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Music

Advance Level

Unit 1: Video And Photograph

A Quote

Modern music is as dangerous as narcotics.

-Pietro Mascagni

Idioms About Music

The next time you go to a music concert or party, listen for these common music idioms that will likely be used in a conversation.

1) Bells and whistles - a product or machine that has a lot of interesting features, but may not be useful. The Apple IPod has a lot of bells and whistles, but it's expensive and I'm not sure it's a good replacement for my walkman. 2) Face the music - to take responsibility for the consequences of your actions. Our company has not been profitable this year, I had to face the music and lay off some of our staff.

The Origin and Meaning of Idioms Saved by the bell It looked like our flight was going to be cancelled, but we were saved by the bell when we were offered seats in another airline. In the old days, there was no way of telling if a person was in a coma or if they were really dead. To avoid burying someone alive, a bell was fitted above the ground with a string leading to the dead person's grave. If a person woke up from their coma, they could pull the string and so be saved by the bell.

Unit 2: Reading

I'll always remember my dad saying that he loved listening to birdsong early in the morning. The singing centered him in a way that I didn't understand at the time.

Now I know why he felt so refreshed.

Birdsong is a high frequency sound - around 5,000 hertz. Any sound between 5,000 and 8,000 hertz has been found to recharge our brain's batteries.

You know what else is amazing?

5,000 hertz is also the frequency that energizes plants. In fact plants showed a 700 percent increase in efficiency of absorbing nutrients when exposed to high frequency classical music. This frequency actually helps the little pores on the plant's leaves called stomata to open up.

And who says nature doesn't have a plan. That's why you'll find that in areas that don't have a lot of birds singing, there's not a lot of plant growth either.

Lots of birds equals lots of plants. Few birdsongs means not a whole lot of greenery. Now I know why we moved from Los Angeles to Asheville, North Carolina - we wanted birds and trees in our life.

Have you ever entered a room that has a weird or uncomfortable feeling about it? You might just be getting uncomfortable because of low frequency sound waves.

The lowest of those are called infrasound. They're produced by machines such as vehicles, household equipment and heating and cooling systems. It's been known for some time that these low frequency waves can cause symptoms such as nausea , headaches, fatigue, insomnia , vibration of internal organs and a feeling of oppression.

On the other hand, certain high frequency sounds literally energize your mind. Scientists have found that sounds from 5,000 to 8,000 hertz recharge your brain's batteries.

If your CD collection includes music by Mozart, Baroque Music or even Tibetan Chants, keep listening. In numerous studies, these sounds have been found to charge the cortex of the brain and stimulate health and wellness.

At 120-125 hertz you begin to hear the kick drums and bass guitar common to rock music. These lower frequencies produce the opposite effect - they drain us.

Why is this?

Because they have wave-lengths longer than we are tall, which is why lower frequencies are FELT as well as heard. You can feel this low frequency full-body sensation at dance clubs and rock concerts. Or from listening to most FM radio stations.

Since we are mostly exposed to low frequency sounds in the media, I strongly suggest you balance your brain and body by listening to high frequency classical music at least once a day. It's easy and effortless - and great for you.

Here's to your sound health.

Copyright 2006 Tania French

Composer Tania Gabrielle French has enjoyed performances and radio broadcasts of her music worldwide by Grammy Award winning artists. Her popular newsletter tells all about the secret effect of music on your mind and body. Subscribe now at http://www.artabundance.com © 2006 Tania Gabrielle French. All Rights Reserved.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tania_French

Vocabulary Practice

Energizes: to become alert and energetic.
Nausea: feeling sick in the stomach that leads to vomiting.
Insomnia: an inability to sleep.

Questions

1. What is the writers purpose in this article?
2. What lessons did the writer learn from his father?
3. Do you agree that young people should learn responsibility through chores?