Classical Music: where to start ? Part 4 … Vienna!

29th March 2026

By Part Four, we have to introduce either Mozart or Beethoven, so why not introduce both. Vienna is a city resonating with music, coffee and culture, as well as being home to one of the world’s top orchestras, the Weiner Philharmoniker.

Let’s start with the aforementioned orchestra, performing the overture to Die Fladermaus by Johann Strauss II (Austria 1825 – 1899) at a traditional New Year’s Concert.

Joseph Haydn (Austria 1731 – 1809) has been called the “Father of the Symphony”, and can be seen as a link between Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. Here is the Adagio from his Cello Concerto in D Major.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Austria 1756 – 1791) began composing at the age of five. Requiem, his last composition, has been the subject of speculation and scandal, and is one of art’s famous unfinished works. The magnificent opening movement is Introitus.

From Mozart’s last work, to that of Ludwig van Beethoven’s (Germany 1770 – 1827). Mahler was certainly influenced by Beethoven, and this movement reminds me of Mahler’s Adagietto from the 5th Symphony … but that is for next week.

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Classical Music: where to start ? Part 3

22nd March 2026

Starting with a titan of Classical Music – Johann Sebastian Bach (Germany 1685 – 1750).

From such a wide and canonical repertoire, I’ve selected something a little different; a sonata extract but played on a traditional Swedish instrument, the nyckelharpa. Andante indicates a moderate tempo, a walking pace.

The next selection is the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana, a one-act opera, a contrast to Wagner’s gargantuan musical dramas. Pietro Mascagni (Italy 1863 – 1945) composed this major work in 1890.

Zbigniew Preisner (Poland born 1955) is closely associated with Polish film director Krysztof Kieślowski for whom he composed several soundtracks (notably the ‘Three Colours’ trilogy).

Requiem for my Friend from 1998 is a tribute to the director.

The first time I heard our final selection, I thought it was from a film soundtrack, possibly a Michael Nyman piece. I was therefore very surprised to discover that it was 200 years old.

The Piano Trio No. 2 was one of Franz Schubert’s (Germany 1797 – 1828) last compositions. I’ve selected the second movement, another Andante, inspired by a traditional Swedish folk song.

What are you doing ? Present continuous

17th March 2026

We use present simple [verb 0 or base verb] to talk about things that we do all the time, to talk about things that do not change often in our life.

EXAMPLE:

I live in London / I study English / I work in a hospital / I am a student /

You eat vegetarian food, you don’t eat meat / He plays football /

She plays tennis / We go to the beach on holiday

The present continuous is for things we are doing NOW

EXAMPLE:

I live in London [present simple] = I am living in London

We form the present continuous by:

Subject + verb ‘to be’ + verbing

I am eating // You are drinking // He is watching // She is studying // It is working//

Ms Quyen is laughing // We are dancing //

They are playing.

NOW … your turn

Change present simple into present continuous

1. I swim 2. You buy pizza 3. He plays tennis

4. She learns science 5. We talk quietly

6. They visit Wales

Answers:

I am swimming // You are buying pizza //

He is playing tennis // She is learning science //

We are talking quietly // They are visiting wales.

Renoir ‘Luncheon of the Boating Party’ 1881

Time to use English ! Look at the painting and tell me what you see … use present continuous and amazing adjectives.

EXAMPLE: The tall, strong man with a yellow hat is standing by the gate.

What are these people doing ?

Eyewitness! Can you identify the criminal ?

16th March 2026

An activity to test students’ ability to describe people, facial features and clothing.

A serious crime was committed, and these three men were reported to be at or near the scene.

These men are NOT suspects, the police just want to question them.

Can you help the police ? What do they look like ?

Use adjectives wisely, tell the police officer as much as possible:

Age, height, weight, hair length and colour, facial features, clothing, accessories etc.

Person Number 1

Person Number 2

Person Number 3

The following three tourists were also reported to be in the area. Can you help the police find them ? Maybe they saw the criminals.

Tourist Number 1

Tourist Number 2

Tourist Number 3

Classical Music: where to start ? Part 2

15th March 2026

Part Two starts with a guitar transcription of a piano suite by Enrique Granados (Spain 1867 – 1916), Spanish Dances, Number 2 ‘Oriental’ Op 37.

I usually hear this played by two guitarists, but I was very impressed by this solo performance by Sawa Yamamoto.

The second piece is a sinfonia, an instrumental introduction to an opera or oratorio. The composer is the German-born George Fridrick Handel (1685 – 1759), who became a naturalised British subject.

Vespers are evening prayers, held at sunset. One of my favourites is from Sergei Rachmaninoff (Russia 1873 – 1943). Here we have number VII Hexapsalmos from his Vespers Op 37.

Listening to a whole symphony can be a tad challenging, so here is one short section from Brahms (Germany 1833 – 1897), the third movement from his 3rd Symphony

Classical Music: where to start ? Part 1

8th March 2026

So many composers, so many works, so many forms. Finding an entry into the world of Classical music can be daunting; symphonies, concertos, sonatas, requiems, arias, overtures, tone poems …

So, a series of selected pieces, introducing some of my favourite compositions.

