Discussion Topic - Music
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Discussion Topic - Music.
Part 1: Introduction & Interview
Q. 1. What types of music do you like to listen to? [Why?]
Answer: I mostly like to listen to the soft rock or any other music that has a gentle and soft rhythm. I like soft music primarily because they are usually more soothing to the ears. I like soft rock also because it creates a certain kind of reaction or mood, often a subconscious one in that, by taking me wherever I want to be.
Q. 2. At what times of day do you like to listen to music? [Why?]
Answer: I don’t mind listening to music any time of the day, but I like it the most during night time before going to bed mainly because it helps me release all my tension and fatigue of a long and tiring day so that I can have a nice and sound sleep for the rest of the night. Besides, I listen to my favourite songs on my iPod whenever I take a ride on public transportation.
Q. 3. Did you learn to play a musical instrument when you were a child? [Why/Why not?]
Answer: No, I didn’t learn to play any musical instrument when I was a child mainly because I used to remain a bit too busy taking care of my homework and studies. Besides, during my childhood, I had always thought that learning to play a musical instrument was a difficult thing to do.
Q. 4. Do you think all children should learn to play a musical instrument? [Why/Why not?]
Answer: Yes, I believe that young children should learn to play a musical instrument because it helps them become more attentive and patient. In this modern era, it is even more prevalent for children to learn to play a musical instrument as it is a great recreational activity one the one hand and fosters creativity among them on the other hand.
Alternative Answer: No, I don’t think that all children should learn to play a musical instrument because that would probably distract them from more important things such as homework, studies, social interactions with other fellow kids, and physical activities in order to keep them mentally and physically sound and fit.
Part 3 - Details Discussion:
Q. 1. What kinds of music are popular in your country?
Answer: Even though the music in Bangladesh, my country, is varied and distinctive, they are not actually equally popular among its people. And that’s why we find that modern film songs and other types of modern music with western influence are certainly way ahead of other music in the race of popularity. However, folk songs and band music actually don’t fall too far behind modern film songs and other modern music with western influence. Of course, it is worth mentioning here that the folk songs and band music appeal to two very distinct groups of people: Folk songs appeal the villagers the most while band music appeals to the youth the most.
Q. 2. What do you think influences a person’s taste in music?
Answer: In my humble opinion, several factors influence a person’s taste in music. To begin with number one factor, the music we love is often the music with which we grow up as our parents and older siblings introduce us to our first favourites. Then, it is also the peer pressure factor in the youth that often dictates our music preferences more than we like to admit. But, once we actually become a grown-up person, it is actually the daily events in our life and surroundings that mostly dictate our taste in music. For example, if we are going through some tough time in our life, we will probably enjoy sad songs.
Q. 3. How has technology affected the kinds of music popular with people?
Answer: Modern technologies have had a sweeping effect virtually on all aspects of our life, and therefore, it is only natural that music will not be left out from this effect. And that’s exactly why we find ourselves to be flipping one channel after another on our satellite TV in order to find the music we like. But, if we don’t like the music on TV, we waste no time in tuning to our FM Radio stations as they keep playing all kinds of songs 24/7. Besides, the internet is also there for us to find and listen to our favourite music from all over the world. So, technology indeed has revolutionized the way in making different kinds of music popular with people.
Q. 4. Tell me about any traditional music in your culture.
Answer: Bangladeshi traditional music spans a wide variety of styles, and here I'd like to talk about some of them. First, "Baul" is mainly inspired by "madman" or religious ecstatic and almost exclusively performed by “Baul” mystics. Then "Bhandari" is devotional music from the South (mainly Chittagong). Then comes "Bhatiali", which is basically folk songs of fishermen and boatman, almost always tied by common ragas sung solo.
Moreover, we have "Bhawaiya", which is also folk songs and they come from bullock-cart drivers of the North (usually from the city of “Rangpur”). And "Ghazal" is also a traditional music type which is the popular folk music of Sufi genres, introduced from philosophy and religion in music practised mainly by Bengali Muslims. Again, "Jari" is a type of songs involving the musical battle between two groups, and finally, "Gombhira" song (originated in Chapai Nawabganj) performed with a particular distinctive rhythm and dance with two performers, always personifying a man and his grandfather, discussing a topic to raise social awareness.
Q. 5. How important is it for a culture to have musical traditions?
Answer: Music, along with poetry, reflects the culture and folklore of a society. Songs and music mirror history, values, norms and the mentality of society. When folklore and cultural ceremonies are celebrated with songs and music, it is to demonstrate the tradition and customs of a society in a meaningful way so that people of a certain country and culture can value what they have, and what else they need to have in life in order to thrive as a society.
Q. 6. In your opinion, is international music less important than traditional music? [Why?]
Answer: In my opinion, international music is a sort of “cultural integration” since they allow us to learn more about other cultures and traditions and thus allowing us to understand and appreciate us each other even better. Now, if something helps us to minimize our “differences” in a world which is full of enough hatred and animosities towards each other, then I don’t really see how it can be any less important.
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