Describe A Popular Musical Instrument In Your Country – IELTS Cue Card

Are you searching for words when you speak? Does the Speaking section of the IELTS make you tense? The IELTS cue card “Describe A Popular Musical Instrument In Your Country” will help you answer questions from the category “Popular“. Practise using the sample answer given and ace this module of the IELTS with a band 8+.

Sample Answer 1

The multiple genres of Indian music that we hear today are widely divided into two traditions, namely, the Hindustani classical music of North India and Karnataka music of South India and tabla is a crucial part of the former. When I was a kid, I heard it for the first time when one of my uncles was playing it. 

This musical instrument is a combination of a pair of drums, the smaller one called the Dahini and the larger one named the Bayan. While the body of the former is made of wood with the upper portion being stretched leather, the Bayan, which is the bass drum, is made of metal with the same type of upper portion. In addition, there is a black spot on both drums made of manganese or iron dust. The tabla is usually played while seated with the Bayan to the left of the dahini. Sound is produced on the drums as the musician changes the instrument’s pitch with the palm of his or her hand while striking it with the fingertips and each drum stroke can be expressed by a specific syllable. 

Tabla can be played both solo or in accompaniment of other musical instruments like the harmonium, another well-known Indian classical instrument. Being an instrument of fingers, a variety of rhythms and cross-rhythms can be created by changing the manner of striking as well as by striking different parts of both the heads of the tabla. 

With the intermixing of various global genres, the tabla is one such instrument that can be played with any music and instrument. Apart from that, one of the most features is that it can be used to imitate any percussion instrument. Moreover, its significance is not limited to the musical grounds. It has great value even in various Indian traditional dance forms like Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, etc. Recently, the tabla is also used in yoga practices, increasing its popularity in manifolds. Some tabla maestros of India are Zakir Hussain, Alla Rakha, Bickram Ghosh, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Smt. Sitara Devi, to name a few.

Vocabulary

• Plectrum: A plectrum is a small flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument. For hand-held instruments such as guitars and mandolins, the plectrum is often called a pick and is a separate tool held in the player’s hand. 
  Eg: My brother gifted me a guitar with a plectrum on my birthday.
• Integral: necessary to make a whole, complete; essential or fundamental
  Eg: Music is an integral part of my life.
• Jazz Music: Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries 
  Eg: She is really into jazz music.
• Traditional: existing in or as part of a tradition; long-established.
  Eg:  Sita likes to follow all traditional customs.

Sample Answer 2

Considering that India is the land of culture and traditions, you are sure to find plenty of musical instruments here. One of the notable instruments is the flute. It has been associated with the history of Indian music and can create almost any type of magical music. In my country, you can find a variety of flutes. Moreover, India is an abode to some of the greatest flutists across the world.

Playing the flute is much easier than playing other types of instruments. With it, musicians can create melodious sounds. Often, the music touches the right chords of the heart because of its extraordinary appeal and quality. When a stream of air moves against the edge of its holes, a flute creates sound or music. Some flutes are held vertically while others are held horizontally.

The flute generally belongs to the woodwind group musical instruments. Basically, it produces air tunes that vibrate inside the flute and leave through the hole. The air flowing inside the cylindrical tube is controlled in varying ways to produce melancholic sounds.

Additionally, a flute can play a myriad of music as well. However, some of the common uses of this instrument are pop music, romantic, orchestral, baroque, and classic. As per some people, the flute is capable of creating out of the world music.

In India, this instrument is popular for a variety of reasons. To begin with, the flute has become an integral part of the local tradition and culture. It is also an important part of religious belief as the flute is one such instrument that Lord Krishna played.

Sample Answer 3

Music is widely favoured in Indian culture and therefore, traditionally, it is popularly known as “the food of the souls.” An integral part of Indian classical music is the Indian classical music instruments. There are various instruments that are famous in the Indian musical culture. One of the most popular musical instruments is the sitar.

Sitar is the older version of Guitar and has its own charm. To play the sitar, one should always be seated. It’s circular at the bottom and has a long elongated structure on the top. The musicians hold their sitar at an angle of 45° and place it on their laps. They pluck the strings with a wire plectrum that is placed on the right forefinger. The left hand takes charge of the strings with light pressure and pulls the strings sideways to make pleasant tunes.

Sitar has mostly been used to play traditional Bengali songs, some of which are Rabindra Sangeet. It is also used to play jazz songs and Indian film music. Sitar made its appearance in western culture too.

There are several reasons why it is popular in my country. One of the many reasons is our Indian traditional culture indulges in good melodious songs and music. Like I mentioned before, it is “the food of the souls”, and sitar can play melodious tunes.

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