1、Unit 5 Music Reading and Thinking Teaching objectives: By the end of this period, you will be able to 1. figure out the main structure of the passage. 2. know how the virtual choir is formed. 3. learn about the creator of the virtual choir. 4. apply the reading skill of scanning to practice. Questio
2、n 1: How do you experience music in your daily life? Question 2: How can computers and the Internet help us experience music differently? Lead in Question 1 : I can listen to the radio, watch TV or attend concerts. Question 2: Computers and the Internet can help us experience a wide range of musical
3、 genres. The Internet gives us access of millions of songs from many different genres, so we can find exactly what we like. Computer technology today can also help us create the sound of an orchestra on our home computer. Predicting for possible information Look at the picture on Page 52 and the tit
4、le, then predict what the text is about. The text is about some background information about the virtual choir. Scanning for specific information The man who came up with the idea for a virtual choir The place where he studied musical composition The name of his song Scan the text and find out the f
5、ollowing information. The man who came up with the idea for a virtual choir Eric Whitacre The place where he studied musical composition University of Nevada The name of his song What If Intensive reading Task 1 Read Paragraph 1 and find out the key elements of forming a virtual choir. A virtual cho
6、ir who where why how Anyone interested in music can take part in a virtual choir. They can record themselves at any place while they perform and then upload their videos onto the Internet. They join in the virtual choir because they love it and relax themselves. Task 2 Think about the question: What
7、 are the differences between a virtual choir and a reality choir? Virtual choir Reality choir Form Place Identity of singers Number of singers Virtual choir Reality choir Form video/recorded live Place on the Internet (at any place) stage of musical hall Identity of singers anyone interested in musi
8、c usually professionals Number of singers not limited limited to the required programme Task 3 Read Paragraph 2 and describe Eric Whitacres life experience according to the timeline. 1970 1988 1995 1997 over the next 10 years In 1970, he was born. In 1988, he studied at the University of Nevada. In
9、1995, he graduated from university. In 1997, he earned a masters degree in musical composition from the Juilliard School in New York. Over the next 10 years, Whitacres original composition began to become quite popular. Task 4 Read Paragraph 2 again and answer the following questions. (1)What can yo
10、u learn from what Whitacre said? _ (2) Why does the author mention Eric Whitacres studying experience and his achievements in music? _ (1)It shows his experience in music which is full of surprise. (2) The author wants to stress that it was his great passion and achievement in music that led to the
11、creation of the virtual choir. Task 5 Read Paragraph 3 and 4 and answer the following questions. (1)What gave him the inspiration to make his first virtual choir? _ (2) Does the writer hold a positive attitude toward the virtual choir? How do you know? _ (1) His being inspired by a video in which a
12、girl sings one of his works gave him the inspiration to make his first virtual choir. (2) Yes, the writer holds a positive attitude toward the virtual choir, because he says “The virtual choir is a wonderful way for people around the world to sing with one voice and thus make the world a better plac
13、e”. Task 6 Figure out the structure of the passage. A virtual A virtual choirchoir What makes a virtual What makes a virtual choirchoir Who created the virtual Who created the virtual originallyoriginally How he created the virtual How he created the virtual choirchoir Influence of the virtual Influ
14、ence of the virtual choirchoir Practice Task 1 Complete the sentences with the correct forms of the words and phrase. 1. perform; stage 2. Reminds; originally 3. award; proves; effort 4. fell in love; enabled 5. opportunity; studio; ordinary 6. onto; individuals Task 2 Have a debate. Topic: Does a v
15、irtual choir really bring people together? Pros: (正方) People from every corner of the world can upload their videos onto the Internet, which is like a great stage where people come together to sing. Different people sing the same song, share similar interests and values, which makes them feel like f
16、amily. In the global community, people can exchange feelings and thoughts with each other like real life communication. Cons: (反方) A virtual choir cannot have people together on stage where people can communicate in person. A virtual choir is unreal because it is just something made up. A virtual choir concert cant have real actor-audience interaction. Write a short passage to show your opinion on the virtual choir.
