Some smart people in the UK found out that playing music or singing is good for the brains of older people. They looked at more than 1,100 people who were around 68 years old. They found out that those who played musical instruments were better at remembering things and solving problems. Playing the piano or other instruments like trumpets and flutes was especially good for the brain. But just listening to music didn’t help the brain in the same way.

The main researcher, Prof Anne, said learning to play music is like learning a new language for your brain. It’s good exercise for your brain. They didn’t check if starting to play music when you’re older is good for your brain, but they think it might be. Playing music might not stop a sickness called dementia, but it could help make your brain stronger. A group called Dementia UK thinks music is very helpful for people with dementia. So, playing music or singing might help keep your brain healthy as you get older.

Original news source: Playing a musical instrument good for brain health in later life – study (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out a musical instrument or a song title without speaking. The other groups will try to guess what they are acting out. This activity will help students practice vocabulary related to music and instruments, as well as improve their non-verbal communication skills.

– News Summary
Instructions: Provide the students with a simplified version of the article. In pairs or small groups, they will take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partners. This activity will help students practice reading comprehension and summarizing skills, as well as encourage discussion and communication.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down a list of vocabulary words related to music and instruments from the article. Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team will come to the board and draw a picture representing one of the vocabulary words. The rest of their team will try to guess the word. This activity will help students practice vocabulary recall and reinforce their understanding of the new words.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will discuss the pros and cons of playing a musical instrument, based on the information from the article. They can take turns sharing their opinions and reasons with the rest of the group. This activity will encourage critical thinking, discussion, and the use of persuasive language.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask the students to think about how they feel when they listen to music. Then, have them pair up and share their thoughts with their partner. After a few minutes, ask some volunteers to share their partner’s thoughts with the whole class. This activity will encourage students to express their feelings and opinions, as well as practice speaking and listening skills.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did some smart people in the UK find out about playing music?
2. How many people did the smart people look at?
3. What did the smart people find out about those who played musical instruments?
4. What did the main researcher say about learning to play music?
5. Did the smart people check if starting to play music when you’re older is good for your brain?
6. What sickness might playing music not stop?
7. Who thinks music is helpful for people with dementia?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Some (1)______ people in the UK found out that playing (2)______ or singing is good for the brains of older people. They looked at more than 1,100 people who were around 68 years old. They found out that those who played musical instruments were better at remembering things and solving problems. Playing the piano or other instruments like trumpets and flutes was especially good for the brain. But just listening to music didn’t help the brain in the same way.

The main (3)______, (4)______ Anne, said learning to play music is like learning a new language for your brain. It’s good (5)______ for your brain. They didn’t check if starting to play music when you’re older is good for your brain, but they (6)______ it might be. Playing music might not stop a sickness called (7)______, but it could help (8)______ your brain stronger. A group called Dementia UK thinks music is very helpful for people with dementia. So, playing music or singing might help keep your brain healthy as you get older.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is playing music good for?
2. How would you feel if you could play a musical instrument?
3. Do you like listening to music? Why or why not?
4. What is dementia?
5. How do you think playing music might help keep your brain healthy?
6. What is a musical instrument?
7. How would you feel if you could play the piano or the flute?
8. Do you think playing music is like learning a new language? Why or why not?
9. How would you feel if you couldn’t remember things well?
10. Do you think playing music is a good exercise for your brain? Why or why not?
11. What do you think Dementia UK thinks about music?
12. How would you feel if you couldn’t solve problems easily?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. music
2. singing
3. instruments
4. remembering
5. solving
6. piano
7. trumpets
8. flutes
9. exercise
10. dementia

Meanings:
(A) Things you blow into to make loud, beautiful sounds
(B) Keeping things in your mind so you don’t forget
(C) Things you can play to make music, like drums or guitars
(D) Figuring out answers to problems, like puzzles
(E) A sickness that makes it hard for some old people to remember things
(F) A big musical thing with black and white keys you press
(G) Long, thin musical things you blow into to make soft, pretty sounds
(H) Sounds that you can dance or relax to
(I) Using your voice to make tunes
(J) Moving your body to get strong and healthy
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did smart people in the UK find out is good for older people’s brains?
(a) Watching TV
(b) Playing music or singing
(c) Eating candy
(d) Sleeping

2. How many people did the researchers look at in the study?
(a) More than 1,100
(b) Less than 100
(c) Exactly 1,000
(d) More than 2,000

3. According to the study, which activity was especially good for the brain?
(a) Watching movies
(b) Playing video games
(c) Playing musical instruments
(d) Eating ice cream

