Musical activities are words for things people do with music, such as making, playing, singing, or listening. These words are used to talk about actions, not objects. In English, they are often paired with instruments or genres to be specific. Many of these words can be used as both verbs and nouns, depending on the sentence.

Word/Phrase	Definition
play	To make music using an instrument or voice.
sing	To make music with the voice.
listen	To pay attention to music or sound.
perform	To present music in front of others.
practice	To repeat music to get better at it.

Instruments are objects people use to make music. English often uses "the" before the name of an instrument when speaking generally. Many instrument names are also used in phrases like "play the piano" or "learn the guitar." Some words refer to families of instruments, while others name a specific type.

Word/Phrase	Definition
piano	A keyboard instrument played by pressing keys.
guitar	A string instrument played by strumming or plucking.
drums	Percussion instruments played by hitting with sticks or hands.
violin	A small string instrument played with a bow.
flute	A wind instrument played by blowing air across an opening.

Genres are categories of music with shared features. In English, genre names are used with "music" to describe what someone likes or what is playing. Some genre words also name styles or traditions linked to specific places or history. Genre words do not change form for singular or plural in this use.

Word/Phrase	Definition
classical	Music in the tradition of orchestras and composers.
jazz	Music with improvisation and swing rhythms.
rock	Music with strong beats, often using electric guitar.
pop	Popular music with catchy melodies.
folk	Music based on traditional songs and stories.

People in music are words for roles connected to making or presenting music. These words are used to talk about what someone does or what group they belong to. In English, these terms can be used with "a" or "the" to refer to one person or a specific person. Some terms name individuals, and some name groups.

Word/Phrase	Definition
musician	A person who makes music.
singer	A person who sings.
composer	A person who writes music.
band	A group of people who play music together.
conductor	A person who leads an orchestra or choir.

These are common words used when talking about music in general. They describe sounds, parts of a song, or things found in musical settings. In English, these words often appear in conversations about what someone hears or likes. They can be combined with other units to give more specific meanings.

Word/Phrase	Definition
song	A piece of music with words.
melody	A sequence of musical notes that is memorable.
lyrics	The words of a song.
beat	The regular pulse in music.
rhythm	The pattern of sounds and silences in music.