Yunchan Lim, a 19-year-old pianist, has recently signed an exclusive record deal with Decca Records in the UK. Lim gained attention last year when he became the youngest winner of the Van Cliburn Piano Competition in Texas. His performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 has garnered over 12 million views on YouTube. After a bidding war, Decca Records emerged as the victor, with Lim being courted by record labels from Tokyo to New York. Lim expressed his appreciation for Decca’s reputation for producing high-quality records and working with legendary musicians.

Lim’s performances have been described as “visceral,” “magnetic,” and “poetic.” His rendition of Rachmaninoff’s concerto moved conductor Marin Alsop to tears. Critics have praised Lim’s ability to transport listeners to another world through his playing. Born in Siheung, South Korea, in 2004, Lim credits his love for the piano to his mother’s recordings of Chopin and Liszt. He began piano lessons at the age of seven and entered the Music Academy of Seoul Arts Center a year later. Lim’s talent was immediately recognized by his teacher, who described him as humble.

Since winning the Van Cliburn competition, Lim has released two recordings, one of Liszt’s Transcendental Études and a live performance of Beethoven’s Emperor concerto. The latter went platinum within hours of its release in South Korea. Lim’s first studio recording will be released by Decca in spring 2024. Tom Lewis, the co-president of Decca Records, expressed his excitement about signing Lim, calling him the most exciting new classical artist in the world.

Original news source: Classical music’s answer to K-pop’ signs exclusive record deal (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out a scene or concept related to the article, using only gestures and body movements. The other groups must guess what they are portraying. Encourage the use of vocabulary and phrases from the article during the guessing process.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask the students to form pairs or small groups. Provide them with a list of statements related to the article, such as “Yunchan Lim is the most talented pianist of his generation” or “Classical music is still relevant in today’s society.” Each group should discuss their opinions on each statement and come to a consensus. Then, have them share their opinions with the rest of the class and facilitate a class discussion based on the different perspectives.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Give each student a piece of paper and a pencil. Instruct them to choose a scene or moment from the article and draw a quick sketch to represent it. After a few minutes, ask the students to share their sketches with a partner and explain their chosen scene. Encourage the use of descriptive language and vocabulary from the article.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Provide each pair with a timer and a set of discussion questions related to the article. Give the students a specific amount of time (e.g. 2 minutes) to discuss each question and summarize their thoughts to each other. After the time is up, have them switch partners and repeat the process with a new set of questions. This activity promotes active listening, speaking skills, and quick thinking.

– Headline Creation
Instructions: Instruct the students to work individually or in pairs. Ask them to create a catchy headline for an article about Yunchan Lim and his recent record deal. Encourage them to use attention-grabbing language and summarize the main points of the article in a concise and engaging way. After a few minutes, have the students share their headlines and discuss why they chose them. This activity helps develop writing skills and encourages creativity.

Comprehension Questions:

1. How did Yunchan Lim gain attention last year?
2. Which record label emerged as the winner in the bidding war for Lim?
3. How have Lim’s performances been described by critics?
4. What moved conductor Marin Alsop to tears during Lim’s performance?
5. What recordings has Lim released since winning the Van Cliburn competition?
6. How quickly did Lim’s live performance of Beethoven’s Emperor concerto go platinum in South Korea?
7. When will Lim’s first studio recording be released by Decca?
8. How does Tom Lewis, the co-president of Decca Records, describe Lim?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Yunchan Lim, a 19-year-old pianist, has recently signed an exclusive (1)______ deal with Decca Records in the UK. Lim gained attention last year when he became the youngest winner of the Van Cliburn Piano Competition in Texas. His (2)______ of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 has garnered over 12 million views on YouTube. After a (3)______ war, Decca Records emerged as the (4)______, with Lim being courted by record labels from Tokyo to New York. Lim expressed his appreciation for Decca’s reputation for producing high-quality records and working with legendary (5)______.

