Music Idioms

MUSIC IDIOMS

An idiom is an expression whose meaning differs from the literal meaning of its parts taken together. In other words, it is a phrase or an expression that has a figurative meaning. Today, we are going to study ten idioms related to music vocabulary.

Music to my ears

Definition: Refers to something that you are happy to hear. A news that pleases you. Something that is pleasing to hear.

• My teacher told me I passed the exam.  That was music to my ears!
  
• Mom says that I can stay up late to watch the movie.  That's music to my ears!
  
• My friend told me that my favorite sports team just won, that’s music to my ears.
  

Toot your own horn/blow your own trumpet 

Definition: this means to brag about your own achievements, abilities, successes, etc.

• I don't mean to toot my own horn, but this pasta sauce I made is quite delicious! 
  
• I can't stand being around Marcus ever since his company became such a massive success. The guy just can't stop blowing his own trumpet!
  

In this case, maybe this person is a little bit too proud of his success and he likes to brag about it.

Face the music

Definition: it means to accept the consequences or negative results of something you did wrong.

• My friend crashed his father’s car, so he had to face the music when he got home.
  
• My friend cheated on a test and the teacher discovered him. Now he has to face the music.
  

It takes two to tango

Definition: it means that when something goes wrong, both sides are responsible; neither is innocent.

One person cannot argue. It takes at least two people to argue.

• She may want to argue, but it takes two to tango and I won't stoop to her level.
• Divorce is never the fault of one partner; it takes two to tango.
  

Strike a chord with me

Definition: to cause an emotional response because it is familiar or relevant to you.

• That movie strikes a chord with me. It makes me feel emotional.
  
• The film still strikes a chord with younger audiences, even after all these years.

Fit as a fiddle (in perfect health)

Definition: fit as a fiddle, means being in perfect health.

• At the age of 60, he is fit as a fiddle.
  
• You may feel sick now, but after a few days of rest and plenty of liquids, you'll be fit as a fiddle.
  

…and all that Jazz

This phrase usually goes at the end of the sentence.

Definition: everything related to a particular topic or category that you are talking.

Example:

• She likes cooking and all that Jazz. It means she likes cooking and everything related to cooking, for example baking, frying things, making soups, etc.
  
• If we're going to paint this weekend, we need rollers, drop cloths and all that jazz. 
  

Change your tune

Definition: to change their behavior or attitude.

• After giving a piece of advice, my son changed his tune and he started to do his homework.
  
• He was against the idea, but he soon changed his tune when he realized how much money he would get.
  

Like a broken record

If someone sounds like a broken record it means that they are saying the same thing over and over again.

• Mom, I heard you, I will clean my room after dinner. Stop telling me that! You sound like a broken record.
  
• He is always saying the same thing; he sounds like a broken record.

Clear as a bell

Definition: It means clear and easy to understand.

• I heard him say my name, it was clear as a bell.
  
• Unfortunately, our neighbors fight a lot, and we can hear them clear as a bell
  

Families of Musical Instruments

When we talk about music it is important to know the classification of the instruments in order to improve our vocabulary and to be able to communicate effectively. 

Families of Musical Instrument

A musical instrument is any device that produces a musical sound. The principal types of such instruments, classified by the method of producing sound, are percussion, stringed and wind.

Musical instruments are grouped into families based on how they make sounds. In an orchestra, musicians sit together in these family groups.

Brass instruments

Brass instruments are made of brass or some other metal and make sound when air is blown inside. The musician's lips must buzz, as though making a "raspberry" noise against the mouthpiece. Air then vibrates inside the instrument, which produces a sound. Brass instruments include trumpet, trombone, tuba, French horn, cornet, and bugle.

Percussion

Most percussion instruments make sounds when they are hit, such as a drum or a tambourine. Others are shaken, such as maracas, and still others may be rubbed, scratched, or whatever else will make the instrument vibrate and thus produce a sound.

Percussion instruments include drums, cymbals, triangle, chimes, tam-tam, glockenspiel, timpani, bells, and xylophone.

String instruments

String instruments produce sound from vibrating strings when the performer plays or sounds the strings. Musicians play some string instruments by plucking the strings with their fingers and others by hitting the strings with a light wooden hammer or by rubbing the strings with a bow. In some keyboard instruments, the musician presses a key that plucks the string. Stringed instruments include the violin, viola, cello, bass, harp, and dulcimer.

Woodwind

Woodwind instruments produce sound when air (wind) is blown inside. Air might be blown across an edge, as with a flute; between a reed and a surface, as with a clarinet; or between two reeds, as with a bassoon. The sound happens when the air vibrates inside. Woodwind instruments include flute, piccolo, clarinet, recorder, bassoon, and oboe.

Elements of Music

Music is important in our everyday lives and it’s a common discussion topic in English.

The “Elements of Music” offer us specific terms and concepts that will help us better understand and describe any kind/style of music from Classical to Rock. The elements of music are rhythm, dynamics, melody, harmony, tone color or timbre and silence.

Rhythm is the element of TIME in music. The effect created by combining a variety of notes with different durations. Consider syncopation, cross rhythms, polyrhythm’s, duplets and triplets.

There are several important aspects of rhythm:

• DURATION: how long a sound (or silence) lasts.

• TEMPO: the speed of the BEAT, which can be described by the number of beats/second (or in Classical music by standard Italian terms).

Dynamics: The relative loudness or quietness of music fall under the general element of dynamics. In Classical music the terms used to describe dynamic levels are often in Italian: pianissimo [pp] = (very quiet) piano [p] = (quiet) mezzo-piano [mp] = (moderately quiet) mezzo-forte [mf ] = (moderately loud) forte [f ] = (loud) fortissimo [ff ] = (very loud).

Melody is the element that focuses on the HORIZONTAL presentation of Pitch.

Pitch: the highness or lowness of a musical sound.

Melody: The effect created by combining a variety of notes.

Harmony is the VERTICALIZATION of pitch. Most often harmony is thought of as the art of combining pitches into chords (several notes played simultaneously as a "block"). These chords are then arranged into sentence-like patterns called progressions.

Tone color or Timbre: The tone quality of the music, the different sounds made by the instruments used or by human voices.

Silence:  an extremely important element, which allows for a breath, a rest, or a dramatic pause.

Related Terms:

Rhythm: (beat, meter, tempo, syncopation, polyrhythm)


Dynamics: (crescendo, decrescendo; forte, piano, etc.)


Melody: (pitch, range, theme)


Harmony: (chord, progression, key, tonality, consonance, dissonance)


Tone color: (register, range).

Music Genres

Music Genres

Music can be divided into numerous categories based on elements, temperament, tone, etc. These categories are known as genres. A music genre is a conventional category that identifies some pieces of music as belonging to a shared tradition or set of conventions.

Jazz – it is a type of music that has its roots in Western African culture.
Pop – it is basically popular music that is mostly heard on the radio and on TV. It is called Pop music.
Rock – It has evolved from rock and roll and pop music.
Retro – It has style and elements from the past. Certain cities have clubs that play retro music on certain days of the week since a lot of people enjoy dancing to the tunes.
Heavy metal – It is a type of rock music, but the lyrics and the performances of artists have strong sounds.  Some well-known bands are Metallica and Megadeth.
Hip- Hop – It has its roots in the Afro- American culture. It has a very young beat to it. It is mainly based on rap culture and break dance.
Romantic – Romantic music always has a very good melody, the music is very light and makes you feel great.
Ambient – It is very soothing and related mostly to the atmosphere and environment. It is very light and makes you calm.