Talking about music preferences
A preference is what you like more. Useful phrases:
- I like / love / enjoy listening to folk songs.
- I prefer pop to rock. (= I like pop more.)
- I'm into classical music. / I'm not a big fan of loud music.
- My favourite genre is film music because it tells a story.
A genre is a type of music: pop, folk, classical, rock, film songs, devotional songs. Always give a reason with "because": I like folk songs because they remind me of my village.
Relative clauses: who, which, that, where
A relative clause gives extra information about a noun. It starts with a relative word.
- who for people: The singer who sang that song is my favourite.
- which for things: The drum which he plays is very old.
- that for people or things: This is the song that makes me dance.
- where for places: This is the hall where we practise.
- whose for belonging: She is the girl whose voice is lovely.
A defining relative clause says which one we mean, so it needs no commas. If the relative word is the object, you may drop it: The song (that) I love is slow.
Rhythm words: beat, tempo, pattern
Beat is the steady pulse you tap your foot to. Tempo is how fast the beats go. Rhythm is the pattern of long and short sounds and silences. In the 3D pads, the yellow bar is the beat, the lit pads make the rhythm, and the slider changes the tempo.
Use them in a clause: This is a song that has a fast tempo.
Try it: describe your music
Write four sentences about the music you like. Use who, that, which and where once each. Example: I love the song that we sing at festivals.
Key formulas and definitions
- noun (person) + who + clause
- noun (thing) + which / that + clause
- noun (place) + where + clause
- noun + whose + noun + clause
- I prefer A to B = I like A more than B
Worked examples
1. Join: "I like the singer. She sings folk songs."
I like the singer who sings folk songs.
2. Join: "This is a song. It makes me dance."
This is a song that (or which) makes me dance.
3. Join: "That is the hall. We practise there."
That is the hall where we practise.
4. Say your preference: pop or classical?
I prefer pop to classical because it has a fast beat that makes me want to dance.
Common mistakes
- Using "who" for things: say "the song which", not "the song who".
- Adding the noun twice: "The song that it makes me dance" is wrong; use "that makes me dance".
- Using commas in a defining clause: "The singer, who sang it" changes the meaning.
- Saying "I prefer pop than rock": use "I prefer pop to rock".