Lim’s performances have been (6)______ as “visceral,” “magnetic,” and “poetic.” His rendition of Rachmaninoff’s concerto moved conductor Marin Alsop to (7)______. Critics have (8)______ Lim’s ability to transport listeners to another world through his (9)______. Born in Siheung, South Korea, in 2004, Lim credits his love for the (10)______ to his mother’s recordings of Chopin and Liszt. He (11)______ piano (12)______ at the age of seven and entered the Music Academy of Seoul Arts Center a year later. Lim’s talent was immediately recognized by his teacher, who described him as humble.

Since winning the Van Cliburn competition, Lim has released two recordings, one of Liszt’s Transcendental Études and a live performance of Beethoven’s Emperor (13)______. The latter went platinum within hours of its release in South Korea. Lim’s first (14)______ recording will be released by Decca in (15)______ 2024. Tom Lewis, the co-president of Decca Records, expressed his excitement about (16)______ Lim, calling him the most exciting new classical artist in the world.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is your favorite type of music to listen to?
2. How would you feel if you had the opportunity to sign a record deal with a major record label?
3. Do you think being the youngest winner of a competition is an advantage or a disadvantage? Why?
4. Have you ever had a teacher who recognized your talent or potential? How did that make you feel?
5. What is your opinion on classical music? Do you enjoy listening to it? Why or why not?
6. How do you think Lim’s recordings became so popular in such a short amount of time?
7. Do you believe that music has the power to transport listeners to another world? Why or why not?
8. What is your favorite piece of classical music? Why do you like it?
9. Have you ever experienced a performance that moved you to tears? What was it and why did it have such an impact on you?
10. How do you think Lim’s life will change now that he has signed with Decca Records?
11. Do you think it is important for musicians to have a good reputation in the industry? Why or why not?
12. How do you think Lim’s success at such a young age will impact his future career?
13. What challenges do you think Lim may face as he continues to pursue his career in music?
14. Do you think it is necessary for musicians to release studio recordings in order to be successful? Why or why not?
15. How do you think Lim’s success will inspire other young musicians?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. pianist
2. record
3. attention
4. winner
5. performance
6. reputation
7. legendary
8. musicians

Meanings:
(a) A person who plays the piano
(b) Famous or well-known for a long time
(c) People who are skilled in playing music
(d) Focus or notice given to someone or something
(e) A physical or digital copy of music
(f) The person who is declared the champion
(g) The opinion or belief that others have about someone or something
(h) A public display of artistic skill or talent
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What record label did Yunchan Lim sign an exclusive deal with?
(a) Sony Music
(b) Universal Music
(c) Decca Records
(d) Warner Music

2. How old was Yunchan Lim when he won the Van Cliburn Piano Competition?
(a) 18
(b) 20
(c) 19
(d) 21

3. Which piece did Yunchan Lim perform in his viral YouTube video?
(a) Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5
(b) Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3
(c) Chopin’s Nocturne in E-flat Major
(d) Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2

4. Which word is NOT used to describe Lim’s performances?
(a) Visceral
(b) Magnetic
(c) Poetic
(d) Boring

5. Who was moved to tears by Lim’s rendition of Rachmaninoff’s concerto?
(a) Yunchan Lim
(b) Marin Alsop
(c) Tom Lewis
(d) Lim’s mother

6. Where was Yunchan Lim born?
(a) Tokyo, Japan
(b) New York, USA
(c) Berlin, Germany
(d) Siheung, South Korea

7. What was Lim’s first studio recording?
(a) Beethoven’s Emperor concerto
(b) Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3
(c) Chopin’s Nocturne in E-flat Major
(d) Liszt’s Transcendental Études

8. Who called Lim the most exciting new classical artist in the world?
(a) Tom Lewis
(b) Marin Alsop
(c) Yunchan Lim
(d) Lim’s mother

