: He means to destroy and break down the ideas that make people afraid ofmusic, especially classical music. And I agree that many people are put off byclassical music – they don't even listen to it - partly because they think theywon't understand it.
Yvonne: And that's a real shame, isn't it? Because I think it's perfectly possible to listento music that's totally new to us or isn't from our own culture, and still enjoy itin our own way. Now, earlier Rob, I asked you whether two pieces of musicyou'd listened to were the same or different. Here's a brief reminder of whatyou heard:
Insert 5: Extract from BBC Learning English music testRob: I do think they're different.
Yvonne: And Rob, you were wrong.
Rob: Oh dear, I'm a failure!
Yvonne: Sorry. No! You're still musical in my eyes.
Rob: That's good!
Yvonne: So, why not go to BBC Radio 3's website to find out how musical you are?
Join us again soon for more "6 Minute English".
Both: Goodbye! |