singing_in_tune.mp3
singing_in_tune.pdf
Neil
Hello This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English I’m Neil
Georgina
And I’m Georgina
Neil
[Singing badly] DO, RE, MI, FA, SOL, LA, TI, DO !
Georgina
Neil! What are you doing?! Please stop!
Neil
Oh, hi Georgina! I’m practising my singing I’m going to do virtual karaoke
tonight with some friends!
Georgina
Karaoke?! – really, Neil?! I heard you singing at the Christmas party and to be
honest I think you might be tone deaf – you know, you can’t sing in tune
Neil
Me? Tone deaf?! I’m a nightingale! Listen: DO RE MIIII
Georgina
Between you and me, I think Neil is a bit tone deaf! Wait until I tell him singing is
the subject of this programme
Neil
I heard that, Georgina! And I’m glad this programme is about singing because I
love it and what I lack in ability, I make up for in enthusiasm!
Georgina
I’m sure your karaoke buddies would agree with you, Neil
Neil
That reminds me of my quiz question, Georgina As you know, I love karaoke -
meeting up with friends to sing the words of our favourite pop songs over a
musical backing track Karaoke was invented in Japan and its name is a
combination of different Japanese words – but what words? What is the meaning
؟of ‘karaoke’ Is it:
؟a) machine voice,
b) angry cat?, or,
؟c) empty orchestra
Georgina
Well, after listening to you sing, Neil, I’m tempted to say b), angry cat, but that
would be mean, so I’ll guess, a) machine voice
Neil
OK, Georgina I’ll take that as a compliment But however good - or bad - my
singing may be, there’s no doubt that the act of singing itself is a very complex
skill, involving a huge number of processes in our bodies and brains So what
؟happens physically when we sing a musical note
Georgina
Usually something unexpected in your case, Neil! So here’s Marijke Peters,
presenter of BBC World Service programme, CrowdScience, to explain exactly
what happens when we open our mouths to sing
Neil
Listen out for the different body parts Marijke mentions:
Marijke Peters
Vocal folds, also called vocal cords, are crucial here They’re two flaps of skin
stretched across your larynx that vibrate when you sing and create a sound The
pitch of that sound, how high or low it is, depends on the frequency of their
vibration, so if you want to hit the right note they need to be working properly
Georgina
Important body parts needed to sing include the vocal cords - a pair of folds in
the throat that move backwards and forwards when air from the lungs moves
over them
Neil
The vocal chords are stretched over the larynx - also known as the voice box, it’s
the organ between the nose and the lungs containing the vocal folds
Georgina
Singing is similar to what happens when you play a guitar The vocal cords act
like the guitar strings to produce a buzz or vibration – a continuous and quick
shaking movement
Neil
They vibrate over the larynx which, like the body of a guitar, amplifies the sound
Georgina
So why do some people (Neil!) find it hard to sing in tune? Is it because they
cannot physically reproduce sounds? Or because they hear sounds differently
؟from the rest of us
Neil
Well, according to psychology professor, Peter Pfordresher, it’s neither He
thinks that for poor singers the problem is generally not in the ears or voice, but
in their brains – specifically the connection between sound perception and
muscle movement
Georgina
؟So there’s no hope for you
Neil
Not necessarily Here’s Professor Pfordresher encouraging the listeners of BBC
World Service’s, CrowdScience:
Peter Pfordresher
I think there’s reason for you to be hopeful and however accurate or inaccurate
your singing is, one recommendation I would have for you is to keep singing
because there is evidence that singing itself, whether accurate or inaccurate, has
benefits socially and also for stress responses, so good reason for you to keep it
up!
Georgina
Whether you’re tone deaf or pitch perfect, there’s lots of evidence for the health
benefits of singing
Neil
For one, singing strengthens your stress responses Otherwise known as ‘fight or
flight’, stress responses are the human body’s reaction to external threats that
cause an imbalance, for example pain, infection or fear
Georgina
From operatic Pavarottis to enthusiastic karaoke fans, Professor Pfordresher
thinks singers should keep it up – a phrase used to encourage someone to
continue doing something So, Neil, maybe you should keep singing, after all!
Neil
You’ve changed you tune, Georgina! Maybe you’d like to come with me to
؟karaoke next time we’re allowed out
Georgina
Hmm, I think some practice would be a good idea, but first let’s return to the quiz
question You asked me about the meaning of the Japanese word karaoke…
Neil
Right Does karaoke mean, a) machine voice, b) angry cat, or c) empty orchestra?
؟What did you say
Georgina
I said a) machine voice
Neil
Which was… the wrong answer! Karaoke actually means c) empty orchestra, or in
other words, music that has the melody missing
Georgina
Well, that’s better than an angry cat, I guess! Let’s recap the vocabulary starting
with tone deaf – a way to describe someone who cannot sing in tune or hear
different sounds
Neil
Like playing a guitar string, singers use their vocal cords – a pair of folds in the
throat that are stretched over the larynx, or voice box, another part of the
throat, to produce a sound vibration - a quick, shaking movement
Georgina
No matter how good or bad a singer you are, singing is good for your stress
responses – the ‘fight or flight’ mechanism your body uses to regain inner
balance
Neil
So no matter what Georgina thinks about my singing, I’m going to keep it up – a
phrase used to encourage someone to continue their good performance
Georgina
That’s all from us Keep singing and join us again soon at 6 Minute English Don’t
forget we also have a free app you can download from the app stores Bye
Neil
Goodbye
VOCABULARY
tone-deaf
unable to sing tunes accurately or recognise different notes
vocal cords
pair of folds in the throat that move backwards and forwards when air from the
lungs moves over them
larynx
organ between the nose and the lungs that contains the vocal cords; otherwise
known as the voice box
vibration
continuous and quick shaking movement
stress response
the human body's reaction to anything that disturbs its internal balance, for
example pain, infection, fear or exercise
keep it up!
used to encourage someone to continue doing somethin
