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Starting a Band
Starting a Band

Learn English with this music English lesson

Date: Apr 26 2019

Themes: Friend, Hobbies, Music

Grammar: Modal Verbs

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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At some point in your life, you probably wanted to be in a band. It’s a common dream for people, young and old. Teenagers often practice their guitars or drums after school and on weekends, hoping to get good enough to form a band with friends. Some even write their own music. After all, being in a band is cool.

Only a few, rare bands make it big, though. And every band’s story is different. Some bands play together for years before getting a record deal. Some bands are in the right place at the right time, and suddenly they’re famous. It’s hard to know if and when a band is going to find fame and fortune.

Gary wants to start a band, but is he doing it for the right reasons? Find out in today’s English lesson about being a rock star.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Gary

Gary

Marni

Marni

Gary:  So, I have this really important thing that I need to ask you about, Marni.

Marni:  Yeah, what is it?

Gary:  A friend of mine plays guitar.

Marni:  OK.

Gary:  I can sing. I’ve got a drummer. And we’d really like to make it big as a band.

Marni:  OK, well, I think it’s great that you want to start a band. But maybe shooting for fame and fortune isn’t the best approach.

Gary:  OK, OK. A big thing… we want to go on tour. We want to see the world. We want some groupies. You know.

Marni:  I think you need to get into this because you really love playing music. You guys don’t want to be a one hit wonder.

Gary:  Of course. We love playing together. It’s a lot of fun. We want to tour. So, I think what I need from you is: should we, or shouldn’t we? Should I give you a tape or a CD to listen to?

Marni:  I guess I caution you on just having that be your goal. When I was in a band, it was just because we loved playing together and we loved making music. And we didn’t care if we sold lots of records, or toured, or had groupies. We just wanted to make music.

Gary:  I appreciate that. Thanks.

Marni:  But I’ll listen to your tape.

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Gary wants to start a band. He has a guitarist and a drummer, and Gary can sing. His band is excited to play music in different cities, maybe even in different countries. In Gary’s opinion, it would also be OK if the band got some groupies!

He wants advice from Marni who has been part of a band before. She thinks that Gary shouldn’t start a band if his goal is to become famous and make a lot of money. Marni tells Gary that he should only be in a band if he’s doing it because he loves to make music. He appreciates her advice, but it seems like the most important thing to Gary is to make it big.

Do you or did you ever sing or play in a band? Why do you think that people are so interested in becoming musicians?

 

Comments

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Sgarcia

Sgarcia

Mexico

Always the music is awesome, if you decide to go to get some fame and fortune its good but its better to make it big by yourself. I love so much piano and violin…:) and also I like so many bands!!

04:40 PM Apr 26 2019 |

BrigitteHL

Peru

Well, I’ve never played in a band, but I think, it would be awesome, because when I see my favourite bands playing in an escenary it’s like you feel really excited and I imagine that they feel it most, anyway I play the drums, and I was learning to play the guitar but I’m a mess.

01:04 AM May 28 2015 |

navid77

navid77

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Hi all! 


well, I can play almost about 8 instroment! I can play electric guitar but I don’t have it! if god help me, I’m gonna buy one! and I am a specialyst Drummer! me and my friends wanna make a band and my friends want’s to use my voice! but I don’t know witch witch work is better for me! we have to find out a better drummer because I don’t want to play just drums! aha bye the way, we’re gonna make a metal band!


I hop you all be successful at what ever you wanna do and i’m asking you to ask god for me to help me to creat my own band! and we are 15! if we’ll be famouse, I thing we’re the youngest metal band one the history! 


and I wan’t you  to help me to find a good and Intresting name for our band!


good luck everyone! 


bye! 

06:44 AM May 15 2014 |

sozii00

sozii00

Iraq

well , i never play in a band but i like play piano and listening to misic it make be realx and reduce confuse


01:28 AM May 14 2014 |

missing 2012

China

yes!i really want to play in the band,but i think there is no work for me:<cause i not good at singing and playing instrument!wuwuwuwuwuwuwuwuwuwuwuw

12:58 PM Apr 20 2014 |

1 person likes this

Olivine

Olivine

Indonesia

I was a keyboardist in several bands since 11th grade to college with a formal music education. But not anymore now, don’t have much time to form a band, leave alone practising music. Oh yea to be in a band was a fun experience, practising together, feeling nervous on the stage, friendship bound.


I think people are so interested in becoming musicians, because it looks cool especially if it’s their passion. They feel content. satisfy and happy when they can live their passion and spread their creativity to other people or even other countries. Some people even left their main job to be a musician

12:07 PM Apr 20 2014 |

bakr111

bakr111

Sudan

i never play in aband but i fun some artist,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

06:18 AM Apr 20 2014 |

huda2014

huda2014

United Arab Emirates

I have never played in aband but I like to learn piano and  to listen to music because it reduce stress and make me happy 

07:07 PM Apr 19 2014 |

1 person likes this

arly88

arly88

Cameroon

i sing in one of the choirs of my church; i’m a junior and i thing as a group or band, the gathering of single and uncommon voices or vocal timbres, sounds, when well harmonized is really enjoying and makes you feel good. but the trap in a group is that you can’t really appreciate your self-improvement since you sing in “chorus” with the others unless you take some solos…music has a real impact on spirits ands souls ,it’s probably the people’want for control that leads them to play music..

10:34 AM Apr 19 2014 |

1 person likes this

Daggny

Daggny

Ukraine

I’ve never played in a band, but I sang in a chorus ten years ago. I also attended a music school where I played the violine. I really loved it, but gave it up and started practiсing judo. Now I regret about it. I wish I had finished music school. I’d like to play in a band not for shooting for fame and fortune, but because I like music. It makes my life more pleasant.

10:10 AM Apr 19 2014 |

ttsuka

ttsuka

Japan

E_Baby is rated PG (rightly).

02:00 AM Apr 19 2014 |

1 person likes this

tomcat3007

tomcat3007

United Kingdom

It is a great idea, but you have to remember where you’re coming from and treat it as just a hobby with friends. Otherwise it can cause arguments and create sourness. But yeah, go for it, make a band!

05:12 PM Apr 18 2014 |

macielmarcel

Brazil

Actually I was in a band when I was in school, really young I was, and we were really good for a teenage school standards . We even won some competitions and played at some festivals! 


It was amazing, however we’d have some hard work to do as well, though!

11:41 AM Apr 18 2014 |

wasim_ericsson

Bangladesh

no. I did not but i have a great fascination to learn guitar some times!!

07:08 AM Apr 18 2014 |

2 people like this

mojtaba

mojtaba

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I don’t participite at any band until now but in futuer mabye

03:06 AM Apr 18 2014 |

2 people like this

ola33

ola33

Japan

 I used to play in orchestra. It was fun. The most fun was that if you make a mistake, nobody will hear it, since you’ll be covered by your friends. One and two and three and four. “Buddy, don’t you think your beats fall on second rather than first you’re supposed to take accords on.” No, no, that’s how I should play. “Look at the conductor, according to his face, he’s not approving your rhythm.” And that’s how they went on. Ta-ta-ta-ta. Ti-ti-ta-too. ti-tika-tika-ti-too. Tum-ti, tim-ka, tum-ti-too. Syn-co-pa.:)))



 

12:49 AM Apr 18 2014 |

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