To start, a sonata for oboe and piano by Francis Poulenc (France 1899 – 1963). Poulenc was a member of Les Six, a group of modernist composers in the 1920s.

A sonata has been described as an inward-looking piece, a main instrument supported usually (but not always) by a piano.

In contrast, Richard Wagner (Germany 1813 – 1883) wrote monumental operas which he termed music dramas. As some performances can last over five-hours, I recommend the instrumental prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.

For some vocal music, I suggest Hildegard of Bingen (Germany 1098 – 1179).

Finally, one of my favourite composers, Ralph Vaughan William (UK 1872 – 1958). The Tallis Fantasia, my introduction to RVW’s music, is for string orchestra, and in one single movement.

To be or not to be … To have and have not.

10th November 2025

The verb ‘to be’

Only teach constructions in upper level classes

I am // I’m

you are // you’re

he is // he’s

she is // she’s

it is // it’s

Mr John is // Mr John’s

we are // we’re

they are // they’re

Have students repeat until their grammar is perfect. Make games, see who can conjugate the verbs clearest and quickest.

Now … practice:

First let’s use an adjective:

happy / sad / lucky / hard-working / lazy

Let’s start with the adjective ‘happy’

I am happy // I’m happy

you are happy // you’re _______

he _____ \

she ______ \

it _______\

Mr John ______ \

we ____ \

they ______

The verb ‘to have’

I have

you have

he has

she has

it has

Ms Jane has

we have

they have

Now … practice:

Let’s use some common nouns

sister (or twin sister) / piano / dog / new book

I have a ____

you ____ ______

he ___ _________

she ___ _______

Ms Jane ____ _______

we ____ ______

they ____ _______

OK, Snoopy, enough is enough … but we have just started; more blogs to follow.

Level 3, Mid-Term Test (Part 1)

3rd November 2025

1 Use the correct form of the verb ‘to be’

There ___ an old school, and there ____ many students.

[2 points]

2 Name a country in North America / South America / Asia / Europe / Africa

[5 points]

3 Possessive pronouns. I have a pen, it is mine.

You have a pen, it is _____ // He has a pen, it is _____ //

She has a pen, it is ____ // we have a pen, it is _____

// they have a pen, it is _____

[5 points]

4 Use capital letters when needed:

many people go to london because it is so famous. tourists come from canada and new zealand to see buckingham palace where king charles lives.

[10 points]

5 Do you live in Thailand ? // Do Peter and Jane like dogs (YES) // Does Peter like snakes (NO) // Does Jane like cats (YES)

[4 points]

6 Every Thursday Tony puts out the recycling. He walks his dog at 6 o’clock and at 4 o’clock. He reads English on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and plays football on Saturday and Sunday.

How often does Tony: recycle ? // walk the dog ? // Read English ? // Play football ?

[4 points]

7 Tell me three things you like to do; use full sentences

[6 points]

8 Use these words correctly in a sentence:

proud // advisor // understand // artist // greatest

[10 points]

9 some or any ?

There’s ____ milk // There isn’t ____ soup //

Is there ___ rice ? // There are ____ pancakes.

[4 points]

10 Use present continuous (verb + ing)

Example I swim = I am swimming

You eat pizza // he plays tennis // she reads science // we (not talk) quietly // they visit london // I (not make) my teacher angry.

[6 points]

11 Tell me about yourself; what do you like to do and why. What do you want to do when you are older ?

[10 points]

66 points. Pass mark is 60 % [39 points]

How to deal with a notoriously noisy class

3rd November 2025

The Centre rules state that Break Time is not play time. Students may drink water, juice or milk, eat healthy food, and wash their hands.

Outside the classroom, students are not allowed to

RUN

TALK LOUDLY or SHOUT

FIGHT

If any students breaks any of these rules, they will not be allowed out of the class with the other students.

In the classroom, shouting or talking when the lesson is in progress is unacceptable, and will be punished.

The first warning is a BLUE STAR

The second and final warning is a BLACK STAR

The third warning means the student goes OUT of the class, and will be sent home.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND ?

there is, there are … there isn’t, there aren’t. Level 1 & 2

24th September 2025

Look at the picture. What can you see ?

I can see 1 apple and 1 pencil.

I can see a crayon and a book [a means 1]

BUT I can not see a pen or a ruler.

SO we say

There is a pencil.

Is there an apple ? Yes, there is an apple.

WE USE ‘is’ for 1 [1 pencil, 1 apple]

Now, look again

Is there a pen ? No, there isn’t a pen.

Is there a ruler ? No, there isn’t a ruler.

‘is’ we use for 1 thing, but for 2 or more we use ‘are‘

Look at the picture. What can you see ?

I can see 2 rabbits and many butterflies.

Are there sheep ? Yes, there are 2 sheep.

Are there lions ? No, there aren’t.

Are there elephants ? No, there aren’t.

NOW … your turn

Is there an apple ? // Is there an orange ?

Is there salad ? // Are there tomatoes ?

Are there carrots ? // Is there chicken ?

Is there white bread ? // Is the lunch healthy ?