LET'S READ ABOUT MUSIC

Homework: The gift of music

Bài tập về nhà: Món quà âm nhạc

^[1] I like music, but I never had much talent. As a child, I sang in high school. I played piano, but I wanted to play tennis when I turned 13 years old.

^[2] Then I met my husband. He can pick up a guitar and play - any guitar. He can start playing a song from the radio.

^[3] I was jealous. I wanted to do that! So last year I wrote "ukulele" on my wish list for Christmas.

^[4] Ukuleles are like guitars, but they are smaller. They fit in my hands better. And I love the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. I thought it would be fun to play that tune on my own. That song was part of my wedding, and it means a lot to me.

^[5] On Christmas morning, there it was! I received a beautiful ukulele. My husband had given me the gift of music.

^[6] Many people are great at teaching themselves things. Many people can watch a YouTube video to learn a new skill. But that didn't work for me. I needed more. I needed a teacher to make me practice and help me to learn.

^[7] So I wrote on Facebook, and I called local music stores. I asked for teachers. I decided to work with a local musician. I made a good choice because I know that I learn slowly, and she is a kind and patient teacher.

^[8] I go to her home and I have a 30-minute lesson every other week. Then I come home and I show my husband what I learned.

^[9] I am still learning. However, I love trying new things. And I am happy to spend time away from the computer. It makes my brain think in new ways.

^[10] Today was my wedding anniversary, and I gave my husband a very special gift. I played the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" to remember our wedding. He also played the song on his guitar. We played together, and it was beautiful!

^[11] I still don't think I have much talent, but I have fun. And I reached my goal. Now music is one more thing that my husband and I share.

Homework Questions / Câu hỏi bài tập về nhà

Instructions: Read the story above, then answer the questions below.

Hướng dẫn: Đọc câu chuyện trên, sau đó trả lời các câu hỏi bên dưới.

1. What is the topic of the story?
Chủ đề của câu chuyện ở trang 42 là gì?
(A) choosing a music teacher
(B) celebrating a wedding anniversary
(C) receiving a ukulele for Christmas
(D) learning to play a musical instrument

2. According to the story, what is a ukulele?
Theo câu chuyện, ukulele là gì?
(A) a small guitar
(B) a kind of music
(C) a wedding tradition
(D) a gift of music

3. Why did the writer want to learn the song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"?
Tại sao người viết muốn học bài hát "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"?
(A) her mother sang it to her
(B) it was part of her wedding
(C) it was easy to learn
(D) it was a popular Christmas song

4. In paragraph 2, who is "he"?
Trong đoạn 2, "he" là ai?
(A) father
(B) husband
(C) brother
(D) son

5. In paragraph 4, what does "they" mean?
Trong đoạn 4, "they" có nghĩa là gì?
(A) ukuleles
(B) songs
(C) wish list
(D) husband

6. In paragraph 7, who is "she"?
Trong đoạn 7, "she" là ai?
(A) the writer
(B) her husband
(C) a local musician
(D) many people

7. In paragraph 8, the writer says she goes to "her home" every other week. Where does she go?
Trong đoạn 8, người viết nói cô ấy đến "nhà của cô ấy" hai tuần một lần. Cô ấy đến đâu?
(A) to the writer's home
(B) to the teacher's home
(C) to her parents' home
(D) to the neighbor's home

8. In paragraph 9, what does "it" mean?
Trong đoạn 9, "it" có nghĩa là gì?
(A) spending time away from the computer
(B) singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
(C) showing her husband what she learned
(D) writing on Facebook

9. In paragraph 10, who is "we"?
Trong đoạn 10, "we" là ai?
(A) teacher and writer
(B) Facebook and local music stores
(C) writer and husband
(D) Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and writer

10. In paragraph 10, what does "it" mean?
Trong đoạn 10, "it" có nghĩa là gì?
(A) getting married many years ago
(B) playing music together
(C) studying with a music teacher
(D) trying new things

Transform: Timeline

Chuyển đổi: Dòng thời gian

Work with a partner. Use the article to complete the timeline below. Follow the example. When did things happen in the story? You can add lines if necessary. Then give the timeline a title. Answers will vary.

Làm việc với bạn cùng lớp. Sử dụng bài viết ở trên để hoàn thành dòng thời gian bên dưới. Làm theo ví dụ. Những sự việc trong câu chuyện xảy ra khi nào? Bạn có thể thêm dòng nếu cần. Sau đó đặt tiêu đề cho dòng thời gian. Câu trả lời sẽ khác nhau.

Sample Title: How I learned to play the ukulele

Sample Timeline / Dòng thời gian gợi ý

✔ As a child: Sang in high school, played piano.
✔ At age 13: Wanted to play tennis instead of piano.
✔ Met her husband: He played guitar well. She was jealous.
✔ Last year: Wrote "ukulele" on her Christmas wish list.
✔ Christmas morning: Received a beautiful ukulele from her husband.
✔ After Christmas: Tried to learn from YouTube but didn't work.
✔ Found a teacher: A local musician, kind and patient.
✔ Every other week: Goes to teacher's home for 30-minute lessons.
✔ Today (wedding anniversary): Played "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" for her husband.
✔ They played together. It was beautiful.

Discuss / Thảo luận

Work in small groups. Think of a song or a musical instrument that is from your home country. Find a YouTube video. Play it for your classmates and describe it. Answers will vary.

Làm việc theo nhóm nhỏ. Nghĩ về một bài hát hoặc nhạc cụ từ đất nước của bạn. Tìm một video trên YouTube. Phát cho bạn cùng lớp nghe và mô tả nó. Câu trả lời sẽ khác nhau.

Song	Instrument
• What is the name of the song? What does the name mean? • What is the song about? Translate some of the lyrics. • When was it written? Is it an old song? Or a new song? • Who likes this kind of music? Why is it popular?	• What is the name of the instrument? Does it have a different name in English? • How does a musician play this instrument? How does it make sound? • What is the instrument made of? Is it wood? Metal? Plastic? • What kind of music can you play with this instrument? Where is it used?

Sample Answers / Câu trả lời gợi ý

✔ Song name: "Bèo dạt mây trôi" (Water hyacinth drifts, clouds float).
✔ It is a traditional Vietnamese folk song about love and longing.
✔ It is an old song, very popular in Vietnamese culture.
✔ Instrument: Đàn tranh (Vietnamese 16-string zither).
✔ Musicians pluck the strings with their fingers or picks.
✔ It is made of wood, with metal strings.
✔ It is used in traditional Vietnamese folk music and classical music.