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Lim’s rendition of Rachmaninoff’s concerto failed to move conductor Marin Alsop to tears.
2. Decca Records lost a bidding war to sign Lim, with record labels from Tokyo to New York dismissing him.
3. Lim is indifferent to Decca’s reputation for producing high-quality records and working with legendary musicians.
4. Lim’s performances have been described as “visceral,” “magnetic,” and “poetic.”
5. Lim’s first studio recording will not be released by Decca in spring 2024.
6. Yunchan Lim, a 19-year-old pianist, has signed an exclusive record deal with Decca Records in the UK.
7. Lim became the youngest winner of the Van Cliburn Piano Competition in Texas.
8. Lim’s performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 has over 12 million views on YouTube.
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 is Yunchan Lim’s claim to fame in the music world?
2. How did Lim come to sign an exclusive record deal with Decca Records?
3. How have critics described Lim’s piano performances?
4. How did Lim’s love for the piano develop?
5. What recordings has Lim released since winning the Van Cliburn competition?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. How did Yunchan Lim gain attention last year?
Lim gained attention last year when he became the youngest winner of the Van Cliburn Piano Competition in Texas.

2. Which record label emerged as the winner in the bidding war for Lim?
Decca Records emerged as the winner in the bidding war for Lim.

3. How have Lim’s performances been described by critics?
Lim’s performances have been described as “visceral,” “magnetic,” and “poetic.”

4. What moved conductor Marin Alsop to tears during Lim’s performance?
Lim’s rendition of Rachmaninoff’s concerto moved conductor Marin Alsop to tears.

5. What recordings has Lim released since winning the Van Cliburn competition?
Lim has released two recordings since winning the Van Cliburn competition: Liszt’s Transcendental Études and a live performance of Beethoven’s Emperor concerto.

6. How quickly did Lim’s live performance of Beethoven’s Emperor concerto go platinum in South Korea?
Lim’s live performance of Beethoven’s Emperor concerto went platinum within hours of its release in South Korea.

7. When will Lim’s first studio recording be released by Decca?
Lim’s first studio recording will be released by Decca in spring 2024.

8. How does Tom Lewis, the co-president of Decca Records, describe Lim?
Tom Lewis describes Lim as the most exciting new classical artist in the world.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) record
(2) performance
(3) bidding
(4) victor
(5) musicians
(6) described
(7) tears
(8) praised
(9) playing
(10) piano
(11) began
(12) lessons
(13) concerto
(14) studio
(15) spring
(16) signing
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. pianist
Answer: (a) A person who plays the piano

2. record
Answer: (e) A physical or digital copy of music

3. attention
Answer: (d) Focus or notice given to someone or something

4. winner
Answer: (f) The person who is declared the champion

5. performance
Answer: (h) A public display of artistic skill or talent

6. reputation
Answer: (g) The opinion or belief that others have about someone or something

7. legendary
Answer: (b) Famous or well-known for a long time

8. musicians
Answer: (c) People who are skilled in playing music
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What record label did Yunchan Lim sign an exclusive deal with?
Answer: (c) Decca Records

2. How old was Yunchan Lim when he won the Van Cliburn Piano Competition?
Answer: (c) 19

3. Which piece did Yunchan Lim perform in his viral YouTube video?
Answer: (b) Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3

4. Which word is NOT used to describe Lim’s performances?
Answer: (a) Visceral

5. Who was moved to tears by Lim’s rendition of Rachmaninoff’s concerto?
Answer: (b) Marin Alsop

6. Where was Yunchan Lim born?
Answer: (d) Siheung, South Korea

7. What was Lim’s first studio recording?
Answer: (d) Liszt’s Transcendental Études

8. Who called Lim the most exciting new classical artist in the world?
Answer: (a) Tom Lewis
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Lim’s rendition of Rachmaninoff’s concerto failed to move conductor Marin Alsop to tears. (Answer: False)
2. Decca Records lost a bidding war to sign Lim, with record labels from Tokyo to New York dismissing him. (Answer: False)
3. Lim is indifferent to Decca’s reputation for producing high-quality records and working with legendary musicians. (Answer: False)
4. Lim’s performances have been described as “visceral,” “magnetic,” and “poetic.” (Answer: True)
5. Lim’s first studio recording will not be released by Decca in spring 2024. (Answer: False)
6. Yunchan Lim, a 19-year-old pianist, has signed an exclusive record deal with Decca Records in the UK. (Answer: True)
7. Lim became the youngest winner of the Van Cliburn Piano Competition in Texas. (Answer: True)
8. Lim’s performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 has over 12 million views on YouTube. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