4. What did the main researcher, Prof Anne, compare learning to play music to?
(a) Riding a bike
(b) Cooking dinner
(c) Painting a picture
(d) Learning a new language

5. Did the study find that just listening to music helps the brain in the same way as playing music?
(a) No
(b) Yes
(c) Maybe
(d) Sometimes

6. Did the researchers check if starting to play music when you’re older is good for your brain?
(a) Yes
(b) I don’t know
(c) No
(d) Maybe

7. What sickness did the researchers mention that playing music might not stop?
(a) Cold
(b) Headache
(c) Stomach ache
(d) Dementia

8. What did the group Dementia UK think about music for people with dementia?
(a) It is not helpful
(b) It is very helpful
(c) It is okay
(d) It is bad

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Prof Anne stated learning music is not like learning a new language for your brain.
2. They studied over 1,100 people around 68 years old.
3. Playing music could not prevent dementia, but it could make your brain weaker.
4. Smart people in the UK discovered playing music is bad for older people’s brains.
5. People who played musical instruments were better at remembering and solving problems.
6. Just listening to music didn’t help the brain the same way.
7. Playing the guitar, saxophones, and clarinets was particularly bad for the brain.
8. Dementia UK thinks music is very helpful for people with dementia.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What did some smart people in the UK find out about playing music?
2. Who did the smart people look at to find out about playing music?
3. What did the smart people find out about people who played musical instruments?
4. What did the main researcher say about learning to play music?
5. Who thinks that music is helpful for people with dementia?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What did some smart people in the UK find out about playing music?
They found out that playing music is good for the brains of older people.

2. How many people did the smart people look at?
They looked at more than 1,100 people.

3. What did the smart people find out about those who played musical instruments?
They found out that those who played musical instruments were better at remembering things and solving problems.

4. What did the main researcher say about learning to play music?
The main researcher said that learning to play music is like learning a new language for your brain. It’s good exercise for your brain.

5. Did the smart people check if starting to play music when you’re older is good for your brain?
No, they didn’t check if starting to play music when you’re older is good for your brain, but they think it might be.

6. What sickness might playing music not stop?
Playing music might not stop a sickness called dementia.

7. Who thinks music is helpful for people with dementia?
A group called Dementia UK thinks music is very helpful for people with dementia.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) smart
(2) music
(3) researcher
(4) Prof
(5) exercise
(6) think
(7) dementia
(8) make
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. music
Answer: (H) Sounds that you can dance or relax to

2. singing
Answer: (I) Using your voice to make tunes

3. instruments
Answer: (C) Things you can play to make music, like drums or guitars

4. remembering
Answer: (B) Keeping things in your mind so you don’t forget

5. solving
Answer: (D) Figuring out answers to problems, like puzzles

6. piano
Answer: (F) A big musical thing with black and white keys you press

7. trumpets
Answer: (A) Things you blow into to make loud, beautiful sounds

8. flutes
Answer: (G) Long, thin musical things you blow into to make soft, pretty sounds

9. exercise
Answer: (J) Moving your body to get strong and healthy

10. dementia
Answer: (E) A sickness that makes it hard for some old people to remember things
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did smart people in the UK find out is good for older people’s brains?
Answer: (b) Playing music or singing

2. How many people did the researchers look at in the study?
Answer: (a) More than 1,100

3. According to the study, which activity was especially good for the brain?
Answer: (c) Playing musical instruments

4. What did the main researcher, Prof Anne, compare learning to play music to?
Answer: (d) Learning a new language

5. Did the study find that just listening to music helps the brain in the same way as playing music?
Answer: (a) No

6. Did the researchers check if starting to play music when you’re older is good for your brain?
Answer: (c) No

7. What sickness did the researchers mention that playing music might not stop?
Answer: (d) Dementia

8. What did the group Dementia UK think about music for people with dementia?
Answer: (b) It is very helpful
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Prof Anne stated learning music is not like learning a new language for your brain. (Answer: False)
2. They studied over 1,100 people around 68 years old. (Answer: True)
3. Playing music could not prevent dementia, but it could make your brain weaker. (Answer: False)
4. Smart people in the UK discovered playing music is bad for older people’s brains. (Answer: False)
5. People who played musical instruments were better at remembering and solving problems. (Answer: True)
6. Just listening to music didn’t help the brain the same way. (Answer: True)
7. Playing the guitar, saxophones, and clarinets was particularly bad for the brain. (Answer: False)
8. Dementia UK thinks music is very helpful for people with dementia. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